Childminder in Shropshire

Inspection report for early years provision

p.1

Unique reference number 506733 Inspection date 09/09/2011 Inspector Dianne Andrews

p.1

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.

p.1

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

p.2

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.

p.3

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).

p.3

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.

p.3

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

p.3

Description of the childminding

The childminder has been registered since 2001, originally in Warwickshire, moving to Shropshire in 2010. She lives in a detached house in a village near Shrewsbury, with her husband and three school age children. The conservatory, kitchen, lounge and hallway of the ground floor and bedrooms on the first floor are used when providing a childminding service. There is an enclosed garden around the property and an enclosed paddock for additional play. The family has a dog.

p.4

Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She presently has seven children on roll. She is a part of the Shropshire Network and is accredited to provide nursery education and is a member of the National Childminding Association.

p.4

The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is outstanding.

p.4

The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children's learning, development and welfare are extremely well promoted by the childminder. She is highly committed to working closely with parents, carers and other professionals, consulting with them regularly to enable her to meet children's individual needs. Her practice is exceptionally effective in ensuring that all children are well integrated and are achieving as much as they can. She is successful in overcoming barriers which could prevent this to provide a fully inclusive service. The childminder is rigorous in monitoring and analysing what she does well and what she needs to improve. As a result, actions taken are well targeted and bring about sustained improvement to the provision.

p.4

further?

To further improve the high quality early years provision the registered person should consider:

p.4

further?

 supporting further children's understanding of how hygiene promotes good health, with particular regard to hand-washing routines away from facilities in the home.

p.4

the early years provision

Children's welfare is prioritised and is very well promoted because the childminder has a comprehensive understanding of her responsibilities relating to safeguarding children. She has updated her knowledge to ensure she has a clear understanding of local procedures since moving to a new area of the country. The childminder obtains all required information about children and their families, so it is clear who has legal contact and parental responsibility for each child. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 Risk assessments are completed for all areas of the home and for visits and outings, and children's safety is very effectively considered in all areas. The childminder organises her time and the available space admirably to enable her to provide children with a high level of support and supervision. The impressive range of resources is exceptionally well presented throughout the property to provide a

p.4

the early years provision

stimulating and motivating environment. Children make free choices from the many accessible toys, books and equipment, and activities are tailored and adapted to ensure all children can participate.

p.5

the early years provision

The childminder has developed an extensive range of policies and procedures, which reflect the high quality care provided. Parents have access to these so that they gain a full understanding about the service. All documentation is extremely well organised, of a very high standard and regularly reviewed.

p.5

the early years provision

The childminder promotes inclusion exceptionally well. She keeps detailed records of each child's individual needs and all aspects of their progress. Partnerships with parents and carers are excellent and highly valued by the childminder. They are kept constantly informed of their child's day through verbal discussion and completion of a daily diary. The childminder actively encourages parents' and children's suggestions and comments. She sends out periodic questionnaires in order to gather their views. Parents confirm their complete satisfaction with the provision, stating that 'the childminder is very friendly and provides a flexible service to meet the family's needs. She is fantastic, providing a safe home' and 'the childminder is very professional and approachable.' They also praise the daily diary as a great way of knowing how their children have spent their day.

p.5

the early years provision

Parents are actively involved in their children's learning, reviewing their development profiles regularly and making valuable contributions. The childminder has implemented effective procedures for working in close partnership with other provisions. For instance, she has instigated a link book with the local pre-school to promote continuity.

p.5

the early years provision

The childminder is highly motivated and totally committed to providing a high level of care and education to ensure the best possible outcomes for children. There are robust systems in place to monitor and evaluate the provision and to ensure that improvements are made where necessary. For instance, the self-evaluation form has been completed to a very high standard, with further improvements planned to further enhance children's experiences. The childminder has a strong commitment to her own self-development. She has recently achieved accreditation status with the local network and regularly attends training courses and workshops, allowing her to constantly develop her wealth of knowledge and expertise. This has ensured the successful implementation of the Early Years Foundation Stage and enabled her to build on the extensive range of activities and opportunities enjoyed by the children. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

p.5

and outcomes for children

The welcoming, rich and varied environment plays a key role in supporting and extending children's learning. It is utilised to its full potential to provide children with choices about where and with what they wish to play. Children are extremely happy and confident in the childminder's care as they benefit from very good support and gentle encouragement to enjoy and achieve. They readily participate in a boundless range of exciting activities, which are suitable for their individual stages of development, ensuring they remain confident and motivated. The childminder knows each child exceptionally well and uses skilful questioning to develop their thinking. Her written observations, through learning journeys, are comprehensive and help her to identify the children's next steps for development. The planning develops through the interests and play-preferences of the children, and ensures that they benefit from an excellent balance of child-led and adult-

p.6

and outcomes for children

initiated activities that fully sustain their interest.

