Childminder in Leicestershire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY401514 Inspection date 09/09/2011 Inspector Jayne Rooke

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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 11 and 12 years, in Hinckley, Leicestershire. The whole of the ground floor, and one bedroom on the first floor of the property is used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The childminder takes and collects children from local schools and pre-schools. The family has two rabbits.

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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 whom no more than three may be in the early years age range. There is currently one child on roll who is within the Early Years Foundation Stage. The childminder also offers care to children aged over five to eight years. She is registered on the Early Years Register and on the compulsory part of the Childcare Register. The childminder supports children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and children who speak English as an additional language. She is a member of the National Childminding Association and receives support from the local authority advisory service.

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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 are actively engaged in a stimulating and varied range of play and learning experiences, which present good levels of challenge. They settle and separate happily from their parents, within the childminder's welcoming and inclusive home. Their development and progress is supported well in most areas, through effective observation and assessment. Partnerships with parents are secure, leading to consistent care for each child. The childminder is beginning to develop useful partnerships with other childcare professionals to enhance children's care and learning. She has a positive approach to self- review which brings about continuing developments in her practice.

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further?

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

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further?

 improve the use of observations and assessments to identify children's next steps in each area of learning  develop opportunities for partnership working where children receive care and education in more than one setting  develop opportunities to offer support to parents for extending their child's learning in the home. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

Children are fully safeguarded because the childminder is confident in her knowledge of how to protect them from harm and neglect. Her comprehensive written policies and records, cover all aspects of the provision and work well in practice, ensuring children's safe care. She conducts thorough safety checks of her home and is vigilant about children's safety outside of the home.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a positive approach to equality and diversity, supporting the needs of each child based on their individual routines and preferences. She uses books, toys and discussion effectively, to help children learn to respect and value people who have different lifestyles, religions, ethnicity and abilities.

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the early years provision

The childminder uses self-evaluation systems successfully to identify what works well and to highlight key areas for improvement, leading to clear action plans for continuous development in all aspects of her provision. She seeks the views of parents through discussion and questionnaires to guide and inform her practice. She is committed to developing her professional knowledge and skills, attending a variety of training courses throughout the year. She is beginning to consider new ways of sharing ideas and information with other childcare providers, although this area of her practice is still in its infancy. She builds strong and trusting relationships with parents and carers, keeping them well informed about their child's daily routines and activities. She shares useful information about each child's development and progress, which gives parents' some idea of the meaning and purpose of the educational programmes, although this is not yet fully

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the early years provision

extended to supporting children's learning at home.

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the early years provision

The childminder provides a warm and welcoming home, where children feel relaxed and comfortable in her care. She is actively engaged in their play, encouraging them to develop their confidence and self-esteem. A varied and exciting range of toys and equipment are readily accessible to support children's development and progress.

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and outcomes for children

Children thoroughly enjoy a full range of exciting play and learning experiences. Their individual interests and abilities are monitored through continuous observation and assessment, although children's next steps in each area of learning, is not always clearly identified. However, this has minimal impact on their progress overall, because the childminder provides a well-planned programme of activities, which help them to make good progress towards the early learning goals. For example, very young children develop confidence in their communications, linking sounds and letters as they form new words in their vocabulary. They have fun repeating words that they hear as they become familiar This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 with their meaning. They show curiosity and interest in themselves and others, pointing to and naming the different features of their face. They play with toys

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and outcomes for children

which reflect diverse communities, helping them to value people's differences and similarities. They join in with rhyming and counting songs which stimulate their interest in numbers and patterns. This area of their learning is further enhanced as they play with magnetic shapes and numbers, developing strong skills for reading and counting. They have good access to a range of creative materials, enabling them to make marks and practise holding crayons and pens, developing the skills they need in the future to write and draw recognisable words and pictures.

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and outcomes for children

Children explore and investigate in a number of ways, showing fascination and curiosity as they place toys in and out of boxes. They work out how things fix together in their construction play and delight in the effect of knocking things down again. They recognise how to operate simple action toys, turning on switches and lifting flaps to find things out and make things work. The childminder skilfully builds on children's current interests and themes, using torch-light reflections to add excitement to their investigative play. Outings to places of interest such as the local library and the park, provide further opportunities for children to practice and consolidate their knowledge, as they attend the 'wriggly readers' group and make comparisons between leaves and trees of different shapes and sizes.

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and outcomes for children

Children become confident in their own abilities, as they receive lots of praise for being 'very clever' for their successful achievements. They gain increasing control of their movements, stretching out for toys that are placed beyond reach to encourage their crawling, and pull themselves up on furniture when they are ready to stand upright. They respond positively to musical sounds and games, wiggling their body in time to different beats and rhythms. They develop strong sensory awareness as they play with musical instruments, using their hands to make sounds on the drum and shaking the tambourine to create a different sound. They learn what is expected of them, as the childminder gently guides them away from inappropriate behaviour that may put themselves or others at risk. Children benefit from regular fresh air and exercise each day. They tuck into snacks which are healthy and nutritious, and are offered drinks regularly throughout the day so that

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and outcomes for children

they do not become too thirsty. The childminder is attentive to children's changing needs and routines, offering a good balance of active play, rest and relaxation. This promotes their healthy growth and development. 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 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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