Childminder in Wiltshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY283608 Inspection date 26/10/2011 Inspector Marilyn Joy

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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 2004. She lives with her partner and two children, both aged over eight years, in Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire. Children have access to all areas of the house with play areas situated downstairs. Sleeping and toilet facilities are upstairs. There is a fully enclosed garden for outdoor play. The family has a cat and a rabbit. The childminder lives within walking distance of the local school.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and both parts of the Childcare Register. She is registered to care for a maximum of six children under eight years. She is registered to receive funding for the provision of free early education to children aged three and four years. She is currently caring for a total of seven children under eight years, of these, three are at school. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association and holds a relevant childcare qualification.

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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 offers a happy and nurturing environment. Children's health, safety and well-being are given a clear emphasis. Strong partnerships with parents provide a secure foundation from which children gain confidence, feel valued and flourish. The childminder is enthusiastic in her care of the children and is keen to maintain good standards. Systems for monitoring and evaluating her practice are generally effective and assist her in making continual improvement. Children make good progress overall in their learning and development because the childminder knows them well and offers a supportive environment to meet their individual needs.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop further robust and challenging criteria to review the environment and activities in order to enhance practice and maximise children's learning, such as when cooking with children  develop records of learning and development further to achieve a consistent approach and enables next steps to be clearly identified in all areas and progress tracked against the expectations of the early learning goals. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

Children's welfare is safeguarded because the childminder has effective systems for keeping them safe and protecting them from harm. The childminder has a good understanding of child protection issues and has clear procedures to follow should she have concerns about a child in her care. Comprehensive risk assessments are successfully used to identify potential hazards so that appropriate steps can be taken to minimise or eliminate potential risks in the home and on outings. The childminder is vigilant in her supervision of the children while allowing them opportunities to manage tasks for themselves. All the required documentation is in place and is well organised, which means that the childminder has the information she requires to meet children's health and welfare needs.

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the early years provision

The childminder has high expectations for the service she provides. She regularly attends training and liaises with the local authority in order to develop her practice and improve outcomes for children. Recommendations raised at the last inspection have been met. The fire blanket is now appropriately sited in the kitchen, which means it is easily accessible should it be required in an emergency. The childminder has also created a book with pictures of her toys to remind children what is stored in the cupboard and to help them with making choices. She is also exploring other ways in which she can make her toys more accessible, such as, introducing a messy play area in the utility room. However, the childminder has not fully developed rigorous methods for evaluating all aspects of her provision to help her identify areas for further development and maximise children's learning, for example, in the play house outdoors. Overall, children have access to a wide

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the early years provision

range of good quality toys and equipment which is used extremely well to support their progression. There is ample space for children to play and enjoy an exciting range of activities indoors and outdoors. Equality and diversity is promoted well and a strong emphasis is given to respecting and being kind to one another. Resources reflect diversity and are used well to raise children's awareness of the world around them.

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the early years provision

Positive relationships are developed with parents which is evident in how confident and secure children are with the childminder. Parents are very well- informed about all aspects of the service provided and children's daily care through a comprehensive range of documentation and discussions. Clear information gathered when children first attend ensures the childminder is fully aware of their individual needs, interests and capabilities. This means she is able to organise activities and routines to support their individuality and in response to parents' wishes. Parents receive regular written and verbal feedback about their child's care and learning and have opportunities to contribute towards their records. Parents comment on how happy they are and they have no concerns about the care provided to their children. Effective partnerships are established with other settings children attend and make a strong contribution to children's achievement and well-

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the early years provision

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

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and outcomes for children

Children experience a broad range of exciting activities and outings to encourage their all round development. They socialise with others when attending toddler groups, learn songs at music and movement and find out about living things when visiting the farm. They enthusiastically talk about making a pumpkin lantern and looking for fish in the pond. Activities inspire children, engage their interest and promote their learning. Creativity and imaginative play are encouraged when making cardboard binoculars and a treasure map, then hunting for treasure. Children learn about hibernation and make charts of how many people there are in their families. Activities capitalise on children's interests. For example, they notice how things change when buildings are constructed, talk about the different machinery and experiment with construction kits themselves. Cooking is regularly enjoyed. Children help to weigh the ingredients and look for the numbers on the

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and outcomes for children

scales. However, the childminder sometimes misses opportunities to extend their learning by encouraging them to count how many spoonfuls it needs or to use the recipe to become aware of words and instructions. Each child has their own progress folder with lots of photographs, examples of their work and clear and measurable observations of their achievements. Records are shared with parents and include a regular overview in each area of learning. Children's next steps are usually identified and there are some systems for tracking progression against the expectations of the early learning goals, although they are not always applied consistently for all children. Overall, children make good progress because of the effective support the childminder provides.

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and outcomes for children

Children's good health is promoted well because the childminder has a thorough knowledge of children's individual health and dietary requirements and ensures these are complied with. Healthy eating is promoted with fresh air and exercise enjoyed daily. Children engage in a wide range of physical activities to develop their coordination and skills in using different equipment, tools and materials. During cooking activities younger children can see what is happening and join in. They explore the texture of flour and try to roll the dough. Older children work out how much flour they can balance on the spoon without wasting it. Children are given effective support to manage their own personal care and develop good hygiene habits. They confidently explain that they need to wash and dry their hands. Good quality interaction and well organised routines help all ages understand what is expected of them and children begin to take responsibility for

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and outcomes for children

themselves. Safety is given a clear emphasis and children confidently explain what they have to do to stay safe on outings. Children develop extremely positive relationships with the childminder. The childminder has a calm and consistent approach which contributes towards children behaving very well. They receive lots of praise and encouragement which boosts their self-esteem and makes them feel valued. Relaxed conversations effectively encourage children to communicate and share their feelings and experiences with the childminder. Children play well independently, becoming active, curious and inquisitive learners. Young children begin to make connections as they explore what happens when they press buttons on a toy. Their attempts at speech are echoed and vocabulary extended. Children demonstrate a strong sense of belonging and security in the happy and This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

enthusiastic manner in which they play. 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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