Childminder in Buckinghamshire

Inspection report for early years provision

p.1

Unique reference number EY278510 Inspection date 09/06/2011 Inspector Michele Beasley

p.1

Type of setting Childminder to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. You may copy all or parts of this document for non-commercial educational purposes, as long as you give details of the source and date of publication and do not alter the information in any way.

p.1

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

p.2

Introduction

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under Sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of the registered early years provision. ‘Early years provision’ refers to provision regulated by Ofsted for children from birth to 31 August following their fifth birthday (the early years age group). The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children’s learning, development and welfare, known as the Early Years Foundation Stage.

p.3

Introduction

The provider must provide a copy of this report to all parents with children at the setting where reasonably practicable. The provider must provide a copy of the report to any other person who asks for one, but may charge a fee for this service (The Childcare (Inspection) Regulations 2008 regulations 9 and 10).

p.3

Introduction

The setting also makes provision for children older than the early years age group which is registered on the voluntary and/or compulsory part(s) of the Childcare Register. This report does not include an evaluation of that provision, but a comment about compliance with the requirements of the Childcare Register is included in Annex B.

p.3

Introduction

Please see our website for more information about each childcare provider. We publish inspection reports, conditions of registration and details of complaints we receive where we or the provider take action to meet the requirements of registration. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

p.3

Description of the childminding

The childminder has been registered since 2003. She lives with her husband and their older adult child. They live in a flat in Marlow. All areas of the property are available for childminding. Local shops, schools and parks are all within walking distance. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The family has dogs and a cat. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and both the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register. She is registered to provide care for a maximum of six children at any one time, no more than three of which may be in the early years age range. She currently has four children on role who attend part-time and are in the early years age range. The childminder is part of a childminding network and she is a member of the National Childminding Association.

p.4

The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is outstanding.

p.4

The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children receive excellent support from the childminder who has an extensive knowledge of each child's needs and individual stages of development. The childminder uses effective observation techniques and has developed excellent partnerships with parents. As a result this enables the childminder to support each child in her care and help children to progress extremely well towards their next steps in learning. Detailed records support her excellent practice, overall. Through the consultation she has with parents and her ability to self-evaluate her provision she demonstrates an excellent capacity for continuous improvement.

p.4

further?

To further improve the high quality early years provision the registered person should consider:

p.4

further?

 record details of fire evacuation procedures in a fire log book of any problems encountered and how they were resolved .

p.4

the early years provision

Children's welfare is safeguarded exceptionally well because the childminder has an extremely secure knowledge of how to recognise, record and report any concerns. She has recently renewed her safeguarding knowledge through training so she is well informed with current legislation and guidance. The childminder has effective systems, policies and procedures in place to ensure children are safe and This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 protected.

p.4

the early years provision

The childminder is very passionate and dedicated with her role as a childminder and demonstrates an extremely professional approach to her work with the children and their families. She reflects highly effectively on her practice and displays an exceptional commitment to providing excellent childcare. The childminder is extremely dedicated to continually improving and enhancing her expertise and knowledge by attending training and keeping up-to-date with information from childcare publications. All recommendations from the previous inspection have been effectively addressed. This consequently benefits the children in her care.

p.5

the early years provision

The childminder uses her lounge as the main play space for minded children, which she has very effectively organised the labelled toy and resource boxes at the children's height. She provides children with a wide range of resources across all areas of learning which are fully accessible at all times. She is highly skilful in promoting equality and diversity through very effective use of resources, reference books and media for children to research about different cultures, countries and diversity.

p.5

the early years provision

Children gain significantly from the excellent partnerships between the parents and the childminder. There is an exceptionally good shared knowledge and understanding about the children's individual needs, backgrounds and families which ensures the children's welfare and learning needs are extremely well met. The childminder consistently and regularly shares the information she records about the children's welfare, learning and development with the parents and they are able to take this information home each day in a daily journal. Parents also have opportunities to share their views about their child's individual welfare, learning and development verbally which the childminder feeds into the children's individual records. The childminder has established very strong links with other early years providers and health professionals to ensure a collaborative approach to children's welfare, learning and development is achieved.

