Childminder in Northumberland

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 403038 Inspection date 24/01/2011 Inspector Vivienne Dempsey

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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 1995. She lives with her husband and three children aged 20, 17 and 11 years in Morpeth. The whole of the ground floor and the upstairs bathroom of the property is used for childminding. There is an enclosed garden available for outside play. The childminder is able to take and collect children from local schools and pre-schools.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children under eight years at any one time, of whom no more than three may be in the early years age range. There are currently three children attending who are within the Early Years Foundation Stage, all of whom attend on a part-time basis. The childminder also offers care to children aged over five years. She is registered on the Early Years Register and on both the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register. She is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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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 experienced childminder provides good quality care, ensuring children are well cared for and their individual needs are well met. Effective systems for gathering information from parents and other providers ensure continuity in children's care and learning. The childminder is keen to develop the service she provides and works with other childminders to develop her knowledge and skills. She usually uses the Ofsted self-evaluation form to identify relevant priorities for development and acts on them, which helps to promote outcomes for children.

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further?

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

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further?

 register with the relevant Local Authority Environmental Health Department  access training made available by the local authority to develop knowledge and skills.

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the early years provision

Children are cared for in a safe and secure environment. Clearly defined safeguarding procedures and clearly maintained documentation ensures that children's welfare is promoted and their well-being safeguarded. The childminder has a good understanding of the signs and symptoms of abuse and knows who to contact with any concerns. Records for the safe and efficient management of the setting are maintained, such as, those of accidents, attendance and medication. These are up-to-date and signed by parents where appropriate. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 The childminder has developed warm trusting relationships with the children and their parents. Parents comment that 'children are motivated and enthusiastic when being dropped off at the childminder's home, and feel very lucky to have her as our childminder.'They also state that their 'child's development has come on in

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the early years provision

leaps and bounds since they have been in the childminder's care.' A wide range of practical information is collected through the children's records and a daily two- way sharing of information keeps parents fully informed of their children's progress.

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the early years provision

The childminder has built strong links with other providers, such as local nursery schools to promote continuity of children's care, learning and development. Although, there are no children currently on roll with special educational needs and/or disabilities, the childminder has good systems in place to support them. She has a varied knowledge of different cultures and resources and activities promote children's understanding of differences.

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the early years provision

A wide variety of resources support children's learning and development well. Children have independent access to activities and resources which enables them to make choices and decisions about what they do. The childminder is keen to develop the service she provides and works closely with other childminders to develop her knowledge and skills. She uses the Ofsted self-evaluation tool to evaluate her practice. However, some training made available by the local authority is not always regularly attended.

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and outcomes for children

Children are very happy and secure with the childminder. She knows the children well and provides a good range of activities and resources to meet their interests and stages of development. She has a good understanding of the six areas of learning and interacts with the children well. Good systems are in place to observe and assess children's learning and development and they are making good progress towards the early learning goals.

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and outcomes for children

Children understand and adopt healthy habits and clean their hands before lunch, which helps to prevent the spread of infection, protecting children's welfar e. The childminder provides a wide range of opportunities for the children to be active. For example, they regularly visit the local parks and play areas which helps to develop their large physical skills. The childminder provides a range of healthy snacks and drinks are freely available which helps to keep children hydrated during the day. Although the childminder has attended food hygiene training previously, she is not registered with the Local Authority Environmental Health Department. This does not fully protect children's good health.

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and outcomes for children

Children feel very safe and secure in the childminder's care. Children show they feel safe by confident and independent learning, making choices, helping themselves to toys and readily approaching the childminder if they need her help. Children are very well behaved and respond positively to the childminder's praise and encouragement. They engage in pretend and imaginative play and fully enjoy This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 playing with the helicopter, rescuing people and flying them to safety. Children enjoy sharing stories with the childminder and confidently choose their favourite books. This helps to develop children's interest in reading. Children talk about places they have been and confidently find Scotland in 'My First Atlas'. This develops children s awareness of the world in which they live. The childminder provides a good range of resources to develop children's awareness of number and

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and outcomes for children

gives them opportunities to use numbers in their play. For example, children enjoy using the abacus to count up to ten and beyond. 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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