Childminder in Darlington

Inspection report for early years provision

p.1

Unique reference number EY429138 Inspection date 19/09/2011 Inspector Julie Morrison

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 was registered in May 2011. She lives with her husband and their two children, aged eight years and two-years-old. She mainly cares for children at her co-childminder's home in a residential area of Darlington. However, the childminder's own home is included in the registration from September 2011, to be used for minded children if needed. The co-childminder lives with her husband and three children aged 12 years, four years, and 22 months. The co-childminder has two pet hamsters. The whole of the ground floor of the home is to be used for childminding, plus the first floor bathroom and master bedroom. There is an enclosed yard at the rear of the property for outdoor play. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register, and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She is registered to care for a maximum of five children aged under eight years, with a maximum of two children in the early years

p.4

Description of the childminding

age range. She is registered to care for children aged over eight years. The childminder cares for children on week days, from 7am to 6pm and 8am to 6pm each Saturday, all year round. When both are present on the premises they can care for a maximum of six children under eight years, with a maximum of four children in the early years age range, including a maximum of two children under one year. The applicant has completed a current paediatric first aid certificate and a relevant pre-registration course. She takes and collects children from the local school and to attend the local parent and toddler group.

p.4

The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is satisfactory.

p.4

The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children are cared for in a safe, family environment by the childminder and her co- childminder. Appropriate systems are in place to gather information from parents to meet the individual needs of all children. Links are being made with other providers to support continuity of care and learning for children, however, these are very much in their infancy. Children are making suitable progress towards the early learning goals as the childminder and her co-childminder provide an appropriate range of activities which cover most areas of learning. The childminder has an adequate understanding of her areas for improvement and demonstrates a genuine commitment to attending further training to develop her practice.

p.4

further?

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

p.4

further?

 assist further in developing systems to use the information gathered from observations to plan and provide a wide range of activities which are based on children's interests and individual development  develop further opportunities for children to access a wide range of resources, with particular reference to those which support children's awareness of diversity and information and communication technology skills This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006  develop opportunities for parents to review and contribute to observations of their child's learning and development.

p.4

the early years provision

The childminder protects children from harm as she has a secure understanding of safeguarding procedures and recognises possible signs and symptoms of abuse. This is supported with a written safeguarding children policy, and clear procedures about who to contact should she have any concerns about a child in her care. A detailed record of risk assessments for the home and outings, along with regular checks and appropriate safety equipment, such as, wrist straps, with contact details, stair gates and cupboard locks, ensure children are kept safe in her care. All adults working within the home have had the required checks to ensure their suitability. This further supports children's welfare.

p.5

the early years provision

Children's well-being is appropriately promoted as the childminder has developed suitable procedures to share information with parents. Daily diaries and verbal feedback mean that parents are suitably kept up-to-date about their child's daily care and activities. All relevant policies are shared with parents at the start and all information required to meet children's individual needs is obtained from parents. This helps to ensure that all children are included at the setting. Although the childminder's co-childminder takes overall responsibility for observations of the children's learning, systems to share these with parents have not been effectively established. This does not provide parents with effective opportunities to contribute to their child's learning. The childminder understands the importance of sharing information with other providers to promote consistency of care for children who attend more than one setting. She has discussed this verbally with

p.5

the early years provision

other providers. However, as it is only very recently that children have begun to attend other settings, this has not yet been further developed.

p.5

the early years provision

Although children have only been attending for a short period of time, they move around the space confidently. Resources are appropriately organised, for example, in low-level boxes, so that children can make independent choices about their play. The childminder reflects on practice with her co-childminder and has an adequate understanding of areas for development. She has attended a suitable range of training since registration, including Early Years Foundation Stage and safeguarding children. This helps to ensure continuous improvement.

p.5

and outcomes for children

The childminder's co-childminder takes overall responsibility for completing children's observations. This means that the childminder's knowledge of the children's individual progress towards the early learning goals is not as secure as that of her co-childminder. However, they do share information verbally about the individual children and the childminder is developing a satisfactory understanding This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 of the learning and development requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. This is combined with a suitable range of activities which cover most areas of learning to support children in making satisfactory progress towards the early learning goals. Observations of the children's development are linked to the areas of learning. However, it is not clear how identified next steps are used to inform future planning. This makes it difficult to see how activities are based on the

p.5

and outcomes for children

Children are developing close relationships with the childminder. They climb confidently onto her knee and are beginning to find a voice as they chatter as they independently look at books. They behave well in the childminder's care as the childminder and her co-childminder use age-appropriate techniques to help children to begin to learn right from wrong. Their language and literacy development is appropriately supported as the childminder talks to older children about what they are doing and supports them in their imaginative play. Children are able to develop their mark-making skills through access to crayons, pens and chalks. The childminder describes how children are beginning to learn colours and numbers throughout their everyday play. She sits on the floor and supports young children to begin to develop their hand to eye coordination, for example, as they use wooden blocks to make towers. A suitable range of arts and crafts activities,

p.6

and outcomes for children

such as colouring and making masks, helps children to develop their creative skills. Visits to the local children's centre provide regular opportunities for children to socialise with their peers and take part in planned activities, such as, exploring the sensory room. However, activities and resources to support children's awareness of diversity and their information and communication technology skills, are limited. This does not promote development across all areas of learning, although the childminder and her co-childminder have recognised these as areas for improvement.

p.6

and outcomes for children

Children have good opportunities to learn about how to keep themselves safe. For example, they practice fire drills and road safety. This is further supported through discussions about stranger danger and role play as police officers. All documentation to promote children's welfare, such as, consents and accident records, are in place and up to date. Children's good health and well-being are successfully promoted as effective routines and procedures are in place. The childminder's co-childminder takes overall responsibility for preparing the meals. However, both are committed to providing children with a healthy and balanced diet. For example, for snack children enjoy fresh fruit and raisins. Planned activities, such as fruit tasting and discussion about how exercise keeps their bodies healthy, further supports children's understanding of good health and positively supports their well-being. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

p.6

Annex A: record of inspection judgements

The key inspection judgements and what they mean

p.7

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.7

children in the Early Years Foundation Stage?

The capacity of the provision to maintain continuous improvement

p.7

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 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

p.7

Stage

The quality of the provision in the Early Years Foundation Stage 3

p.7

Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 3 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 3 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 3

p.7

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.7

Annex B: the Childcare Register

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

p.8

Annex B: the Childcare Register

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

p.8