Childminder in Essex

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY347690 Inspection date 18/10/2011 Inspector Deborah Kerry

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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 2007. The childminder works with another registered childminder and minds from her co-childminder's house. The co- childminder's husband and children live at the property in Clacton-on-Sea. The whole of the property is used for childminding. Accessibility to the premises is via a step. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six 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 seven 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. The childminder works with a co- minder. Both childminder's have joint responsibility for the childminding practice. She is able to care for six children in the early years age group when working with the co-childminder. She is registered on the Early Years Register and the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder supports children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and who speak English as an additional language. The childminder is able to take and collect children from local schools and pre-schools. 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 childminder and her co-childminder ensure that all children are valued and their individual learning needs are supported. Through the close partnerships they have established with parents, children feel safe and secure. The childminder's well-organised and professional approach ensures that children's welfare and safety is promoted. Children learn through play and have their self-esteem fully supported, and they are provided with an environment to be creative. The childminder and co-childminder's practice is effective in ensuring all children are fully included and she has developed good self-evaluation skills to ensure her practice is regularly reviewed, and has clearly identified areas of development to ensure continuous improvement.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop further the observations undertaken on children so that the next steps in their learning can be identified  ensure that regular evacuation drills are carried out and details recorded of any problems encountered and how they were resolved. 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 a clear written policy in place regarding safeguarding procedures should she have concerns about a child's welfare. She is due to attend training on safeguarding to ensure that her knowledge remains current and that children's welfare is maintained. The childminder has records in place of all risk assessments undertaken for both inside and outside of the home. This ensures that children's safety is a high priority. She has completed written risk assessments for all outings that she undertakes with minded children with her co-childminder. This ensures that their safety is maintained when away from the home. The childminder has in place clear procedures for the emergency evacuation of her co- childminder's home, which are displayed. These are normally practised every few months. However, they have not been put into practice this term.

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the early years provision

The childminder has established good relationships with parents and they discuss children's care needs each day. The childminder ensures that she shares all her clear written policies and procedures with parents. This helps to keep them informed about her practice and the service that she provides. She writes daily diaries on the activities children undertake while in her care, and children's learning journey records are shared with parents and they add comments to show their involvement with their children's learning. The parents children have provided written feedback on her practice through completing questionnaires. This helps to support the childminder in developing her practice to meet the requirements of parents and the care needs of children attending. The childminder has a range of resources in place to help children develop a positive understanding on other cultures and people's differences. Children are taken on regular outings within the

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the early years provision

local community to help them to learn about the wider world and their environment. She ensures all information on children's backgrounds is obtained from parents so their beliefs can be respected and supported. The childminder has established systems in place for the exchange of information on the children's learning and development with other settings. When minded children start to attend other settings, these links will ensure that their learning and development can be fully supported. Regular newsletters are sent out to parents to keep them fully informed on topics, activities and any changes to the childminder's practice.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a good understanding of the need to reflect on her childminding practice and has identified areas for further improvement. She discusses the children's learning needs with her co-childminder throughout the day so that children's abilities and interests can be fully supported. She ensures that the planned activities support children's interests and their individual stages of development as they are coloured coded to link to the developmental scales. The children enjoy their play and learning and make good progress in all areas. The childminder and co-childminder undertake training together. They have a plan in place which reflects the training they have undertaken and any future training they have planned. This reflects their commitment in developing their knowledge to maintain and support children's continued progress. The childminder holds a level 3 qualification in early years and has gained accreditation to provide funded places

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the early years provision

for early education. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

The childminder works with a co-minder and they each take responsibility for either for hand washing and toileting or preparing snacks to ensure high standards of hygiene are maintained. The childminder helps children to clean their hands before eating and ensures that tables are cleaned when they have finished their lunch. Parents' wishes regarding their children's individual dietary needs are fully respected. All meals are cooked by her co-childminder and include a range of healthy options to promote children's health fully. Children have access to the garden each day and use a range of large equipment to support their physical development.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder works closely with her co-childminder to plan a range of activities around different topics and themes. The childminder engages the children in the activities provided and encourages their participation and development by using effective questioning techniques. They sit together and look at books, and she promotes their language development and thinking skills as they match pictures of different healthy foods that promote their health. She helps them to sound out new words as they increase their vocabulary. The childminder sings rhyming songs that children join in with to help support their memory, speech and language development. Children enjoy playing with small world resources and use their imagination when accessing the dolls house and accessories. Children are developing their self-care skills as they put on their coats in readiness to go with the childminder and collect older children from school. Examples of children's art

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and outcomes for children

work are displayed and shared with parents, helping to promote their self-esteem.

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and outcomes for children

Regular observations are undertaken and recorded in learning journey files for children. These are clearly linked to the six areas of learning and show what children have achieved; they include photographs and examples of the children's work. However, the next steps in their learning have not been identified for all children who attend to show that their learning is fully supported. 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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