Kitching, Sarah Jayne

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY419689 Inspection date 24/11/2011 Inspector Sandra Williams

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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 has been registered since December 2010. She lives with her husband and three children aged 13, 12 and eight years in Heysham, Lancashire. The whole of the ground floor of the childminder's house is used for childminding as well as the bathroom on the first floor. There is a fully enclosed garden to the rear of the house for outside play. The childminder lives close to local schools, toddler groups, shops, parks and the beach.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children 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 in the Early Years Foundation Stage. The childminder also offers care to four children aged over five years. She is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder offers support to children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and children with English as an additional language. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association. She is also a member of the local childminding network.

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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 respected as unique individuals at this homely setting and the childminder carefully ensures that their individual needs are well met. They enjoy a wide range of activities and are making good progress in their learning and development. Documentation is well organised and includes most of the information required. Children are safeguarded well due to the vigilance of the childminder and the good safety procedures in place. Partnerships with parents and other providers are strong, which ensures a consistent approach to the children's care and learning. The childminder has started to complete a self- evaluation process to identify her strengths and areas for further development, however, this is in its early stages.

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further?

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

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further?

 enhance the system for the observation and assessment of children's development by implementing a more systematic method of tracking children's progress and planning for their next steps in all areas of their learning  develop further the system of self-evaluation to identify strengths and areas for development in order to maintain continuous improvement. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

Children are safeguarded in the childminder's care because she has a thorough understanding of the correct procedures to follow should she have concerns about any of the children. She has undertaken training and has a comprehensive safeguarding children policy in place. The childminder has a written record of risk assessments covering potential hazards in the house and garden. These help to minimise hazards and keep children safe and secure. The childminder also assesses risks before taking children on outings. The required documentation, such as written policies and daily records, are very well organised and thorough. The childminder has undertaken first aid training so that she can respond appropriately in the event of an emergency or accident. The house is kept secure as the childminder locks the doors so that intruders cannot enter and she checks the identity of visitors. Children learn about fire safety as they practise regular

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the early years provision

emergency evacuation procedures with the childminder.

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the early years provision

The deployment of resources is good. The childminder organises the play equipment well, using labelled boxes so that children can easily select what they would like to play with. She rotates the toys so that children have a good variety to choose from. She also has a good knowledge of what individual children's interests are and she plans activities that interest them. There is ample space for children to move about freely from one activity to another. The childminder also makes good use of training and advice in order to keep up-to-date with current legal requirements and good practice. She conscientiously provides a professional service and is committed to continuous improvement. She has joined the local childminding network and is working towards accreditation so that she can offer funded early education for three- and four-year-old children. She has begun to complete the self-evaluation process to further identify her strengths and areas for

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the early years provision

development, although this is in its early stages.

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the early years provision

The childminder promotes equality and diversity very well by creating a welcoming environment where all children and their families are welcome. This is reflected in her inclusive practice and written policies, as well as the wide range of toys and books that promote positive images of diversity and differences. She enjoys very positive relationships with the children's parents and there are effective systems in place to ensure a daily, two-way flow of information, such as diaries as well as regular discussions. The childminder creates a relaxed environment where parents can share any concerns and receive progress reports about their children's welfare and development. The childminder has strong links with other providers and agencies, such as members of the childminding network and staff at the children's centre. She also liaises closely with staff at the local schools and has good systems in place for exchanging information about the children being cared for. This helps

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the early years provision

to provide a consistent approach to the children's care, learning and development. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

Children are happy and settled in this homely and nurturing setting. They have plenty of opportunities to adopt healthy lifestyles as the childminder encourages healthy eating. The children enjoy a good choice of nutritious meals and snacks each day which are planned from a well-thought-out menu. The children often enjoy making some of their meals, such as fruit kebabs and soup. They use vegetables which they help to grow in the childminder's allotment. Children wash their hands before eating and before baking, thus avoiding cross infection. The children enjoy daily fresh air and exercise as they play in the well- equipped garden and they particularly enjoy outings to the beach. Children learn about keeping themselves and others safe in many ways, for example, they learn about road safety when on outings with the childminder. Children feel safe due to the reassurance and support provided to them by the childminder. The children are

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and outcomes for children

well behaved and are learning to be respectful of others.

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and outcomes for children

Children are making good progress in their development and learning towards the early learning goals. The homely environment provides good opportunities for children to learn through play, with the exciting and interesting resources available to them. The childminder uses her good knowledge of the six areas of learning and development to plan various activities suitable for the children who attend. She has a good understanding of children's individual abilities and interests. She ensures that children are appropriately challenged and stimulated so that they make good progress in their learning. The childminder keeps good records of children's progress through written observations and photographs which are linked to the early learning goals. However, the system for tracking children's progress in all areas of learning is not yet fully established in order to systematically plan for children's next steps in their learning.

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and outcomes for children

Children have plenty of opportunities to develop positive relationships as they socialise with each other and with children at the various groups attended. This helps them to develop confidence and learn to share and play with each other. The children develop their creativity through baking and craft activities and playing with musical instruments. They enjoy visits to the beach to collect pebbles which they take home to decorate. The children learn about the diverse world we live in by undertaking craft activities to celebrate cultural festivals and by playing with a wide range of toys that promote positive images of diversity. Children are making good progress in their communication skills as the childminder enthusiastically reads stories to them and skilfully holds their concentration and interest appropriately. Children enjoy tactile books which the childminder uses to encourage them to identify different objects and textures and to learn new words. Children have many

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and outcomes for children

opportunities to make marks, for example, with paints and crayons, and their art work is proudly displayed in their learning journals. Children learn to identify shapes and sizes by playing with shape sorters, stacking hoops of different sizes and with wooden jigsaws. The childminder displays posters on the wall to help children with their number and colour recognition. Children are assisted to develop skills in information and communication technology as they play with a good range of age-appropriate programmable toys. They enjoy pressing buttons to make This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 different sounds and they enjoy using cameras to take photographs for their learning journals. Children also use a computer and develop skills in using the key board and mouse. Overall, children are making good progress and are developing positive skills of the future.

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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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