Childminder in North East Lincolnshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY100272 Inspection date 01/11/2011 Inspector Lynn Dent

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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 2002. She lives with her husband and three children aged 12, 14 and 15 years old in Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire. The whole of the ground floor of the property is used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The childminder is able to take and collect children from local schools and pre-schools. She attends the local carer and toddler group, takes children to the library, children's centres, the beach, woods and local places of interest. The family has pet dogs, chickens, rabbits, guinea- pigs, hamster and fish.

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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, all of who attend on a part-time basis. The childminder also offers care to children over five years. She is registered on the Early Years Register and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder supports children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. 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 outstanding.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

All children benefit from the very experienced childminder who is extremely effective in supporting them to make excellent progress in their learning and development. Highly effective planning and systems for assessment ensure that children receive excellent opportunities to reach their full potential.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall, regularly updated written policies and procedures very effectively underpin the care of the children. Excellent partnerships with parents and other providers ensure that information is shared and the individual needs of the children are met. Collaborative partnership working with specialist services ensures that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are full supported. The childminder is forward thinking and shows a commitment to make continuous improvement that will benefit the children.

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further?

To further improve the high quality early years provision the registered person should consider:

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further?

 formalising the procedure for outings. 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 very effectively safeguarded because the childminder has an exceptionally high understanding of how to report concerns and initiate proceedings in line with the Local Safeguarding Children Board. Children's welfare is very effectively safeguarded because the childminder systematically carries out risk assessments of the home, garden and resources. Additional meticulous risk assessments are in place for children with particular needs ensuring that their safety is rigorously maintained. Comprehensive risk assessments are completed for everyday outings and visits, resulting in all children's safety being effectively maintained during these times.

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the early years provision

Children thrive because the childminder uses valuable information from parents and her observations to provide each child with a personalised development and learning programme. Consequently, they are engaged in purposeful activities and making excellent progress in their learning and development. The childminder has developed a range of written policies and procedures which are regularly reviewed. Although, the procedure for outings is not formalised into a written policy to show how these are managed, the childminder clearly explains how she successfully manages outings resulting in positive experiences for all children.

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the early years provision

The childminder provides excellent support for all children and works closely with the local services and agencies to provide care for children in need. Consequently, no child is disadvantaged. The childminder takes all possible steps to work with other early years providers and schools ensuring consistency for all children in her care. Extremely effective working relationships with parents enable all parties to be kept fully informed of the children's changing needs. Parents receive the opportunity to read their child's observation and developmental records and regularly contribute their own comments. As a result, these show an holistic view of the child and keep the parents fully informed of their child's learning and development.

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the early years provision

The home is exceptionally well-organised allowing children to develop their independence as they flow between the home and garden at will. A very good range of resources and activities are planned for outdoor play, enabling children to learn in different environments. The childminder has an extensive range of toys and books that children can access to support their learning and play. The childminder radiates a passion to provide the best possible care for the children. She is pro-active in consulting with parents and children to attain their views of her service, enabling her to make improvements where necessary. Since her last inspection, the childminder has completed a vast range of training and achieved the foundation degree in Early Years and Childcare. She has gained a quality assurance award showing a determination to achieve the best possible standards in childcare. 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 is innovative in organising the day, resources and the environment, which result in children who are very confident to test out and reinforce their skills. For example, children are using large soft play to practise their physical skills as they climb. They develop a keen awareness of themselves as they look in the strategically placed mirrors. Children thoroughly enjoy singing songs and eagerly anticipate the actions as they jump up and shake their arms to the chorus of 'dingle, dangle scarecrow'. Children's learning is very effectively promoted outdoors through mark making, counting and making patterns by painting and printing with leaves on large sheets of paper.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder is highly effective in taking account of children's preferences for learning. At story time, the children want to go outside, the childminder adapts this by taking cushions outdoors and sitting in the tower of the climbing frame with the children to read the story. Consequently, the children's needs are being met and the childminder shows complete flexibility in her routine. During the story, the children actively engage with the childminder who successfully supports their thinking and language development by talking about the pictures in the book and asking questions related to these. Furthermore, children develop a love of books and help themselves to these during free play.

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and outcomes for children

Children are consistently learning about numbers as the childminder routinely counts one, two, three before pushing children on the swing. Children are positively encouraged to learn about other cultures and disability in an environment that depicts diversity very effectively, such as having posters and signs in different languages and pictures. All children learn about the local community because they go on a vast range of visits to the woods, beach and other local places of interest. Children show very good behaviour according to their age as the childminder models this. They routinely use 'please' and 'thank you'.

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and outcomes for children

Children develop an acute awareness of how to keep themselves safe through every day events as they regularly practise the emergency evacuation procedure. The childminder encourages younger children to be independent, yet develop safe practices as she supports them and gives words of reassurance as they use the step into the house. Children's understanding of exercise and a healthy lifestyle is very effectively promoted. They enjoy regular outdoor play in the fresh air. Children wash hands before and after snacks, as the childminder sings a song about this. Younger children automatically say 'wash hands' after nappy changes showing that good hygiene is embedded into the daily routines from a young age. Children are highly knowledgeable about healthy eating as they grow and cultivate fresh fruit and vegetables at the childminder's allotment. 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 1 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 1 The effectiveness of the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement The effectiveness of partnerships 1 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 1

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 1 The extent to which children feel safe 1 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 1 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 1 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 1

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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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