Childminder in Derbyshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 207682 Inspection date 20/07/2011 Inspector Yvonne Layton

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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 1998 and lives with her husband and adult children in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding. There is an enclosed garden available for outside play. The childminder drives and/or walks to take and collect children from local schools and pre-schools. She undertakes outings.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six under eight-year-old at any one time, of whom no more than three may be in the early years age range. There are currently eight children attending, two of whom are within the Early Years Foundation Stage. All attend on a part-time basis. The childminder also offers care to children aged over five years. She is registered on the Early Years Register and on both the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder holds a NNEB childcare qualification.

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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

Children make good progress in learning and development and their welfare is soundly supported. The childminder has a good understanding of equality of opportunity and inclusive practice is carefully promoted, with children's needs effectively met. Links with parents, schools and other childcare providers are effective and help to ensure consistency in children's care and learning.

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further?

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

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further?

 consolidate the educational programmes, with particular regard to devising a system that demonstrates that individual children's developmental next steps are followed up  consolidate documentation by locating and integrating the procedure for an allegation being made against the childminder into the safeguarding policy and include in the medical procedure that non-prescribed medication may be administered only when there is a health reason for doing so.

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the early years provision

Children are effectively protected as the childminder has secure knowledge of her role and responsibility for safeguarding children. She has up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding procedures, supported by an effective policy. However, at the inspection the childminder was unable to locate her procedure for if an allegation was made against her. She effectively recounted the procedure and was adamant she has a written statement. Children's welfare is promoted well as the required This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 and many additional records, policies and procedures are in place. However, the medication procedure and records do not include that non-prescribed medicines can only be given if there is a health reason for doing so. Children's well-being is assured as the childminder is very alert to their safety, both in the home and on outings. Security of the premises is robustly enhanced by detailed risk

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the early years provision

assessments. Established fire evacuation procedures ensure that children are protected. The childminder is very clear about her individual responsibilities and has clear procedures for visitors to the home. Children's health is supported soundly as she has established consistent hygiene procedures and routines. Equipment and resources are well maintained, clean and suitable for their use.

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the early years provision

Children are helped to make good progress and their development is encouraged as the childminder is knowledgeable about implementing all aspects of the learning and development elements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. All planned and spontaneous activities and individual assessments are linked to the areas of learning and outcomes for children. The childminder is clear about visiting all of the areas of learning. Individual development assessments clearly record children's progress and identify their next steps. However, there is no system to follow up and acknowledge when the next steps are completed.

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the early years provision

Partnerships with parents are very well established which help to create consistency between the home and the setting. They are provided with quality information about the care and education of their child, including an extensive variety of photographs. Parents have access to their child's assessment file and are able to make comments. Parents have access to their child's assessment file and are able to make comments. The files relate the story of their child's time with the childminder, many from a very young age. They include personalised portrait photographs and children eating and sleeping as well as enjoying activities. Parents complete a questionnaire at the start and ongoing during the placement, about the needs and care of their child. There is ongoing daily discussion about each child, between the childminder and their parents.

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the early years provision

Inclusive practice is well promoted and all children are included in activities. She is very responsive to individual personalities and development. The childminder is confident in her knowledge of how to develop children's understanding of diversity so that all differences are valued fully. Close liaison with other groups and schools children attend enhance the care and learning of children.

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the early years provision

Children's well-being is significantly enhanced due to the ongoing passion of the childminder for her own professional development and improvement of the setting. She holds a childcare qualification, attends further training and undertakes her own research to update her skills and knowledge. She is extremely proactive to evaluate all aspects of the provision, including seeking the opinions of parents through feedback and involvement in the self-evaluation form. Personal reflection and evaluation of all aspects of the provision is ongoing and enhanced by knowledge-sharing and evaluation within the childminder group she attends. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

The childminder is keen to provide children with a positive experience and a sound base to support their learning through a range of planned, unplanned and child-led activities which ensures that they make good progress towards the early learning goals. They are happy with the childminder and interactions are very good. Individual children's planning of activities ensures that individual learning needs are well met, such as colour recognition and transition for school. Plans are flexible and the childminder actively encourages self awareness by promoting self selection and children's ideas and interests are actively sought. After children enjoy playing with small world aeroplanes, they go to the library, select related books and visit a local airport. On return to the home, children draw and paint what they have seen. They make kit and paper aeroplanes.

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and outcomes for children

Daily routine and outings to local amenities are used to promote children's learning. Play is purposeful as the childminder gives appropriate, constructive encouragement and ideas about activities. Children's communication skills are enhanced as the childminder poses challenging questions that get them to consider, question and experiment. There is a strong ethos to explore and investigate using discussion.

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and outcomes for children

Favourite stories are used to link all of the areas of learning such as alongside learning about nature, a story is used for children to learn about healthy eating as they make a wall frieze and discuss what the story character eats and if it is healthy. Children learn about the natural world as they hunt for bugs and other creatures in the garden and a local pond. They investigate the creatures using magnifying glasses. They identify them from books and make drawings of them. Children are involved in making lists and going to the shop to buy food. Throughout colour, letter, calculation and mark-making, development is supported within all activities. for example, when walking they seek out different coloured cars and doors.

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and outcomes for children

Children enjoy games, stories and group activities, both at the home and children's groups. Creativity is supported well as all children enjoy access to a variety of planned and free-choice creative activities, such as, free painting, feet printing, dough, gluing and sticking. They learn about diversity through discussions supported by pictures, celebrations, books and resources. Children learn social awareness and have a sense of self worth as they follow the childminder's behaviour boundaries based on individual development and personality. She is a good role model and the consistent use of praise and positive reinforcement contributes effectively to the children developing a good sense of self and belonging to a wider family group.

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and outcomes for children

Children's health and safety is well promoted. The childminder discusses with the children about maintaining good personal care and safety. They are protected and their welfare supported as the childminder integrates health and safety within activities. Children learn about personal safety, as when on outings the childminder has strong safety routines of which children are expected to follow. Children's This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 physical skills and good health is promoted as outdoor activities are a main focus of the setting, with the childminder providing a wide range of outdoor resources alongside indoor activities that are taken outside. Their physical skills are enhanced by visits to various children's amenities and parks. 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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