Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY264699 Inspection date 07/09/2011 Inspector Lindsay Hare

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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 registered in 2003. She lives with her husband and three children aged 16, 13 and 10 years in Stevenage. The childminder uses the ground floor for childminding with the exception of the utility room and office. There is a safe and secure area for outside play. The childminder provides care before and after school, all year round.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children at any one time, three of whom may be in the early years age range. She is currently caring for six children, of whom; four are within the early years age range. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register, and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. The family has a cat.

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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

The setting provides a generally safe and welcoming environment for children, ensuring they are all included and supported. The childminder has established excellent working relationships with parents and works closely with them to ensure children's individual needs are well met. Children make good progress in their learning and development because the childminder deploys her resources very well and provides a broad range of challenging learning opportunities for each child. All of the required documentation is in place to promote and safeguard children's welfare. The childminder has a strong capacity to maintain continuous improvement and is committed to improving her service for children and families.

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further?

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

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further?

 ensure that the risk assessment covers anything with which a child may come into contact; this relates to the sharp utensils in the kitchen and the accessibility of the fire blanket.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a clear knowledge and understanding of safeguarding children procedures and has attended training in child protection, this knowledge is underpinned by a clear policy which is shared with parents. She understands the importance of informing Ofsted of any changes and all adults within the home have undergone checks to ensure their suitability. There are excellent procedures in place for collecting children. The childminder supervises the children carefully and ensures the toys and materials they use are safe and appropriate for their ages. Risk assessments are generally comprehensive and daily checks are carried This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 out, however, some hazards still pose a risk to children. Very well organised documentation and good record keeping promotes the safety and welfare of the children and underpins the good quality care offered.

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the early years provision

A welcome pack containing clear written policies and procedures is shared with parents so that they know about the childminding provision. Positive written feedback demonstrates parents' high regard for the childminder and the service she offers. Daily written information is shared with parents so that they know about their child's day. The childminder has excellent relationships with parents, she gathers clear information from them so that she knows about children's individual interests and needs, and can provide consistency of care. For example, she has incorporated some phrases in an additional language at one parent's request and obtained dual language books for the setting. Good settling in procedures that are based around children's individual needs helps to support them in the transition between home and the childminding home.

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the early years provision

The childminder regularly updates her training and attends network meetings, from which she gains ideas for activities. She has a realistic self-evaluation process to identify areas for future development. She reflects and evaluates her practice, using feedback from parents to maintain continuous improvement and to monitor the progress children make in their learning and development. The childminder organises space and play resources effectively to meet children's needs, she has a good understanding of children's individual abilities and this enables her to provide play experiences and activities to support each child's growing skills. The childminder has sound strategies in place to care for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder has a very good understanding of how young children learn and this enables her to provide an interesting range of experiences and activities to support each child's learning and development. She organises her service to ensure that children receive individual attention appropriate to their needs. The activities she provides are relevant and take account of the young children's concentration levels. For example, after a trip to the fire station, the next steps were to write or draw thank you cards for the fire fighters and practise the fire drill. Planning is in place and is flexible so that it can be adapted to focus on and extend children's interests. The childminder observes children at play and the information gained from her observations is effectively used to identify the next steps in each child's learning. Parents are able to share these records and children add their own contributions, for example, children using the digital camera had

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and outcomes for children

their photos developed and added to their learning journal.

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and outcomes for children

Children develop their early literacy skills because the childminder ensures they have lots of good quality experiences to promote these skills. For example, children have access to a selection of books which they enjoy or they visit the local library to choose additional books. They are encouraged to recognise their name when putting labels on their work and draw their own trail maps through the woods. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 Children learn about number and colour through everyday activities, they sort the purple cubes and count how many they use to build a tower and enjoy using the cash register whilst playing shops. Children begin to be problem solvers as they confidently operate simple equipment, such as, push and play, and pop-up toys.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder provides an inclusive environment where each child is valued and they are clearly relaxed and comfortable in her care. Young children demonstrate their security and familiarity with the surroundings and the routine, for example, they knew to wash their hands before snack and then to sit at the table. Resources are in place that helps children celebrate the diverse society in which they live. They regularly go out in the local area helping them to make sense of the world and their place within it. For example, they feed the ducks, visit parks, the local museum, and have taken the cat to the vets. Children collect eggs from the farm and make omelettes and pick blackberries to make a blackberry crumble.

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and outcomes for children

Children enjoy varied opportunities for exercise; they practise their physical skills at the park or in the garden and join in with music and movement local group sessions. This helps them to develop good muscle control, feel relaxed and develop a sense of overall well-being. Children's fine motor skills are promoted as they thread cereal to make necklaces and use a safety knife to cut up fruit and salad. Children behave well because the childminder has clear boundaries to help them understand about responsible behaviour. She uses clear instructions and gentle reminders which helps them to learn about sharing resources and taking turns. The childminder encourages children to have a healthy attitude towards food because she provides balanced and nutritious meals and snacks, as well as ensuring that all children have independent access to drinks. The children are fully involved in chopping up fruit for snack and help to make their own pizzas for

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and outcomes for children

lunch. Reminders and simple explanations increase children's awareness of personal hygiene and why they need to wash their hands before eating. 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 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 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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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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