p.5

and outcomes for children

The childminder provides an extensive range of activities and highly stimulating experiences for the children covering all six areas of learning, providing an extremely well-balanced interesting and meaningful curriculum for all the children. Children benefit from the close and nurturing relationship the childminder has built up with them and often just sidle up to her for a cuddle. Children respond to the childminder in a positive manner. For example, helping to pick things up from the floor when asked or sitting still on a chair whilst eating their snack. The childminder interacts exceptionally well with the children as she sits on the floor with them, asking open-ended questions to make children think and gives time for young children to work things out for themselves. She knows when to let play develop or to suggest ideas to extend learning. For example, helping them to think about what role-play resources they need for a pretend picnic. The childminder lets

p.5

and outcomes for children

This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 children's play and ideas develop as they count cutlery and place settings. Children are fully absorbed and use their imaginations well as they use the tea-set props and play food to complete their picnic for their guests of dolls and favourite soft toys.

p.6

and outcomes for children

Children are encouraged to count at every opportunity and are beginning to use one-to-one correspondence and recognise numerals. They consolidate this by looking at numbers in their local environment when they go out with the childminder. Incidental opportunities encourage phonics as the childminder helps children sound out familiar words in a book. Children benefit greatly from fresh air and daily activities to promote physical development and a healthy lifestyle. They enjoy visits to the goat farm, the woods, parks, toddler groups and develop use of their muscles when using rockers and jumping on the trampoline in the childminder's garden. Children make up their own shopping lists and go to the shops to help the childminder purchase produce. They access a selection of toys that reflect diversity; they play with small world figures and dolls. They participate in tasting foods from different origins and learn about a range of festivals to

p.6

and outcomes for children

broaden their knowledge of the wider world such as Chinese New Year.

p.6

and outcomes for children

The childminder provides an inclusive provision where all children have their individual needs met. Children have daily journals, which are used to note down welfare information and some activities, which parents contribute to. The learning environment is exceptionally well presented to ensure that children are able to make choices from the range of resources available to them. Toys are stored at low level and are in labelled storage boxes to encourage children's recognition of words and develop their independence in making their own choices of play. Some pictorial evidence shows pictures of all children taking part in activities, including painting, sticking, using various collage materials and media. Planning is flexible and observations of children's progress are recorded within their individual learning and development files and next steps effectively indentified. These provide a very clear and thorough record of children's progress and next step to work towards.

p.6

and outcomes for children

Children behave well and the childminder in discussion says she gently reminds children to share and take turns. This helps them to begin to show consideration for others as part of the daily routine. Children are beginning to learn the importance of keeping themselves safe through daily routines and discussions. For example, children practise regular fire drills; however, these are not recorded and evaluated. They wear high-visibility jackets and wrist straps on outings. The childminder talks to the children about road safety issues. Children's health is promoted extremely well, for example, children have individual coloured towels for washing hands and there are prompts in the bathroom as a reminder for good hand hygiene routines. Consequently, they clearly understand why they must wash their hands. They independently fetch tissues when they are needed and are highly independent in their own personal care. Systems are in place to ensure that

p.6

and outcomes for children

all snacks and meals meet the individual dietary requirements of all children. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

p.6

Annex A: record of inspection judgements

The key inspection judgements and what they mean

p.7

Annex A: record of inspection judgements

Grade 1 is Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Grade 2 is Good: this aspect of the provision is strong Grade 3 is Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is sound Grade 4 is Inadequate: this aspect of the provision is not good enough

p.7

children in the Early Years Foundation Stage?

The capacity of the provision to maintain continuous improvement

p.7

Early Years Foundation Stage

The effectiveness of leadership and management in embedding ambition and driving improvement The effectiveness with which the setting deploys resources 1 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 1 The effectiveness of the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement The effectiveness of partnerships 1 The effectiveness of the setting’s engagement with parents and carers

p.7

Stage

The quality of the provision in the Early Years Foundation Stage 1

p.7

Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 1 The extent to which children feel safe 1 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 1 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 1 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 1

p.7

Stage

procedures set out in the guidance available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

p.7

Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register are: Met

p.8

Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are: Met

p.8