Childminder in Gateshead

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY418288 Inspection date 31/08/2011 Inspector Julie Morrison

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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 with her partner and seven-year- old twins in Gateshead. The family have two pet cats, a rabbit, stick insects, millipedes and giant African land snails. The whole of the ground floor and the bathroom on the first floor are used for childminding. Children have use of a rear garden for outdoor play.

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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 is registered to care for a maximum of four children aged under eight years at any one time, of whom three may be under five and one may be under one. She is also registered to care for children aged over eight years. The childminder is currently caring for two children, both of whom are in the early years age group. The childminder cares for children on weekdays from 7.30am to 6pm for 47 weeks of the year. She takes children to the local parent and toddler group.

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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 enthusiastic and friendly childminder provides a warm and welcoming environment for all children. She has suitable procedures in place to gather information from parents to ensure that she is aware of children's individual needs; this helps to promote an inclusive environment. The childminder is beginning to introduce observations of the children's learning, and this is combined with an appropriate range of fun activities to support children's satisfactory progress towards the early learning goals. All documentation required to promote children's welfare is in place and satisfactory systems have been established to evaluate practice and identify areas for improvement.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop systems to observe, analyse and use the information about children to plan for the next steps in their learning  promote effective continuity and progression by sharing relevant information about children's learning and development with other provisions and parents update the record of risk assessment to include all types of outings and trips.

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the early years provision

Children are appropriately safeguarded as the childminder demonstrates a suitable understanding of safeguarding issues. This is supported by a written policy and a clear understanding of procedures to follow if she has a concern about a child. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 Suitable systems are in place to gather all relevant information in order to meet children's needs, for example, dietary requirements and routines. These are kept up to date and stored confidentially to further safeguard children. A suitable record of risk assessments for the home, along with appropriate safety procedures, such as keeping doors locked and using stair gates, ensures children are kept safe within the home. However, although risk assessments are in place for some outings, they have not been completed for all types of outings, for example, walks to the park and visits to the library. This has a low impact on children's safety as

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the early years provision

the childminder implements effective systems, such as practising road safety and maintaining close supervision of children at all times. The childminder holds a current first aid certificate and has requested consent from parents to obtain emergency medical treatment. This means she could respond quickly and appropriately to any accidents.

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the early years provision

Appropriate procedures are in place to work with parents. The childminder explains to parents at the start how she works and a file of her policies and procedures is available for parents to view at all times. Daily feedback keeps parents up to date about their child's care and they speak positively about the care and learning their children receive. However, the childminder has not developed procedures to share observations of the children's progress with parents or other providers of the Early Years Foundation Stage. This makes it difficult for parents to be effectively involved in supporting their child's ongoing learning and does not support continuity of learning for children who attend more than one setting.

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the early years provision

Although relatively new to minding, the childminder is developing a suitable understanding of her strengths and areas for improvement. She demonstrates a positive attitude towards developing her practice through attending further training and is beginning to make use of the Ofsted self-evaluation form. Space and resources are organised suitably at the childminder's home and colourful displays of the children's work help to promote their sense of belonging. Children move around the space confidently, and freely choose from a suitable range of resources, many of which they can independently access.

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and outcomes for children

Although children have not been attending for long, they are happy and settled in the childminder's care. The childminder is friendly and enthusiastic, and children are clearly developing close relationships with her. The childminder is beginning to develop a suitable understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage and, although in their infancy, has introduced systems for observing children's learning and development. However, at present these are not dated and do not identify children's next steps in learning. This makes it difficult to track progress or to see how observations are used to inform planning. The childminder is, however, getting to know the children and has a satisfactory understanding of their individual learning. This is combined with an appropriate range of fun activities to help children make suitable progress in their learning and development.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder engages appropriately with the children to extend their learning. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 Fully involved in their activities, she supports their language development as she talks to them constantly, for example, encouraging them to name colours and introducing language such as 'bigger' and 'the same as' into their play. Children clearly enjoy books, selecting them with the childminder and sitting on her knee as she reads stories to them and encourages them to talk about the pictures. Planned activities, such as making cakes, are used to good effect to support children's number skills. For example, the childminder encourages the children to count how many spoons of sugar they need and to help to weigh the ingredients. This helps children to learn in a fun way. Children learn about the natural world as they talk about the cocoon they have, explaining how it was a caterpillar and will turn into a

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and outcomes for children

moth, and go on trips, for example, to the museum. The childminder is beginning to support children's awareness of diversity by introducing resources which reflect positive images of race and gender, and she has recognised this as an area for further development. Children develop their skills for the future as they access an adequate range of push-button toys, including toy laptops and a CD player.

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and outcomes for children

Children's knowledge of personal safety is appropriately encouraged through discussion. For example, the childminder gives them gentle reminders to sit on the chairs so they do not get hurt. Children enjoy a suitable range of activities that contribute to their good health. For example, they go for walks to the park and play on scooters. The childminder understands the importance of providing a healthy and balanced diet. Children enjoy snacks of fresh fruit, and the childminder talks to them about the importance of not eating too much sugar. Children are developing an understanding of responsible behaviour as a consistent approach is employed by the childminder. She encourages children to share and be kind to each other and provides lots of praise to reinforce positive behaviour. As a result, children behave well and are settled and secure in her care. 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 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 3 The extent to which children feel safe 3 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 3 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 3 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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