Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY422832 Inspection date 23/08/2011 Inspector Shirley Peart

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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 February 2011. She lives with her partner and children aged seven, six and two years. They live in the residential area of Shiremoor in North Tyneside. The childminder's home is accessed by two steps. The whole of the ground floor and the bathroom and back bedroom on the first floor of the childminder's home are used for childminding. There is an enclosed garden for outdoor play. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder is registered to take a maximum of three children. There are currently two children attending who are within the Early Years Foundation Stage age group. She 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

Children are looked after in a safe, well set out, homely environment by a caring childminder who meets their individual needs appropriately. Children are settled and happy with her and make suitable progress. She has friendly relationships with parents as she keeps them well informed and has formed good working relationships with other providers of the Early Years Foundation Stage, so that children's continuity of care is well promoted. She has not yet formulated effective self-evaluation or a system of reflective practice to identify what she does well and what needs improving so that the provision can continue to develop. Children's learning, development and welfare is suitably promoted although some documentation and systems are not in place or used to fully support this.

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further?

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

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further?

 carry out regular fire drills with the children and record details of any problems encountered and how they were resolved  consider using a self-evaluation and reflective practice system as an ongoing process to identify priorities for improvement  develop the planning, observation and assessment systems to show how children make progress throughout the areas of learning towards the early learning goals.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a good awareness of safeguarding children. She knows what to do should she have concerns about a child and has all relevant contact numbers if she needs advice or to make a referral. She is aware that all adults living on the premises need to be checked by Ofsted and will request this for her partner. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 Although she is aware that she needs to abide by the numbers of children stated on the Ofsted certificate, she had made an error in the early stages of childminding by taking too many children in the early year's age group for a few months. Although this is a breach in her conditions of registration and is an offence, Ofsted does not intend to take further action as this practice is no longer in place because the childminder realised her mistake. Although the childminder completes daily safety check lists on her home and garden and has written risk assessments for

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the early years provision

outings, which helps to keep children safe from harm, she has not completed a full risk assessment on the premises. Therefore, this does not enable her to identify potential hazards, such as the mat or the newly acquired fish tank, thus not highlighting everything that a child may come into contact with. The childminder has clear procedures for emergency evacuation of the premises and appropriate fire detection and equipment is in place, however, she has not yet practised fire drills with the children to help them understand what to do in an emergency.

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the early years provision

The childminder is currently settling into her role and has a basic awareness of her own strengths and weaknesses and requests help and advice from the local childminding coordinator, however, she has not yet embarked on a system of reflective practice or formally identified what she does well and what she would like to improve, so that the quality of the provision can continually develop. The indoor environment is bright, spacious and airy. Toys and activities are age appropriate, easily accessible and well set out so that children choose to play on the floor or up at the table to do art and craft. They also use the outdoor area on a planned basis so that they get sufficient fresh air and exercise. Very good posters and books that reflect differences in languages and culture, are easily seen and accessed and she also actively seeks out appropriate resources to reflect and respect children's own home language. This shows that she has a positive attitude

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the early years provision

to diversity and helps children to learn that our society is made up of a variety of people.

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the early years provision

Parents are given a very good information document which includes written policy information which they sign in agreement. The childminder talks about their children's individual needs and routines and completes 'all about me' information, which helps children to settle into the provision. She exchanges verbal information and text messages with parents regularly throughout the day so that they are well informed. Parents are very happy with the provision and current parents express their positive views stating that their children 'love coming.' She has good relationships with the local school. She gives them a permission form to make them aware that she also has responsibility for sharing and receiving information to ensure continuity and coherence for children in her care.

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and outcomes for children

As children attend on a part time basis the childminder generally takes them out and about to various activities within the local community, such as to toddler groups, parks, 'Jelly Tots' messy play sessions and the allotment, which ensures that their all round development and enjoyment is suitably promoted. Although she This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 has a basic awareness of the Early Years Foundation Stage and the six areas of learning she has not yet fully developed a planning, observation, and assessment system that shows how the current children are making progress. She does however record snapshot captions alongside photographs in their daily diaries to show what children enjoy doing, which are effectively shared with parents. She also knows what the children are interested in as she describes what they are good at and what they enjoy doing and what their personalities are like. Therefore, she

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and outcomes for children

puts out their favourite toys for when they arrive to help them settle and she knows that for some children she needs to give regular reminders about staying safe.

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and outcomes for children

Children are self assured as they quickly settle with her and leave their parents easily. They are happy and become more animated when they go outside as they squeal happily and eagerly as they approach the equipment. Toddlers competently climb up the steps to the slide and manoeuvre themselves well on the sit and ride toys, thus promoting their physical skills well. Older children jump and bounce on the trampoline and spontaneously count their jumps correctly up to twenty demonstrating an appropriate knowledge of numbers in context. They concentrate well on their drawings and art work proudly stating that they have written their name. Toddlers use simple electronic equipment as they turn interactive toys on and off independently and the childminder encourages and supports them to do this. They also concentrate and persevere well as they put the doll onto the buggy and try to fasten them in, demonstrating play with a purpose.

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and outcomes for children

Children's behaviour is good, they are learning to share and take turns and are fully occupied as they make independent choices about what they would like to do. Their well being is successfully promoted as they receive sufficient fresh air and exercise on a planned basis. Older children manage their own self-care tasks well, such as visiting the bathroom and washing their hands. They enjoy healthy snacks and meals, such as tuna pasta and a mix of fresh fruit and they are reminded to have drinks after robust play outdoors so that they remain hydrated. Close interaction and support is provided by the childminder so that all children are included, for example, she sits toddlers on her knee so that they are involved in gluing and sticking at table activities and she ensures that they remain safe outside as she provides good supervision and gentle reminders as necessary. Therefore, children feel safe and secure in her care.

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and outcomes for children

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 3 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 3 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 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 3 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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