Childminder in Suffolk

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY427940 Inspection date 02/11/2011 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 2011. She works with another childminder from her co-childminder's house in Great Cornard, near Sudbury in Suffolk. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding. Children share access to a secure enclosed outdoor play area. The property is accessed via a step. The childminder is able to take and collect children from local schools and pre-schools. The co- childminder has two guinea pigs as pets.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of three children under eight years at any one time, of whom no more than three may be in the early years age range. When working together, the two childminders may mind up to six children in the early years age range. There is currently one child attending who is within the Early Years Foundation Stage and attends on a part-time basis. The childminder also offers care to children aged over five years. She is registered on the Early Years Register and on both the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder is able to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and children who speak English as an additional language. She is a member of the National Childminding Association. The childminder attends a parent and toddler group and visits the local library, park and playground.

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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 needs are effectively met. Through the excellent partnerships with parents children benefit from the childminder's well-organised and professional approach, ensuring their welfare and most safety issues are fully promoted. A creative environment is provided for children whilst they learn through play and where their independence and self-esteem is fully supported. The childminder and co-childminder's practice is effective in ensuring all children are fully included and she is developing 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 step 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 good understanding regarding safeguarding procedures which ensures that children's welfare is a high priority. She has attended training and her co-childminder displays the local contact information. The childminder has completed clear risk assessments for all areas and the equipment for both inside and outside of the home to protect children from potential dangers. The childminder has completed risk assessments for each outing to ensure children's safety is further maintained. The childminder ensures that the premises is secure and children cannot leave them unsupervised. The childminder supports her co- childminder in ensuring that the home remains safe and children are protected from any potential hazards. She has clear procedures in place for the evacuation of the premises in an emergency. However, these have not been put into practise which can limit children's knowledge on how to keep safe in an emergency.

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the early years provision

The childminder has developed close relationships with parents of minded children. They exchange information each day on the children's day to day care needs and home routines. The childminder also writes a daily diary on each child, to reflect an accurate record of their day with the childminder. The childminder has discussed with parents their children's learning journey records, so that they can add comments to reflect their involvement with their children's learning. None of the minded children attend other settings at present. The childminder is fully aware that when children start, she will establish systems to exchange information for consistency of their care. Children attend many local community groups to support their understanding on people's differences, the wider world and help them to develop their social skills. Children are provided with resources that reflect our multi-cultural society to support their understanding of the beliefs of others. The

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the early years provision

childminder has in place a range of policies and procedures to support her good practice which she shares with parents.

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the early years provision

The childminder has begun to implement the Early Years Foundation Stage requirements well. She has put in place clear systems to support children's learning and development successfully. The childminder holds an early years qualification at level 3 and she has completed all required training for childminding. The co- childminders work together to plan a range of outings each week and organise activities to meet their key children's individual needs well.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder ensures that the snacks she prepares for children meet their individual dietary requirements. Her co-childminder has overall responsibility for preparing and cooking all meals and for preparing most snacks for minded children. The childminder ensures that children are offered a varied diet that includes a range of healthy options to promote their healthy growth and development. Children have access to physical play each day, through walks to the This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 park and by accessing the garden to promote their physical development well. They can access a range of large equipment to promote their healthy growth well. Children are learning good personal hygiene routines, as they are supported with washing their hands before eating. The childminder has clear procedures in place to promote children's welfare and safety.

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and outcomes for children

Children's independence is promoted as they are able to make choices about the resources they play with and they are supported with learning how to feed themselves. Children are able to self-select resources as the childminder ensures that they are stored within their reach. This promotes their independence and ensures that all children are able to make choices about what they play with. Children enjoy throwing, rolling and catching balls with each other in the garden. This helps to support their hand/eye co-ordination and their physical skills well. The childminder interacts well with all children and encourages their speech and language development. Children use crayons to draw and colour. This helps to develop their pencil control in readiness for writing. Children have access to a range of pop-up and push button toys to help develop their understanding of technology.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder has begun to undertake regular observations on children in the Early Years Foundation Stage. She records the activities they do and what they have achieved. However, the next step in their learning has not been identified to ensure that they are fully supported with their future learning. 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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