Childminder in Essex

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 590192 Inspection date 21/10/2011 Inspector Anne Daly

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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 2000. She lives with her husband, adult child and three children, aged 13, 10 and four years, in Maldon, Essex, where she employs three registered assistants as and when necessary. The whole of the ground floor of the premises is used for childminding and there is an enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder drives and walks to local schools and pre- schools to take and collect children. She takes children to the library, park and toddler groups. The family keep many pets, including three dogs and three cats.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered by Ofsted on the Early Years Register and on both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register to care for five children under eight years. When working with an assistant, they may care for eight children under eight years. She is currently minding seven children, of whom two are in the early years age range, four are on the compulsory part of the Childcare Register and one is on the voluntary part of the Childcare Register.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder 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

Children thrive in a setting recognising their uniqueness and individuality. A wide range of motivating activities help children to make good progress in all areas of learning. The required records, policies and procedures are maintained for the safe and efficient management of the provision. The childminder evaluates her practices to identify strengths and weaknesses, although systems are not yet fully developed to identify specific areas of improvement for the benefit of children. Good partnerships with parents ensure that individual children's needs are well met, while she is developing partnerships when children receive care and education at more than one setting.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop further the opportunities for partnership working where children receive care and education at more than one setting  improve further the systems for the organisation of the setting to include ongoing effective procedures to evaluate the provision and to implement areas for improvement. 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 safeguarding policy explaining her responsibilities and relevant publications for reference to ensure that children are effectively safeguarded from the risk of abuse or neglect. She has completed safeguarding training and is aware of her responsibility to refer any concerns she may have about children's welfare. Good contingency arrangements provide continuity of care if the childminder is unavailable at any time. She ensures that her registered assistants know how to implement the policies and procedures to fully protect children's well-being when caring for children alone for short periods at times agreed and confirmed in writing by parents. Children's welfare has been enhanced through all adults living or working on the premises being appropriately vetted and a visitors record being kept. Children are kept safe through the childminder carrying out written risk assessments of her home to effectively reduce potential

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the early years provision

hazards, while completing a daily check list to ensure all safety equipment is in place. The childminder undertakes written risk assessments of everyday outings to ensure that great care is taken with children's safety when walking or driving to different venues. She ensures that each child's personal details form and parental written consents provide the necessary care information to enable her to meet individual children's needs and to act in their best interests in emergencies.

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the early years provision

The childminder is enthusiastic about her work with children and has tackled the identified weakness from the last inspection by making the garden pond safe, which is now fenced and covered to prevent children having access. In addition, the water feature has been made safe. She has begun to self-evaluate her provision, although systems are not yet fully developed to effectively identify areas for improvement to enhance the outcomes for children.

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the early years provision

Varied environments well support children's learning and development by giving them plenty of opportunities to gain confidence to explore the world, such as stroking goats when going to purchase bedding for the childminder's family pets. The childminder effectively organises her daily routines to ensure that children receive plenty of encouragement and support in the different learning environments. She risk assesses activities and, if necessary, employs one of her registered assistants to ensure individual children receive all the necessary support and care during specific activities.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a good knowledge of each child's background and is experienced in ensuring that all children are well integrated. The enabling environment provides children with positive images to challenge their thinking and to help them embrace differences in gender, language, religions and cultural backgrounds. Some children attend two settings delivering the learning and development requirements, but partnerships are not yet fully developed to ensure that they complement the education and care that the child receives at the respective settings.

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the early years provision

The childminder significantly recognises the importance of fully including parents in decisions integral to their children's well-being. Parents acknowledge that they This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 understand the policies and procedures supporting the childminder's well organised care practices. Younger children's parents receive detailed daily communication books, while all are able to speak to the childminder at any time to discuss their children's care and development. She sends regular text messages to parents and they receive newsletters to keep them fully informed. Parents have written letters specifically for this inspection confirming that they are kept well informed about all aspects of their children's achievements, well-being and development.

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and outcomes for children

Children's welfare and learning needs are well met by an experienced, confident, warm and caring childminder, who understands and adapts activities to meet their individual needs. They are making good progress towards the early learning goals through being curious to learn new skills from the wide range of play provision and activities. The childminder plans activities around themes, observing and noting what children do in order for her to identify their current development and learning. This enables her to appropriately plan relevant and motivating learning experiences for each child's next stages of development. She maintains individual profiles containing photographs and observations linked to the six areas of learning to enable her to reference the children's learning journeys to developmental matters.

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and outcomes for children

The stimulating environment offers a worthwhile range of activities to encourage children's interest and curiosity both indoors and outdoors. Confident children explore the environment using all of their senses. They show great interest when making 'gloop', describing what is happening when adding water to cornflour before mixing different colours to see what will happen when adding yellow and blue food colourings into the mixture. The childminder introduces new vocabulary to enable children to talk about their observations while exploring malleable materials. Children know how to carefully handle books and to turn over pages when reading to their dolls. They are developing an awareness of other communication systems, such as Makaton. The childminder plans a wide range of activities to encourage large and fine motor skills, for example, threading pasta onto spaghetti. Children can make marks at any time, because the childminder fills

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and outcomes for children

sealed plastic bags with paints before sticking them to her patio doors, to encourage them to make random marks or pictures with their fingers.

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and outcomes for children

Children are provided with many everyday opportunities to develop the necessary skills for their future, including play provision incorporating technology. They demonstrate their good understanding of healthy hygiene practices, for example, washing their hands after using the toilet and using a tissue to prevent spreading germs which will make them ill. The childminder supports children in making healthy choices about the food they eat at snack time and encourages them to notice the changes in their bodies after exercise, such as their hearts beating faster. They learn about food chains when collecting eggs from chickens in the childminder's garden. They have a good understanding of how to keep themselves safe; demonstrated by them describing why they are strapped into their car seats This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 when travelling in the childminder's car. They behave well because of the

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and outcomes for children

childminder's consistent boundaries for behaviour in her home and on outings. She includes all children in activities and reads stories to them to help them to understand that sometimes people are happy or sometimes sad. 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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