Sibcy, Rosemary Claire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY397644 Inspection date 21/07/2011 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 2009. She lives with her husband and two children aged nine and 11 years old in Earls Barton, Northamptonshire close to shops, schools, parks and public transport links. The whole of the ground floor of the childminder's house is used for childminding and there is an enclosed garden for outside play. The family have a cat.

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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 three of which may be in the early years age range and she is currently minding one child in this age group. She also provides care to children aged over five years to 10 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 collects children from the local school.

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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 a very well developed knowledge of individual children's needs and enables her to be successful in promoting their care and learning. Children are safe and secure and they enjoy the childminder's sensitive and enthusiastic interaction with them. The partnership working with parents and other providers delivering the Early Years Foundation Stage are strong and these are significant in ensuring that the needs of all children are well met. This means that children make rapid progress given their age, ability and starting points. The childminder has implemented effective procedures to evaluate her daily activity with the children and she has identified her priorities for future development.

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further?

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

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further?

 ensure that sufficient detail is recorded in the accident book  improve the risk assessment by recording each type of outing the children are involved in  develop further the processes for observation and assessment to ensure that all the documents link together and that evidence is in place of the identified next steps being re-visited to clearly show children's progression.

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the early years provision

The childminder is committed to providing children with high quality experiences and a safe environment. Safeguarding is given high priority. All the adults in the household have the required clearances in place and the childminder fully This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 understands her responsibilities relating to the Local Safeguarding Children Board guidelines in the event of any concerns. The childminder's documentation is generally good and her policies and procedures underpin her good awareness of safety. For example, she has comprehensive written risk assessments in pace that cover all aspects of her house and garden. However, although, children are safe during outings with the childminder, she does not currently record each type of outing the children are involved in on the risk assessment document. The childminder maintains high levels of supervision both at home and when out

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the early years provision

The childminder holds a current first aid certificate and keeps written records of accidents that are signed by parents. However, she does not record specific information about the site of the bump or injury sustained. Children have access to an abundance of beautifully presented and maintained play materials and resources in the dedicated playroom. This room is decorated with the children's work, photographs and posters showing the world, flags and a display of children from around the world that the children were involved in making. They are able to help themselves from the low-level shelves and units and they can use the mark making materials and the computer as they wish. Children enjoy having free-flow from the conservatory into the garden. Despite the good levels of leadership and management, the childminder's very strong commitment to the children secures outstanding outcomes for them.

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the early years provision

The childminder has developed effective working partnerships with the children's parents and with other providers of the Early Years Foundation Stage that are involved with them. Parents are provided with daily feedback about their child's routine, about the activities they have enjoyed and their child's record of achievement is shared with them regularly. The childminder values their input and works hard to secure this relationship to benefit the children. The childminder has close links with the local school and systems are in place for the sharing of information about topics and themes. This 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 good start to the process of self-evaluation. She is familiar with the process through her other employment in a pre-school. She has identified her many areas of strong practice and has considered her priorities for future development. The childminder demonstrates a good capacity for continuous improvement. She continues to develop her knowledge and understanding through attending relevant training courses and through cross-referencing certain information from the pre-school. She is keen to continue with self-evaluation to ensure her service responds to the needs of the children she cares for.

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and outcomes for children

Children thoroughly enjoy attending this friendly and vibrant setting. The childminder knows them all extremely well and she is skilled in anticipating their needs and in providing a fun, stimulating range of activities and resources. Children are fully involved in the setting. For example, they look through This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 catalogues to choose new resources and they are involved in the planning of activities through making suggestions of what they would like to do. For example, a child said they wanted to bake cookies. The childminder shows expert practice by being prepared for this before the child arrived and involved them in the whole process through the weighing and measuring of the ingredients, including identifying which is the teaspoon and which is the dessert spoon, the mixing, laying them about on the baking tray and watching them go in the oven. The

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and outcomes for children

children talked about each ingredient as they went in the bowl and commented on the different smells and textures. This full involvement promotes children's developing skills across the six areas of learning and their confidence.

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and outcomes for children

Children clearly demonstrate that they feel safe in the childminder's home. They arrive from school happily and they know the flexible routines, including a snack after school and before playing with the activities. They are confident to talk to the childminder and to make their own choices and decisions. Each child is treated as a unique individual and with great respect. They all get on well together and understand the expectations for behaviour. Older children show care and concern for the younger ones and help them out during their activities. They talk together and enjoy being involved in group activities, such as making models with small construction bricks. The childminder has an excellent range of resources that celebrate diversity including dressing up clothes, musical instruments, books and posters. She has a file full of meaningful and relevant activities she offers to the children, in order to join in with the celebrations of festivals, such as Diwali and

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and outcomes for children

Chinese New Year. This file has been prepared following careful and thorough research to ensure the activities are appropriate for the children. The childminder has a range of interesting resources for activities, including a set of games and activities that are linked to the 'Letters and Sounds' training the she has attended. Children's dietary needs are managed very well. Following discussion with parents to find out about any allergies and preferences, they enjoy the range of healthy snacks that are provided for them by the childminder. They enjoy sitting together after school, talking and helping themselves to items, such as, cheese cubes, cucumber, breadsticks and milk. The children know the routine for maintaining their own personal hygiene and are ably supported to be independent in the bathroom.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder has highly effective systems in place for recording children's progression. She keeps written plans of activities for individual children that are based on their interests and suggestions. The plans are reviewed each week and cover all six areas of learning. The childminder ensures that she provides interesting and creative activities in her planning, such as, growing vegetables, flowers and herbs, dressing-up and science activities, involving floating and sinking. The written evaluations include quotes from the children about the activities, as well as any extension opportunities for the following week. Children also have written observations completed that are often backed up by photographs. These observations are recorded under each of the areas of learning. The childminder demonstrates a very good understanding of how to implement the Early Years Foundation Stage for individual children. Three times each year, the

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and outcomes for children

childminder completes the local authority tracking document for each child. However, although, the records show progression, the childminder does not currently link the three recording elements together or show evidence that she is This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 re-visiting the identified next steps for individual children. The childminder is committed to ensuring that all the children in her care are safe and happy. They benefit greatly from her highly positive involvement and genuine interest in what they are doing and this promotes their feelings of well-being and belonging in her home. 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 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 1

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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

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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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