Childminder in Portsmouth

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY423878 Inspection date 04/07/2011 Inspector Christine Clint

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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 registered in 2011. She lives with two children, one is an adult and a younger child attends school. The family home is in a residential area of Portsmouth and children use the whole of the ground floor with easy access to a secure rear garden for outdoor play. Toilet facilities are also available on the ground floor. The family have two rabbits in a secure run in the garden. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children under eight years, three children may be in the early years age group. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She is currently caring for two children on a part time basis, both children are in the early years age group. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is satisfactory.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The childminder shows a dedicated attitude to meeting the individual needs of children in her care. She has developed a child-centred environment in her home ensuring that children make sound progress in their learning. Children?s health and safety is well promoted, overall. The childminder has a sufficient understanding of children's development and is making progress in assessing individual children's level of learning. However, this is not clearly linked with their next steps in development or shared with parents to extend and promote achievements. The childminder is steadily continuing to improve her provision through enhancing her own knowledge and understanding of self-evaluation.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop systems to enable parents to contribute to children's achievement and learning, to maintain a regular two-way flow of information about children's progress at home  ensure that children's next steps are being clearly identified and used to inform future planning  improve the risk assessment so it covers anything with which a child may come into contact. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

The childminder has developed a range of policies and procedures since registration and these meet the requirements and help to ensure that parents are informed about children's safety. She has a strong understanding of safeguarding children and is aware of referring any concerns to the relevant agencies. She has created a secure environment and safety is well managed inside the home, with detailed records of risk assessment. However, the childminder has not included the hazards of the open drains close to the kitchen door and these are a potential risk to smaller children. The childminder fully supervises younger children and continually monitors them, especially as they become mobile and rapidly extend their physical abilities. All details for individual children are recorded and full permission from parents is in place to meet the regulations. Accident records are effectively organised and systems to administer medication are competently

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the early years provision

established. The childminder is fully aware of her responsibility to manage any complaints from parents and to show any action taken. Fire safety equipment is positioned and available, the childminder has developed and practises fire drills with children, recording who is present and how they respond.

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the early years provision

The childminder has included a wide range of resources for the children in her care and these are very well organised to enable smaller children to select and make choices continually. She has a dedicated playroom for children with low furniture for sitting to draw or make marks, and mobile babies can move around the whole of the ground floor in safety. Resources are used effectively during play to promote children's learning and development. The childminder has a realistic awareness of equality and of successfully promoting this by providing resources which reflect diversity, she is fully aware of including activities and resources to suit children's individual needs. The childminder shows steady progress since becoming registered because she has implemented all areas of the regulations. She has also included all required documentation and this is available for inspection. The childminder is taking steps to learn about evaluating her provision through

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the early years provision

The childminder has organised systems in place to ensure that new parents complete all required information about their children and this promotes children's safety and welfare. Parents sign when they have read all the childminder's written policies and procedures and this ensures that they understand the regulations. Parents exchange verbal information regularly with the childminder at delivery and collection times, however they do not see or contribute to children's assessment records to enhance or extend children's progress. The childminder has begun to make some links with other carers in the local community. She shows a proactive attitude to seeking information and attending training when possible; she understands how to obtain guidance and information to promote her provision. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

Younger children are secure and settled because they enjoy care and affection at all times from the childminder. They have ample attention and understanding because the childminder knows their characters and their daily routines; especially when they become unsettled and show tiredness and discomfort from teething. They become interested in different play equipment because the childminder continually finds items at their level for children to investigate and handle. She is very aware of their limited attention span and encourages children with active play. For example, they learn to use a hammer and repeat this several times enjoying the action and the sound. They handle bricks and learn to stack these, listening to the childminder as she counts in low numbers. Children enjoy finding resources in boxes and the childminder positively encourages them. Younger children are learning to develop an understanding of imaginary play because the

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and outcomes for children

childminder creates conversations with the small fireman and encourages children to say 'hello'. Babies attending are developing their language as the childminder introduces vocabulary and sounds.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder has begun to assess children's development through observation and through linking with the areas of learning, although she does not clearly recognise and identify children's next steps in progress to enable her to plan and provide activities to further challenge children and support their learning more effectively. Children can move freely on the ground floor of the home, they crawl capably and learn to stand and reach. They chase balls when the childminder rolls these along the hall and they hold balls and learn to throw. The indoor area is safe and younger children are very effectively supervised. They are securely strapped in the high chair when eating and cannot access the stairs or the rear of the premises.

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and outcomes for children

Younger children are encouraged to drink frequently and they are eager to have snacks. They eat in a clean and hygienic kitchen, learning to pick up blueberries from the high chair tray and manage independently. Their health and welfare is promoted through regular physical activities, learning to stand and balance in preparation for walking and they often have access to outside play or daily outings. The childminder clearly recognises tiredness in younger children and she promotes daily routines for sleeping and resting. Older children are encouraged to take part in cooking activities, learning how food is made by making cakes or safely practising techniques of tossing pancakes with a cold pan.

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and outcomes for children

Children are encouraged to have a positive attitude at all times because the childminder shows a happy disposition, encouraging and modelling good behaviour. Children use their fingers to move the coloured beads on the wire while the childminder counts these. They handle the balloon on a string and watch the movement, while the childminder talks about the balloon going up and down. They show a keen interest in toy keys and small pretend mobile phones when the childminder provides them. Babies and children have consistent opportunities to develop future skills through their play and investigation. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 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 3 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 3

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 3 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 3

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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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