Childminder in Worcestershire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY362155 Inspection date 27/10/2011 Inspector Valerie Fane

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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. She lives with her husband on a small holding situated in a rural village in between Bromyard, Malvern and Worcester. The whole of the ground floor of the property except for the lounge is used for childminding. Accessibility to the premises includes some steps. There is a garden available for outside play. The childminder is able to take and collect children to and from local schools and pre-schools. The family has two dogs and two cats. There are also horses, sheep and chickens kept in the nearby fields.

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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 three children attending who are within the Early Years Foundation Stage, both of whom attend on a part-time basis. The childminder also offers care to children aged over five years to 11 years. She is registered on the Early Years Register and on both the voluntary and the 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 satisfactory.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children settle well with the childminder and are at ease in her home. She gets to know them and their families well and has a satisfactory understanding of how to support all aspects of their learning and development. Children particularly benefit from good opportunities to explore and understand the outdoor environment and the local area, but opportunities to develop technology skills are more limited. All required documentation is in place to support children's welfare and most is used effectively in practice. The childminder has made significant improvements since the last inspection and has suitable plans for future developments to improve outcomes for children further.

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further?

To meet the specific requirements of the EYFS, the registered person must:

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further?

 obtain prior written permission for each and every medicine from parents before any medication is given (Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare) (also applies to both parts of the Childcare Register). 10/11/2011

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further?

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

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further?

 improve the educational programme to provide opportunities for children to develop their use of simple technology equipment. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

Children are safeguarded because the childminder has attended relevant training and understands her responsibilities in this area. She is aware of the possible signs of child abuse and she knows the procedures to follow if she was to have concerns about a child in her care. Children are supervised well at all times and their welfare is supported. The childminder has improved the cleanliness of her home and her procedures for nappy changing since the last inspection. All required policies and documentation are in place and most is effective in practice. However, the childminder does not consistently obtain a signature from parents before administering medication to children. They are not at risk because the parents provide the medicine and details of the required dosage, but this is a breach of the welfare requirements.

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the early years provision

The childminder has benefited from support from the local authority and has made significant improvements since the last inspection. Children enjoy a wider range of age appropriate toys and activities and are making progress in their learning. This is because the childminder has improved her understanding of how to support all areas of their learning. She has informally evaluated her practice and has identified areas for further development. For example, she currently cares for children under three years of age, so she plans to extend the range of toys to meet their needs as they progress to the next stages of their learning.

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the early years provision

Children thrive because the childminder works very closely with their families. She gets to know them well and takes into account their home backgrounds when planning her provision. For example, she knows her children come from a farming community so she supports their awareness of diversity through a book about farming in different parts of the world. Children are able to continue their learning at home because the childminder provides parents with a diary of what they have been doing and learning with her each day. Children who attend other early years provisions enjoy continuity of care because the childminder makes effort to contact and share information with other providers through the use of diaries.

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and outcomes for children

Children feel safe and secure because they relate well to the childminder and to each other. They develop further social skills as they attend a local 'stay and play' group, a church children's group and activities at the area Children's Centre. They enjoy using the different toys available and take part in a variety of creative activities. These include ones that support their awareness of their own and other cultures and religions. For example, they make lamps for Diwali and enjoy activities linked to the story of Jonah and the Whale. They enjoy other outings to interesting events such as 'Countrytastic'. They explore the texture of wood shavings in large quantities and they see many different animals such as alpacas and ferret racing. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 Children enjoy plenty of time exploring the outdoor environment and learning about healthy lifestyles and this is a particular strength of the provision. They grow

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and outcomes for children

and harvest vegetables such as courgettes and pumpkins. They pick apples, plums and blackberries in the local area when they are in season. They talk regularly about where their food comes from. Children go for regular walks to see the horses, sheep and chickens belonging to the childminder and other animals or tractors in the neighbouring fields. They learn to care for baby animals such as lambs and feed them their bottles. They play in the garden using age appropriate ride on toys such as a tractor. The childminder supports them to develop problem solving skills because she gives younger children time to try to work out for themselves how to get on the tractor. They play in the big sand pit and develop mark making skills using tools to draw lines in the sand. Children develop awareness of their personal safety in a rural area. For example, they learn about the hazards of animal dirt and tell her whenever they see any.

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and outcomes for children

Children behave well because the childminder is a calm role model and so they play well together and learn as they play. The childminder has developed her awareness of their individual learning needs by observing and assessing their progress. She uses these assessments informally to identify their next learning priorities. She knows how to extend their learning by providing appropriate activities and making opportunities as she talks to them when they are playing. For example, they develop a love of books as they look at an interactive book with her. She asks them about the colour of different vehicles and gets them to identify parts of the helicopter. They enjoy attaching the parts to the right place on the picture. These activities help to support children's skills for the future. However, their opportunities to use different technology toys are rather limited and this is an area for further development so that they develop their understanding of modern

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and outcomes for children

technology. 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 3 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 3 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 3

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 3 The extent to which children feel safe 3 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

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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: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The registered provider does not meet the requirements of the compulsory and or voluntary part/s of the Childcare Register.

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 take action as specified in the early years section of the report (Records to be kept). 10/11/2011

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 take action as specified in the early years section of the report (Records to be kept). 10/11/2011

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