Childminder in Oxfordshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY428013 Inspection date 22/11/2011 Inspector Jan Burnet

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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 lives with her husband and two children in a village location near Brackley in Northamptonshire. The ground floor of the childminder's own home is registered for childminding, but she cares for children mainly at the home of a co-childminder where registered space is the ground floor of the house and a large garden. The family has a cat, goldfish and three chickens.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. When caring for children alone at the co- childminder's home she may care for a maximum of four children aged under eight years at any one time and of these, two may be in the early years age group. When working at the co-childminder's home together they may care for a maximum of 10 children under eight and of these five may be in the early years age group. When working alone or with a co-childminder at her own home, the childminder may care for four children under eight and two may be in the early years group. There are currently 14 children on roll and they are cared for by both childminders. Of these, six are in the early years age group and two are aged over eight. All attend school full-time and the childminder walks with children to and from the local school.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder holds a level 3 early years qualification. She works at the local primary school as a teaching assistant.

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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's understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage is good. She promotes children's care needs well and meets their individual developmental needs effectively. The childminder makes sure that all children are valued and included and policies and procedures are effective and inclusive for those children who attend, although, there are limited opportunities for children to gain an awareness of diversity. Systems to ensure children's safety and good health are strong. Information obtained from parents helps her to identify and address children's differences and parents are made aware of most required policies and procedures. The childminder's commitment to monitor and extend her practice within her childminding supports the development of children's care and learning.

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further?

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

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further?

 discuss with parents the procedure for children who are ill or infectious (Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare). 22/12/2011 This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 To further improve the early years provision the registered person should:

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further?

 make sure that the complaints procedure includes the required response timescales for any written complaints  develop practice for promoting and valuing diversity and difference to extend children's knowledge and understanding of their wider society.

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the early years provision

The childminder provides a warm and welcoming environment. Necessary checks for the childminder and her family have been completed and she ensures that children are never left unsupervised with a person who has not been vetted. The childminder is aware of her responsibility with regard to protecting children from abuse. She keeps her knowledge on the Northamptonshire Safeguarding Children Board up-to-date and provides a thorough safeguarding procedure for parents. Potential risks in the home, large garden and on outings are identified in the risk assessment record and in practice have been addressed well.

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the early years provision

The childminder is aware of the benefits of self-evaluation. She identifies her priority for improvement as completing her Forest Schools Level 3 training course. She welcomes support and advice from local authority development workers, most recently with regard to a review of documentation. The childminder is a teaching assistant in the local school and she ensures that her skills transfer effectively to her childminding provision. She makes sure that resources are chosen for their quality and durability and that they meet the different developmental needs of children well. Toys are maintained in a good state of repair. Records are kept up- to-date and in good order.

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the early years provision

The partnership with parents is good and the childminder makes sure that she works in partnership with them for the benefit of their child. Detail obtained from parents is thorough and information provided for them is generally good. The childminder provides written copies of most required policies and procedures, however, a legal requirement is not met and children's best interests not fully served because the procedure for children who are ill or infectious is not discussed with parents. Parents are made aware of the complaints procedure but are not informed that the childminder must respond to written complaints within 28 days. Folders shown to parents contain training certificates, Criminal Records Bureau clearance forms and insurance details. Positive links with school staff ensure coherence of care and learning. In discussion, the childminder explains how she will ensure that the needs of children with special educational needs and/or

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the early years provision

disabilities and English as an additional language are met. For example, by obtaining as much information as possible about each child's individual needs from parents and by agreeing with them how they can work together to meet these needs. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

Children make good progress as the childminder is clear of her responsibilities with regard to assessing each child's stage of development and ensuring that all children are challenged effectively to reach next learning steps. The range of resources and activities meet their needs well. Personal, social and emotional development is strong. Children are happy and settled and relationships between the childminder and children are very good. Early years children develop good social skills as they play with children the same age and older. Children choose from a good range of activities and resources which include some that reflect positive images of culture. However, opportunities for children to learn about diversity with regard to different beliefs and traditions are limited. Children's creativity is promoted well as they play with a range of role play resources and art and craft activities. In the garden they pretend to be pirates in a large wooden

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and outcomes for children

boat and inside they use the parachute and dining table to make a den. Children draw recognisable pictures, including ones of people that include good facial positioning. They enjoy looking at books and choose favourite stories for the childminder to read.

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and outcomes for children

Children learn how to keep themselves safe. They walk to and from school each day and they learn the rules for walking on pavements and crossing driveways and roads safely. They practise the fire drill regularly. Children enjoy outdoor activities in the childminder's large and exciting garden and Forest School safety rules at home and on outings include not putting anything in mouths, ensuring that they can see an adult at all times and wearing appropriate clothing. Children are asked to help identify hazards as they occur and games encourage children to identify physical and behaviour boundaries. Children develop confidence and skills as they use challenging large physical play equipment.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder promotes learning across several of the six areas of learning within favourite activities. Children enjoy baking and they count out the required number of eggs, count spoonfuls of ingredients, weigh and develop numeral recognition with the use of scales. They explore change and develop physical skills as they mix ingredients and enjoy decorating their cakes when cooked. They take turns and roll out dough into different shapes when they make cookies. Children explore for mini beasts in the garden and have found a lizard, slugs, toads and snails. The childminder promotes children's learning as she encourages a respect for nature and although, she generally prefers children not to pick up living things, if they do so the children learn that they must make sure that things are put back as they were found. Children use magnifying glasses to explore more closely and binoculars to look at birds. They pretend to be mini beasts as part of gaining a

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and outcomes for children

respect for nature. The childminder continually encourages thinking and language development as she talks with children and asks them open-ended questions. 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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