Cox, Victoria

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY422490 Inspection date 02/08/2011 Inspector Jan Burnet

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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 2011. She lives in Studley, Warwickshire with her husband and two sons aged six and four years. The whole of the house is registered and there is direct access to a secure outdoor play area. There are toilet facilities on the ground floor and a first floor bathroom is also registered. The family has a dog.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She may care for four children aged under eight years at any one time and of these, two may be in the early years age group. The childminder is able to walk with children to and from the local school.

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Description of the childminding

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's understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage is sound. She meets each child's learning and development needs well and promotes their care needs effectively. The childminder is aware of her strengths and areas for improvement and is beginning to use this awareness to review her practice. Her commitment to continue to monitor and extend her practice within her childminding supports the development of children's care and learning appropriately. Information obtained from parents is good and helps the childminder to identify and address children's individual needs. Most required policies and procedures are shared with parents. The childminder ensures that all children are valued and included, but opportunities for children to learn about diversity are limited.

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further?

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

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further?

 make sure that parents are aware of the procedure for failing to collect their child at the appointed time (Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare). 16/08/2011

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further?

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

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further?

 develop systems for promoting and valuing diversity and difference to extend children's knowledge and understanding of their wider society This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

Children play in a safe, welcoming and child focussed environment. The childminder is aware of her responsibilities with regard to supervising children in her care. Necessary checks for herself and her husband have been completed and she ensures that children are never left unsupervised with a person who has not been vetted. A comprehensive written risk assessment identifies how potential hazards have been identified and addressed. The childminder is fully aware of her responsibility with regard to protecting children from abuse. She provides a thorough safeguarding policy for parents and makes sure that parents are aware of the Warwickshire Safeguarding Children Board procedures. Welfare requirements are being met generally well, but children's interests are not fully served because parents are not made aware of the procedure for a child not collected at the agreed time.

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the early years provision

The childminder is aware of the benefits of self-evaluation. She has begun to complete the Ofsted self-evaluation form. A priority for improvement is identified as developing the planning system for children's learning and development. Since registration the childminder has completed food hygiene training, and she has since received a silver award from the local environmental health officer. Following this the childminder has reviewed and improved practice in the kitchen, for example, she has introduced colour coded chopping boards and now monitors the temperature of the fridge as part of her daily risk assessment. External evaluation is welcomed. The childminder meets with a development worker at a group that meets in the local children's centre, and telephone contact with the worker is made periodically. In order to keep her safeguarding knowledge up to date the childminder has requested safeguarding training. The childminder makes sure that

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the early years provision

resources are appropriate to children's individual ages and stage of development and that toys are maintained in a good state of repair. Documentation is kept up- to-date.

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the early years provision

The partnership with parents is good. The childminder provides a booklet containing a range of policies and procedures. A handbook for parents contains detail on the childminder and her family, the Early Years Foundation Stage principals, the activities provided for children, and 'All about me' paperwork for parents to complete on their child. A folder shown to parents includes risk assessments, safeguarding information, healthy eating information, proof of Criminal Records Bureau clearances, and training certificates. A daily diary is kept for children aged under three years. Detail on registration, training and insurance is displayed on a notice board. Detail obtained from parents on their child's individual needs is thorough and in discussion, the childminder explains how she will ensure that the needs of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are met. She will do this by obtaining as much information as possible

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the early years provision

about each child's individual needs from parents and by agreeing with them how they can work together to meet these needs. Some resources reflect positive images of diversity, but opportunities for children to learn about other cultures, beliefs, traditions and abilities are limited. In discussion, the childminder is aware of the benefits of establishing and maintaining positive links with other early years This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 providers in order to ensure coherence of care and learning.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder is clear of her responsibilities with regard to ensuring that all children are challenged effectively in order to reach next steps in their learning. She is aware of each child's stage of development over the six areas of learning. The childminder keeps a record of children's achievements in individual folders and photograhs support the recorded evidence. Children are happy and settled. The childminder ensures that children feel emotionally secure by agreeing a gradual settling-in period and by building good relationships. Children benefit from a consistent routine and they enjoy activities in a child-centred environment. Independence is promoted well as children are able to choose and select resources and address their own personal hygiene needs. Older children are aware of simple house rules that include treating others with respect, being kind, sharing and helping to tidy away.

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and outcomes for children

Children make marks in a variety of ways and older children develop good pencil control. Manipulative skills develop well as children play with toys appropriate for their stage of development. Babies happily press the buttons on a range of interactive toys, grasp and shake musical toys, and explore the different textures inside books with the tips of their fingers. They grasp shapes and lift the lid on the posting box to put them inside, realising that they cannot manage to post into the appropriate shape space. Children make marks in corn flour, sand and dough, and babies make marks in the juice that they shake onto the tray of their high chair. Older children competently thread small beads, build with small construction toys, create models of animals with dough and are able to write their own name. Children enjoy easy access to a good variety of books that are suitable for different stages of development.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder encourages children to count and name colours and shapes as part of daily routines. Older children can count beyond 10 with one to one correspondence and learn to do so in practical ways. For example, whist baking children count out five cake cases and they are asked to fill each one to half full, making sure that there is enough mixture to go round for all of them. Children's creativity is promoted effectively. Older children join together and use their own imagination in their play. A favourite is dressing-up and pretending to be a fire fighter, playing mums and dads, and driving the toy tractor in the garden and pretending to plant seeds. Children enjoy playing a computer game that supports this interest, whereby they control the computer keys to plough and plant. Children enjoy singing and moving to music. They enjoy playing with a range of media that includes paint, clay, sand and water.

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and outcomes for children

Children are active and understand the benefits of physical activity. They develop skills and confidence as they play ball games and on swings and slides in the childminder's garden, and as they use equipment at the park that is suitable for all ages and stages of development. Children learn how to protect their own health, This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 for example, through the implementation of good hygiene practices and healthy eating. They develop an awareness of their own growth needs in relation to other living things as they plant and grow vegetables. Children learn how to keep themselves safe as they stop, look and listen before crossing the road and they gain an awareness of stranger danger. 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 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 3 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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