Childminder in Darlington

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY424463 Inspection date 08/09/2011 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 in the Harrowgate Hill area of Darlington. The childminder has two pet cats. The whole of the ground floor and the first floor bathroom are used for childminding. Children have use of a rear garden for outdoor play. The home is accessed by two steps. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register, as well as, the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She is registered to care for a maximum of three children aged under eight years, 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, of which one is in the early years age group. The childminder cares for children Wednesdays to Fridays from 8.15am to 5.15pm for 46 weeks of the year. She takes and collects children from the local school and to a variety of local parent and toddler groups.

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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 provides a welcoming environment for children. She has suitable procedures in place to gather most of the legally required information from parents, this helps to ensure that all children are included at her setting. Although only working as a childminder for a short period of time, she has developed satisfactory procedures to show the suitable progress children are making towards the early learning goals. The childminder is beginning to evaluate her practice and has a suitable understanding of her strengths and areas for development.

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further?

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

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further?

 request written parental permission to seek any necessary emergency medical advice or treatment. (Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare) 08/09/2011

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further?

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

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further?

 develop systems for recording children's progress, including matching observations to the areas of learning and identifying learning priorities  obtain written parental permission for children to take part in outings  update the record of risk assessment to include any assessments of risks for outings and trips. 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 safeguarded appropriately at the setting as the childminder has a sound understanding of the signs and symptoms of abuse, and is clear about procedures to follow should she have a concern about a child. A suitable record of risk assessment for the home is in place and this is combined with appropriate safety equipment, such as stairgates, socket covers and cupboard locks to ensure that children are kept safe within her home. The childminder keeps children safe on outings as she carries out visual risk assessments for each outing and implements appropriate safety procedures. For example, using pushchairs and maintaining close supervision of children. However, she has not obtained written consent from parents to take children on outings or included outings in her record of risk assessment. This does not fully protect children's welfare. The childminder has not requested written permission from parents to obtain emergency medical

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the early years provision

treatment. This is a breach of the legal requirements although the risk to children is minimised as the childminder does have emergency contact numbers for parents and is clear about procedures she would follow in the event of an emergency. The childminder holds an up to date first aid certificate which ensures she could respond appropriately to minor accidents.

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the early years provision

The childminder makes appropriate use of space and resources. A suitable range of resources are set out for children and stored at low level to encourage children to move around the space and make independent choices about their play. The childminder demonstrates a suitable understanding of the importance of developing her practice. She is committed to attending further training to promote her understanding of good quality childcare and has begun to make use of the Ofsted self-evaluation form to monitor and evaluate her practice.

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the early years provision

Suitable procedures are in place to work with parents. Parents sign to say they have read her policies and procedures and important information such as her insurance details and certificate of registration are displayed on a notice board. This helps to keep parents informed about her setting. The childminder gathers sufficient information from parents at the start to appropriately meet children's needs and ensure children are included at her setting. She keeps parents up to date about their child's learning and care through verbal feedback, texts and daily diary sheets. No children currently attend any other settings however, the childminder demonstrates a positive attitude towards working with other providers if required to ensure continuity and learning for children.

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and outcomes for children

Children are happy and settled at the childminder's home as she provides a friendly environment for them. The childminder demonstrates a secure understanding of the learning and development requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage and uses this to ensure that children receive an appropriate This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 balance of adult- and child-led activities. The childminder uses photographs and the Early Years Foundation Stage framework to show progress children are making towards the early learning goals. However, she has not included observations of their learning which are linked to the early learning goals; this makes it difficult to see how children's next steps have been identified. This however, has a minimal impact as the childminder is only caring for one child at present and clearly knows him well.

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and outcomes for children

Children take part in a suitable range of activities through attending a variety of weekly toddler groups. This provides the children with lots of opportunities to socialise with their peers. For example, they go to rhyme time sessions at the local library and begin to develop their creative skills as they explore paint and make foot and hand prints at messy play sessions at the local Children's Centre. The childminder interacts well with the children and talks to them constantly for example, she chats to them about what they can see in the garden and about the weather. Babies chatter away in response to her, helping them to develop their emerging communication skills. The childminder explains how although children are still very young, she is beginning to introduce counting to them as they play for example, as they make towers out of stacking blocks she counts out loud how many blocks they have. Children move around the space confidently, crawling from

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and outcomes for children

room to room, pushing trains around and using furniture to pull themselves up, this helps to promote their physical development. A sufficient range of press button toys and playing with remote control bugs at the toddler groups helps children to begin to develop their skills for the future. Children are beginning to develop an awareness of diversity as the childminder attends a variety of groups where children socialise with children from different cultures and backgrounds. However, the childminder recognises this as an area for development as children get older.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder provides children with regular opportunities to be physical and have fresh air. For example, going for walks in their pushchairs or playing in ball pools in the garden. Meals are provided by parents however, the childminder understands the importance of a healthy diet. Children are beginning to understand about healthy lifestyles as even with babies, the childminder chats to them about how drinking milk 'will make their bones strong'. Children have suitable procedures to learn about keeping themselves safe. For example, older children practise road safety and fire drills. The childminder uses appropriate strategies for managing behaviour, this includes having consistent boundaries and giving lots of praise and encouragement. This results in children who are well settled 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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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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