Childminder in Torbay

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY310986 Inspection date 06/07/2011 Inspector Dawn Biggers

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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.

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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

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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.

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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).

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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.

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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

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Description of the childminding

The childminder was registered in 2005. She lives with her partner and three children aged five, eight and 12 years in Brixham, Devon. Most areas of the property are used for childminding and there is an enclosed garden for outside play. This provision is registered by Ofsted on the Early Years Register and on the compulsory and voluntary part of the Childcare Register.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children under eight at any one time; of these, three may be within the early years age group and of these one may be under one year. She is also able to provide overnight care for one child under the age of eight years. The childminder is currently caring for three children within the early years age group.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder attends the local toddler and takes children on various outings to the local park and zoo.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is outstanding.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The childminder offers excellent care in a nurturing, child friendly and welcoming environment. Children are very settled and make significant progress within their development and starting points, and develop skills which will support their future learning. A highly effective partnership with parents ensures children's individual needs are identified and met extremely well. The childminder has made an effective evaluation of her practice to ensure she continues to offer a very high quality service to children and their families and ensures their protection is mostly assured.

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further?

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

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further?

 improve risk assessments further to include risks associated for all outings

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the early years provision

Children are cared for in a safe home where they are supervised well whilst moving freely between the play areas. They explore a very good range of highly maintained toys and resources, as these are displayed attractively, and make many choices. The childminder is exceptionally well organised and carefully plans daily outings, and different toys and resources based on the interests and stages of This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 development of each child. Clear precautions have been taken to minimise potential hazards, such as a daily check list of the home and robust risk assessments are implemented well and reviewed. Outings are thought through; although not all logged for each place she visits and good measures and equipment support children's safety well. For example, she uses a pushchair, reins and carries emergency contact details for each child. The childminder has a very

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the early years provision

clear understanding of safeguarding children as she has a good awareness of child protection issues and knowledge of the guidance of the Local Safeguarding Children Board.

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the early years provision

The childminder has an excellent commitment to working closely with parents to identify the individual needs of each child. Her very good daily communications and written feedback about their children's care, learning and developmental achievements, enables them to feel fully involved in their learning. They value her exceptional flexibility, and this has included her collecting children from home. They contribute to their progress looking at their learning journals and provide information in the daily diary. She demonstrates a very positive and flexible approach to equality and diversity. This includes activities where they visit the museum to celebrate cultural events where they dance and taste foods. The childminder shares information very effectively with others caring for children when appropriate, having implemented a book to record their progress and the areas she is supporting them in. She has established very good links with the local

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the early years provision

school, to support a child who is attending the pre-school. She has worked exceptionally closely with other professionals with children in her care. Therefore partnerships are outstanding and this contributes to children's excellent inclusion and overall well-being.

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the early years provision

The childminder has made very effective evaluations of her practice and attends regular training to update her knowledge, which enhances her excellent practice further. Her very high level of commitment means she has gained a childcare qualification and updated her knowledge of child protection. She has implemented a profile from the start with parents to ensure she identifies the individual needs of children to continue to very proactively support their routines and assessment of their development. Therefore, children are highly valued as individuals and make very good progress in relation to their starting points. She has reviewed and updated her policies and procedures particularly safeguarding and consents in prioritising their safety and well-being. She now has a 'buddy' system with another childminder to more effectively enhance her support networks, planning ideas and to look in further detail at the Early Years Foundation Stage practice guidance. In

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the early years provision

Creating a parents file and scrap book of places children visit this keeps parents very fully informed and involved in their learning.

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and outcomes for children

The childminders excellent knowledge of how to promote and support children's learning means children make very good progress. Her superb awareness and effective monitoring of children's' progress means she identifies activities which are This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 planned to support their individual needs. Her excellent observational assessment procedures fully promote and clearly show their starting points and are consistently used to inform the next steps. For example, a creative activity playing with pasta, shells and paint provides very good challenges for all the ages. A younger child uses the paint pen to make marks on the shells, and attempts to put the dried pasta into these, copying the childminder. They are encouraged to feel the texture in their hands. They explore this further when the childminder introduces egg cups, and they fill and empty these. The childminder very skilfully engages children

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and outcomes for children

and therefore they relish using their senses feeling different textures, such as being tickled with the feathers and practice new learnt skills. They squeeze the bottle of glue, and attempt to put their shoes on with excellent support and encouragement. The childminders abundant enthusiasm, caring, high quality engagement and very good support means excellent relationships are established very early on. Children therefore have exceptional attitudes to learning. There concentration is superb because the exceptional range of stimulating activities is used to fully extend, engage and extremely challenge their learning. For example, whilst observing a child's interest in filling and emptying, acorns are introduced and then dice. They observe the childminder and imitate her play and celebrate their own achievements of putting the dice into the pot, chuckling. As the childminder rolls the dice numbers are spontaneously introduced and young

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and outcomes for children

children begin to help the childminder count they say 'two' after she has said one. Children show very good interest in books they are responsive to the childminders great sense of humour and fun as she reads the story and engages them very well as they point and lift the flaps to see the pictures. They are very responsive using early communication skills to freely express themselves as they use singular words alongside many vocal sounds. The one to one support embraces their individuality and values their contributions and therefore they enjoy and achieve very well. Children are extremely happy and settled. They are relaxed and show a great sense of security and confidence because they have established excellent relationships from the start with the childminder. Children behave extremely well as the childminders sensitive management and encouragement ensures children have clear boundaries. Therefore, they show great respect and respond to

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and outcomes for children

exceptional praise, support, and spontaneously use manners. The excellent partnership built with parents means that the childminder is very aware of children's individual needs and responds sensitively to these, promoting their full inclusion in the activities. Children develop good awareness of keeping themselves safe, for example they learn about road safety and the childminder talks about how to use equipment safely, such as the slide. There are clear rules for outings therefore, they are closely supervised whilst at the beach hut and know the boundaries to ensure they are always in the childminders near vision. Children learn about the wider world as the childminder offers many opportunities for them to explore their local community and venture further afield. They visit the beach and relish the experience of paddling in the water and building sand castles. They enjoy learning about how things grow planting and nurturing seeds at home.

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and outcomes for children

Children have a very healthy diet with very nutritious snacks and meals, and access to lots of fluids as their beakers are always available. Activities at groups also reinforce these very good messages as they make pictures of healthy fruit options. Daily exercise promotes their very good health and challenges them to explore the environment, as outings support their interests very well. This includes walks, visits to the park, rhythm and sound group, and using the excellent range of This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 garden equipment such as the bean bags, scooter and skipping rope. Photographs record their adventures and children are able to observe the great diversity of life at first hand. There are stringent measures in place to obtain parental consent and guidance to administer medication and to treat any minor injuries appropriately. Children develop excellent self help skills, they wash and dry their hands and the

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and outcomes for children

risk of infection is greatly minimised by using paper towels. The childminder acts as very good role supporting a younger child developing independence using the wet wipes for their face and hands. Children show a great enthusiasm and confidence in their learning and develop good skills to support their future learning. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Annex A: record of inspection judgements

The key inspection judgements and what they mean

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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

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children in the Early Years Foundation Stage?

The capacity of the provision to maintain continuous improvement

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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 2 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

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Stage

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

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 1 The extent to which children feel safe 2 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

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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

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

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

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

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

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