Childminder in RotherhamOfsted inspection, 4 Oct 2011

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 302939 Inspection date 04/10/2011 Inspector Helen Blackburn

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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 1999. She lives with her husband and four children aged between 25 years and 18 years in the Broom area of Rotherham. There are shops, parks, schools and public transport links in the local area. The whole of the ground floor and first floor bathroom of the childminder's home is used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden for outdoor play. The family has a dog as a pet.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and she can care for a maximum of six children under eight years at any one time, no more than three of which may be in the early years age range. She is currently minding four children in the early years age group. The childminder also offers care to children aged over five years to 14 years. She is registered by Ofsted on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She is currently caring for 11 children in this age range.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder takes and collects children from local schools and nurseries and she goes to several toddler groups regularly.

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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

Relationships between the childminder, children and parents are good and overall, they share relevant information to meet children's needs. The children are happy, they feel safe in the childminder's care and they have a positive approach to their learning. The childminder provides a learning environment that promotes good behaviour, independence and which respects and values diversity, difference and children's individual backgrounds and cultures. Overall, a good range of documentation, policies and procedures contribute to promoting the safe management of the setting. The childminder's commitment towards promoting improvement is good and overall, her self-evaluation processes support her in monitoring the effectiveness of her setting.

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further?

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

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further?

 improve the risk assessment record so that it includes the assessment of risk for children accessing the hall and stairs  improve the medication record so that all information, such as parental consent and details of when medications have been administered is clear  further improve systems to encourage parents to be involved in children's learning and progression and the self-evaluation process. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

The childminder has good arrangements in place to ensure she safeguards and promotes children's welfare. She is aware of the possible signs of abuse, neglect and the procedures to follow regarding reporting concerns. This means she understands her responsibilities in protecting children from harm. This includes regularly accessing safeguarding training so that she attains an up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding issues. The childminder supervises all visitors to the home and she ensures all adults living on the premises complete appropriate checks. This contributes to keeping children safe. The children are cared for in a safe and clean learning environment. This is because the childminder adopts good cleaning routines, she carries out daily safety checks and completes regular risk assessments. However, although she risk assesses her hall and stairs so children are safe, this area is not included in her risk assessment record. Overall, the

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the early years provision

childminder maintains a good range of documentation, policies and procedures, which contribute to promoting the safe and efficient management of the setting. For instance, she maintains written policies that include dealing with complaints, equality and safeguarding. However, although she keeps a record of any medicines she administers to children, including parental consent, how she records the data on her form is confusing and unclear. The deployment of resources is good. The childminder organises toys at child-height so that they can make safe and independent choices in their play. In addition, she takes children on regular outings and she attends the local children centre and other groups. This contributes to extending children's experiences and makes good use of resources within the local community.

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the early years provision

The childminder's commitment, ambition and drive towards promoting ongoing improvement is good. For example, she seeks support from other early years professionals and she uses self-evaluation as a tool to monitor the effectiveness of her setting. As a result, she has made improvements to her observation and planning arrangements and she has addressed the recommendations made at the last inspection. In addition, she embarks on initiatives, such as healthy foundations, which demonstrates her capacity and commitment to improve. The childminder is working hard to encourage parents and children to contribute to the self-evaluation process. For example, she uses questionnaires, however, parents are not always forthcoming with ideas. The childminder accesses a wide range of training courses and she uses the knowledge she gains to reflect on her practice and to make changes. For example, through her healthy foundations course she

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the early years provision

has gained a better understanding to how she can support children's emotional health during times of difficulty within the home.

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the early years provision

Relationships between the childminder and parents are good. Through effective communication and information sharing, they work well together, which contributes to meeting children's needs. Through a varied range of written policies and procedures, parents receive good quality information about the service children receive. The childminder encourages parents to be involved in their child's learning, for example, she sends home children's progress records and daily dairies. However, feedback from parents is not always forthcoming about children's This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 experiences and learning at home. The childminder understands the importance of working with other settings, professionals or external agencies if children need additional support or help. She would endeavor to build up relationships with anyone involved in children's care or learning when the situation arises.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder's arrangements for managing children's health, infection and hygiene are good. For example, through everyday routines, such as hand washing, talking about oral health and the benefits of exercise, children are developing a good understanding of the importance good health and hygiene practices. The childminder provides children with healthy and nutritious snacks, which includes children eating the strawberries they have grown in the garden. Through playing in the garden and going on walks and outings, the children have good opportunities to be active and to access fresh air. This supports their physical development and encourages them to lead a healthy lifestyle. In addition, through accessing different media and textures, such as wooden items, shiny materials and sponges, children are encouraged to hold, manipulate and explore a wide range of materials. This supports their coordination and dexterity skills well.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder's observation, planning and assessment arrangements are effective and because of this, children make good progress in their learning. She is actively involved in children's play and through asking open-ended questions and encouraging young children to explore new things; she challenges and supports their learning well. The childminder ensures children access a good range of activities and experiences that incorporate their individual needs and interests across all areas of learning. This results in children having a positive and enthusiastic approach to their play. For example, children independently sing songs during play, they enjoy making marks on the chalk board, they use their imagination as they engage in role play and dressing up activities and they learn about caring for their environment through engaging in activities that encourage recycling.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder's relationships with the children are good. She meets their individual needs and incorporates their routines into the childminding day. As a result, children feel safe in her care, for example, they cuddle up to her when they are tired. In addition, through promoting road safety and involving children in regular fire evacuation practice, they are learning about safe boundaries. The children's behaviour is good. Through play, positive role models and discussions they learn about being kind to others, sharing and taking turns. The childminder makes good use of praise to celebrate children's achievements, resulting in children having good self-esteem and confidence. The childminder provides a good range of experiences, resources and activities that represent individual children's backgrounds and cultures and to help them learn about diversity and the world in which they live. This contributes to promoting an inclusive environment.

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and outcomes for children

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 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 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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