Childminder in Milton Keynes

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY424376 Inspection date 26/07/2011 Inspector Cordalee Harrison

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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 is registered on the Early Years Register and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She lives with her husband and their two children. They live in Oxley Park, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. The whole of the childminder's home may be used for childminding. However, childminding activities are mainly contained to the ground floor of the premises. Children have access to the living room, play room and kitchen diner. There is provision for children to sleep in a first floor bedroom. There is an enclosed rear garden for children's outside play. The childminder's home is within walking distance of shops, parks, schools, preschools and other amenities. The family pet is a dog.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children under eight years at any one time, of these, three may be in the early years age group and of these, one may be under one year, at any one time. When working with one assistant, may care for no more than 12 children under eight years; of these, not more than three may be in the early years age group, and of these, not more than two may be under one year, at any one time. When working with two assistants, may care for no more than 12 children under eight years; of these, not more than nine may be in the early years age group, and of these, not more than three may be under one year at any one time. Currently, there are five children on roll, four are in the early years age group and one is in the older age group. The childminder currently works with one assistant.

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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 receive a very warm welcome in the childminder's home; they are at ease and confident in her care. The childminder engages parents consistently; and shares good quality information with them. The childminder meets children's welfare, learning and development needs with information that is individual to them. The childminder has breached one specific legal requirement; otherwise, weaknesses in provision are few and minor. Overall, she demonstrates good capacity for continuous improvements. She is enthusiastic about her work as childminder and values feedback from parents, inspections and other childcare practitioners to drive improvements for the benefit of the children.

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further?

To meet the specific requirements of the EYFS, the registered person must:

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further?

 ensure that parents written permission is in place for the seeking of emergency medical treatment or advice 26/08/2011 This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 for every child at the time of admission to the provision (Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare.)

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further?

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

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further?

 develop further children's observations and link the next step in their learning securely to the expectations of the early learning goals.

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the early years provision

Overall, the childminder safeguards children and promote their learning and development highly. She is knowledgeable about child protection matters and fully acknowledges her responsibility to safeguard children form abuse and neglect. She makes sure that her assistant has clear understanding of his role and the importance of working within the boundaries of her policies to safeguard children. The childminder shares safeguarding information with her assistant and parents, including contact numbers for the local authority and Ofsted. The childminder and her assistant supervise the children closely, they make that one of them can see the children at all times. The childminder plays close attention to matters of pertaining to children's health, both her and her assistant hold valid and relevant first aid qualifications. The childminder has clear procedures in place for the management of children's medication, health conditions and accidents. Appropriate

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the early years provision

records are in place and they include all of the required information. Additionally, they are acknowledged with parent's signature. However, the childminder does not gain parents written permission to seek emergency medical treatment or advice for children at the start of placement; this is a breach of specific legal requirements. Other documentation required, including attendance records, children's record forms and risk assessments are in place. They are accurate and up to day. The childminder's maintains safe and secure environments for child indoors and outside of the home. She takes effective safety precautions, which means that children do not have access to hazardous substances, or dangerous places. For example, they are not able to leave the premises unsupervised, childproof locks are fitted on appropriate cupboards and drawers and stair gates are in appropriate places. Fire detection and control equipment is place. Children move around freely to access

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the early years provision

their resources and increase their mobility.

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the early years provision

The childminder knows the value of good quality foods to children's overall development. She provides children with a varied range of home-prepared meals. She has completed the Smile Award Plus' training and she actively participates in the change for life programme. The childminder makes use of self-assessment to identify strengths and areas for improvement; she achieves good outcomes for children across her practice. For example, she has registered with the Local Food Standard Agency, and completed the relevant training. In addition, and she has supported her assistant to gain relevant first aid qualification. She is using training to drive improvement for children. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 The childminder demonstrates a positive attitude towards matters of equality. She treats each child and its parents with equal concern and respect. She engages with

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the early years provision

parents at an early stage parents to find out what is important to them for their child; they guide her about individual needs, cultural preferences and observances. Positive welcoming posters, let parents know that all are welcome. Resources to raise children's awareness of cultural diversity are a core part of the play provision. Through self-assessment, the childminder acknowledges that the practical resources to reflect disability are few; she identifies this as an area for her to improve. The childminder provides children with ample good quality play resources to deliver all areas of learning. Additionally, she deploys her assistant to make sure that children get high levels of individual and personal care. Parents praise the childminder highly for her enthusiasm, as well as the stimulating and well resources provision that she makes for children. They make positive comments such as; children now love books, and take a great interest in the outside

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the early years provision

environment. They say that children are always happy, involved, and excited to see the childminder. The childminder is developing good partnerships with other practitioner and professionals. The childminder shares the information that she gains for these professionals freely with the parents of the children she looks after.

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and outcomes for children

Children make connections across all areas of learning through well-planned daily activities. Learning opportunities are age appropriate, interesting, stimulating and fun. For example, through the music activity children learn to listen and follow instructions. They sequence numbers add and subtract, develop coordination, large and fine movements as they dance. Children enjoy messy play, the use of wet and dry sand, and paint makes it possible for even very young children to make marks. Very easy access to a wide range of exciting toys helps children to begin to make purposeful choices and to develop their individual learning styles. A variety of rattles and shakers encourages young children to make and listen to music. The manner in which the play environment is resources makes it easy for children to take control and initiate play. Children explore books independently; they consolidate learning as they relate the nursery rhyme that they are hearing the

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and outcomes for children

pictures on the wall. The childminder support the children very well to understand how the words and pictures connect. Letters, numerals and shapes are displayed at children's eye level. Pictures of children with different skin tones and expressions help children to begin to understand similarities and differences. They also use these resources to begin to understand the expressions of different emotions. The richly resourced learning environment supports children to achieve and enjoy, and to develop useful skills for the future through purposeful play. The childminder and her assistant praise the children, this boast children's confidence and lets them know they have done well. From a very early age, children are beginning to understand that their contributions are valuable.

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and outcomes for children

Children build and construct, with materials that are appropriate to their ages such as soft bricks, they further develop their understanding of solving problems with This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 the use of a variety of puzzles, including shape sorters. Young children learn about cause and effect as they use modern interactive play centers. For example, they learn that when they turn, or press the buttons different things happen, such as, music play and lights may flash. They learn that when they pull the strings the toy animals follow them as they walk or crawl. The childminder understands the value of children personal items, such as their comforters to their emotional well-being and contentment. She makes these readily accessible to children. Children demonstrate that they feel safe and that they belong, they explore the surrounding and use the resources at will. The childminder and her assistant know the children

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and outcomes for children

well, they are careful to follow the children's routines. They understand that this helps children to control their behaviour, because they know what to expect. Through the consistent attention that the childminder and her assistant give to children, children quickly learn that the adults who look after them are responsive to their moods and feelings. The childminder has started to do observation of children, and although they are regular, they are relatively new. At this stage observation records do not include the next step for each child progress, to be confident that every child's is making progress at a pace that is timely and specific to them. From very young ages, the childminder is helping children to lay the foundations for healthy lifestyles. She follows good hygiene Practices and makes sure that children are always clean and comfortable. Children enjoy many activities outdoors in the fresh air. In addition, to activities out in the community and play

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and outcomes for children

spaces, the garden is equipped to promote children's learning seamlessly, whilst they are getting physical exercise. The childminder offers children fresh drinking water throughout the day. Freshly prepared and cooked foods help them to develop their taste buds, and their sense of smell. Fresh fruits and vegetables are a core part of children's daily diet. 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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