Childminder in Cumberland

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 317135 Inspection date 18/11/2011 Inspector Carys Millican

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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, two adult daughters, and younger children aged 12, eight, four and three years in Workington, Cumbria. The whole of the ground floor of the childminder's home is used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed rear yard available for outdoor play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to either work alone or with an assistant. When working alone the childminder is registered to care for a maximum of four children aged under eight years at any one time, of whom no more than two may be in the early years age range. When minding with an assistant, jointly they can care for a maximum of 10 children aged under eight years. Of these, no more than five may be in the early years age group. Children attend various sessions on a part-time basis. There is currently one early years child on roll. The childminder also offers care to children aged over five years. The childminder walks to school to take and collect children. She has use of a car and a bus to transport children on outings. The family have a pet rabbit.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association. She is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register.

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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 are very happy, contented individuals who feel safe and secure in this warm and welcoming family home. They make independent choices and decisions about their play, enjoying activities and the abundance of resources that meet their individual needs and interest. Children are making good progress in their learning and development due to the dedicated interaction of the childminder who provides challenges and supports their learning effectively. Children benefit from the good links established with other settings children attend and the positive relationships established with parents and carers. The childminder is keen to increase her own skills and knowledge to benefit the children being cared for and has made a good start in the self-evaluation process to help her identify future improvements.

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further?

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

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further?

 encourage parents and carers to become more involved in their children's learning and provide them with ideas of how they can continue with their children's learning at home. 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 secure knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage. She maintains a comprehensive set of policies and procedures that are implemented well and reflect the ethos of her childcare as a truly safe and secure place for children to play and learn. Children are effectively safeguarded. The childminder is fully aware of her role and responsibility with regard to child protection issues which she has gained through attending recent training. Parents are further reassured that children are safe because the childminder has ensured that all adults in the household undergo suitability checks and that all visitors details are recorded. Intricate risk assessments are in place to ensure that children can use the environment indoors and outside in safety. Risk assessments are also maintained when undertaking any outings and trips, to further ensure children are safe and secure at all times.

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the early years provision

Good relationships are established with parents. Information is shared on starting with her in order to identify and meet child's individual needs. The childminder continues to exchange information through daily discussions and diaries to ensure welfare needs are consistently met and daily activities are shared with parents. Parents, however, do not add to these documents and ideas are not shared with parents on how they can continue with children's learning at home. The childminder makes time to discuss the policies and procedures with parents, outlining the service she offers and the completion of the relevant parental consents and business arrangements. The childminder and her assistants all hold current first aid certificates, therefore, they are able to manage minor injuries and accidents efficiently, with the appropriate record-keeping documents maintained. The childminder's home is effectively organised to provide a child-orientated

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the early years provision

environment, where children can self-select from an abundance of toys and resources that are within easy reach of them.

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the early years provision

The childminder has made a good start on reflecting on the service she provides. She has a good awareness of the key strengths in her practice and the areas for improvement. She is well organised and has all the required documentation in place to ensure children's health, safety and welfare needs are well met. The childminder is aware of the benefits of working closely with other providers and any other agencies and has established links with the local nursery school her children attend.

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and outcomes for children

Children are happy and contented as they play within the warm and welcoming family home. They confidently explore the wide range of age-appropriate toys and resources accessible to them. Children form a strong bond with the childminder as she dedicates her time to supporting and challenging their thinking as they play. Children respond to the praise and encouragement they receive from the childminder, therefore, their confidence and self-esteem is successfully promoted. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 The childminder's consistent approach, expectations and boundaries helps children to recognise their own good behaviour and manage it appropriately. For example, children politely ask the childminder to go on the computer and wait patiently till it is their turn. Children show a keen interest in craft and art activities. They make mobiles and sticky pictures and enjoy drawing and colouring in pictures. The

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and outcomes for children

childminder supports children's recognition of number, colour and the letter formation. Children are encouraged to sound out the individual letters to spell their name. They smile as they work together, showing obvious enjoyment in the activity. Children ask to write their name and the childminder supports this by using a marker, and the children use a pencil to draw around each letter. This helps them to develop future writing skills. Children's love of books is celebrated and encouraged. They help themselves to their favourite story sack and sit on the floor, exploring the contents. Children sit with the childminder and join in with the story, using related soft toys and cardboard figures. The childminder is skilful in extending their learning and thinking skills by asking them questions, thus promoting understanding, language, learning, and communication skills.

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and outcomes for children

Children make good progress in their learning. This is due to the skilful interaction of the childminder as she gives her undivided attention to children as they play. She takes photos of the children during activities and makes links to the six areas of learning and development checklist found in the Early Years Foundation Stage guidance. The photos are collected in an album which children enjoy looking at and recalling what they have done and events in their lives, for example, visits to the garden centre and caravan park. Written observational notes are kept in progress files and entries are also completed in children's daily diaries. Children's next steps are clear and used to inform future planning.

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and outcomes for children

Children have opportunities to use technology in their play. They ask to take pictures of the childminder because they want to take a picture of her 'nice smile'. Children access some toys and resources that increase their awareness of the wider world, such as books, dolls and dressing up. They engage in discussions about cultures, gender and ability, which helps them to start to respect and value similarities and differences between themselves and others. Children go for walks in the locality. Therefore, they begin to learn about their own community.

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and outcomes for children

Children adopt good personal hygiene routines through the positive example set by the childminder. They understand that they must wash their hands after toileting themselves and before eating. Children talk with the childminder about getting rid of the germs on their hands before they help her in the kitchen. Children eat healthily. They are provided with a picnic-type meal at lunchtime and a freshly prepared meal at tea time. Children engage in a number of physical activities. They walk back and forth from school and visit the parks and playgrounds close by. Children show a good awareness of safety issues. They understand why it is important for them to wear their high visibility jackets when walking home from school and why it is important to cross the road safely. Children regularly take part in practising the fire drill and can clearly explain where they need to go if the smoke alarm goes off unexpectedly.

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and outcomes for children

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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