p.6

and outcomes for children

The superior organisation of the setting and provision of resources means that children are encouraged to explore and experiment, taking risks while being vigilantly supervised. They learn to keep themselves safe as they carry out their own risk assessments, recognising potential hazards and warning other children about them as they make notices to display. Their good health is promoted through the provision of nutritious and appetising snacks. The childminder is keen to provide free-range and local produce and encourages children to learn about sustainability through the use of eco-friendly and recyclable products. Children know to wash their hands after toileting or before eating their snacks and meals while in the home, and to use individual towels to prevent the spread of infection. However, the opportunity to consolidate their understanding of personal hygiene routines could be extended when away from the facilities in the home.

p.6

and outcomes for children

Children's progress in areas, such as communication and numeracy, are exceptionally good. Children use mathematical language and concepts competently in their play, supported and expertly challenged by the childminder, whether in planned activities or spontaneous moments. Within a range of activities, children are encouraged to discover the odd one out or to match and sort within a group of items, successfully developing early problem-solving skills. They take part in innovative activities to promote sequencing, ordering their own digital photographs of activities they have taken part in. Children's access to books is effectively promoted. They make excellent use of story books and reference books, choosing from the wide range which are attractively displayed in many areas of the premises. Their language development is fully supported. Children are encouraged to voice decisions, to join in discussion and offer their thoughts. Through

p.6

and outcomes for children

innovative mediums, such as making simple recordings of words they say, children listen, repeat and are inspired to contribute. The use of communication modes, such as 'sing and sign', aims to aid children's understanding of the world.

p.6

and outcomes for children

Children delight in the rich variety of activities both in and out of the home. They have great opportunities to discover things for themselves as they experience many natural materials, for instance, building dens in 'hidden' areas of the garden This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 or experiencing the textures, smells and properties of the fruits of the trees. They have opportunities to visit local amenities and experience being part of the community. For instance, during a 'wedding theme' they visit the nearby church to take part in a service to celebrate the royal wedding and when searching for varieties of fruit growing in the area they visit a neighbour's home and discover grapes growing on a vine. Children enjoy an active lifestyle and greatly benefit from first-hand experience with the seasons and the weather and from plenty of robust exercise using the vast outdoor facilities at the childminder's home, for

p.6

and outcomes for children

instance, running, tackling obstacle courses, climbing steps, jumping on the trampoline, manoeuvring wheeled toys and digging in sand and gardening. They are helped to recognise the effects and benefits of exercise on their bodies.

p.7

and outcomes for children

Children's behaviour is exemplary. They learn to take turns and begin to share as they are gently encouraged to treat one another with care and respect. Their emotional development is promoted extremely well as they develop secure, trusting relationships with the childminder. The highly stimulating environment fully reflects the children's backgrounds and the wider community. The resources and displays commendably introduce interesting aspects of diversity and the wider world. The 'daddies are special' display welcomes parents into the provision and includes children's own 'daddy' photographs, enhancing their sense of belonging. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

p.7

Annex A: record of inspection judgements

The key inspection judgements and what they mean

p.8

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

p.8

children in the Early Years Foundation Stage?

The capacity of the provision to maintain continuous improvement

p.8

Early Years Foundation Stage

The effectiveness of leadership and management in embedding ambition and driving improvement The effectiveness with which the setting deploys resources 1 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 1 The effectiveness of the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement The effectiveness of partnerships 1 The effectiveness of the setting’s engagement with parents and carers

p.8

Stage

The quality of the provision in the Early Years Foundation Stage 1

p.8

Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 1 The extent to which children feel safe 1 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 1 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 1 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 1

p.8

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

p.8

Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register are: Met

p.9

Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are: Met

p.9