Childminder in North Northamptonshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY420691 Inspection date 05/07/2011 Inspector Melanie Eastwell

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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 2010. She lives with her husband and two children aged nine and three years in Corby, Northamptonshire close to shops, schools, parks and public transport links. The whole of the ground floor, the bathroom and two bedrooms upstairs of the house are used for childminding and there is an enclosed garden available for outside play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children under eight years at any one time, no more than two of which may be in the early years age range and she is currently minding three children in this age group. She also provides care to children aged over five years to seven years and is registered by Ofsted on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder takes children to and collects them from the local school and attends toddler groups regularly.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is good.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The childminder has made a successful start to her provision. She has developed a good knowledge of each child's needs and this makes sure that she is efficient in promoting their welfare and learning. Children are safe and secure and they enjoy the childminder's gentle yet enthusiastic interaction with them. The partnerships with parents and with other providers delivering the Early Years Foundation Stage are strong and these are significant in making sure the needs of all children are met. This means that children progress well, given their age, ability and starting points. The childminder has implemented effective systems to evaluate and extend her practice which responds to the needs of the children.

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further?

To further improve the early years provision the registered person should:

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further?

 develop further the system for observation and assessment to ensure that all the areas of learning seen in each of the written observations are identified  develop further the processes for self-evaluation with particular reference to involving the children.

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the early years provision

Children are safe and confident in the childminder's home. She is skilled at promoting a welcoming and friendly atmosphere where children are free to make choices and decisions about their play. Safeguarding is given high priority. The This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 childminder understands the importance of following the Local Safeguarding Children Board guidelines in the event of any concerns. She has comprehensive risk assessments in place and all the adults in the household have the required clearances in place. The children begin to learn about managing their own safety through discussion and good role modelling by the childminder. For example, when out walking, they talk about road safety and they wear wrist bands that display the childminder's mobile telephone number. They also talk about tidying away when they have finished playing. Children take part in monthly emergency evacuation

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the early years provision

drills and the childminder has made slight changes to her provision following these drills. For example, she considered how she would manage three very young children safely in case of evacuation in an emergency and now leaves the double buggy accessible by the front door for use if required. The childminder has a good range of resources and play materials that cover the six areas of learning. Children are encouraged to have free choice of the activities and resources. They know where to find different items and confidently access toys from the labelled low- level cupboard. Older children can select a variety of games and puzzles from a photograph directory the childminder has made. Children are able to help themselves to a good range of books displayed on top of the unit.

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the early years provision

The childminder has developed effective partnership working and she strongly believes that this has a positive impact on children's feelings of belonging and security. She works closely with parents, seeking information from home before they start attending and ongoing as required. She provides parents with detailed feedback each day. Parents are fully involved in their child's learning and development. Every two months the childminder invites them to take their child's achievement file home to look at and encourages them to write their own comments about their child's progress. Parents report highly complimentary comments about the quality of service the childminder provides to their children. Parents are also invited to add their own photographs from holidays or other family events to add to their child's file. The childminder has been successful in developing partnerships with other providers of the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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the early years provision

For example, she has regular discussions with the staff at the local school and has supported children alongside the school and their parents with phonics. This efficient partnership working promotes a smooth transition and a consistent approach for children.

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the early years provision

The childminder has made a very good start on her procedures for self-evaluation. She is enthusiastic and passionate about her childminding and is very keen to develop this further. She demonstrates a good capacity for continuous improvement through her keenness to develop her knowledge and understanding through further training and the ongoing adaptations and changes she makes to her activity in order to meet the children's needs. She has sought the views of the parents about her provision through the use of a questionnaire and she keeps up to date with their comments about their child's progress through the parent's comments sheets in each child's achievement files. However, she has not yet extended this to involve the children in the process. The childminder said she found the process of reflective practice helpful and that it has focused her plans for her future development. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

Children demonstrate that they feel happy and safe in the childminder's home. She is skilled at engaging them in activities that are fun and appropriately challenging and provides lots of praise and encouragement for their efforts and achievements both through positive words and facial expressions. Children's independence skills are promoted because they are able to make choices and decisions about their play. The childminder asks them what they want to do and she has developed very effective planning procedures that are flexible to incorporate children's ideas and interests, as well as spontaneous events while still ensuring that all six areas of learning are covered equally. Children demonstrate their familiarity with the daily routines. For example, at snack time a young toddler waits at the foot of the stairs enthusiastically talking about cleaning their hands in the bathroom. This flexible management of routines helps children to feel secure. Children are encouraged to

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and outcomes for children

be independent, even they youngest is supported to pour their own drinks and to help tidy away, as well as being confident to help themselves to toys from the cupboard. Children enjoy freshly prepared meals and snacks including fruit and regular drinks. They enjoy getting involved in baking activities, such as making their own pizzas. Children demonstrate clearly that they feel safe in the childminder's home. They are confident to ask her for items they want and to choose their own activities. Younger children approach the childminder for comfort and reassurance and they settle to sleep quickly.

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and outcomes for children

Children are treated as individuals and with respect. They all get on well together and enjoy pointing out their friends in photographs. The childminder plans activities for individual children taking account of their suggestions and interests. The childminder ensures that all children present are able to take part in any planned activities and she organises the space to enable a variety of activities to take place simultaneously. Children are learning about diversity and the wider world. They have access to a range of resources, such as finger puppets, dolls and books that celebrate diversity and the childminder takes account of seasonal and cultural events and festivals in her planning. She plans activities around these events that are meaningful and relevant to the children. The childminder is creative in the activities she offers and the children respond positively to her gentle involvement in their play. She makes suggestions to enhance the activity, listens to

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and outcomes for children

what the children would like and provides items wherever possible. She introduces new vocabulary when describing how different things feel, such as the play dough. A group of older children recently enjoyed role play and imaginative play with a large cardboard box in the garden and younger children enjoy exploring the ride on toys and the sand pit in the garden.

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and outcomes for children

Children's progression in their development is clearly evident in their well presented achievement files. These include written observations, samples of their art and craft work and photographs. The files are shared with parents and every two months the childminder prepares a written summary of each child's progress. She writes this as a letter to each child individually and always involves the children in their own files. For example, she prints off the photographs and they all talk together to recall the different events. The children help to decide which This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 pictures will be included in their file. The observations cover each of the six areas of learning. However, the childminder does not currently link the observations to any other areas of learning they may relate to. She uses the Practice Guidance document to assist her with the planning and identifies next steps in learning for

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and outcomes for children

each child individually. These next steps are re-visited and cross referenced to clearly show their progress. The children attending benefit from the childminder's clear enjoyment of her work and from her keenness to continue to develop her practice. The childminder's commitment and caring ways promote children's feelings of well-being and belonging. 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 2 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 2 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 2

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 2 The extent to which children feel safe 2 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 2 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 2 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 2

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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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