Childminder in Norfolk

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY336057 Inspection date 24/11/2011 Inspector Andrea Snowden

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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 2006. She lives with her husband and their son aged five. The property is in Thetford in Norfolk. The ground floor is used for childminding purposes and the first floor is excluded from the registration. There is an enclosed garden available for outside play. The family has two dogs as pets.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children under eight years at any one time. There are currently five children on roll, three of whom are within the Early Years Foundation Stage. She is registered on the Early Years Register and on both the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register.

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Description of the childminding

She 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 satisfactory.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children make satisfactory progress in their learning and development and are appropriately cared for within the Early Years Foundation Stage. Children's health and safety is generally promoted in an adequate manner, but weakness in some processes impacts on this. Partnerships with parents are established, but not wholly effective, whilst partnerships with other practitioners have not been developed. The childminder has begun to evaluate her practice in order to make improvements in the outcomes for children.

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further?

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

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further?

 ensure all reasonable steps are taken to minimise hazards to children - this refers to the exposed wires and pipes in the cloakroom (Suitable premises) 24/11/2011

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further?

 maintain a daily record of the children looked after and their hours of attendance (Documentation). 24/11/2011

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further?

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

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further?

 improve the partnership with parents to ensure they are fully involved in their children's continuous learning and development  develop partnerships with other providers attended by children in the setting to support them between settings and provide continuity in their learning and development  provide an adequate supply of clean hand towels in the bathroom to prevent the potential of infection spreading among the children. 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 is suitably qualified and vetted to work with young children and ensures that all adults in the setting are suitable to have contact with them. She has a sound knowledge and understanding of her role in protecting children and is able to use appropriate procedures to safeguard them from abuse. Satisfactory risk assessments are carried out for the majority of the home; however, hazards in the cloakroom, such as exposed wires and pipes, have not been addressed and the childminder is unable to say if they are safe. As a result, children's safety has the potential to be compromised. Documentation is satisfactorily maintained to promote children's health, but a daily register of children's attendance is not maintained. Resources are varied and children are offered a selection of toys to play with and are able to indicate to the childminder if they prefer something different.

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the early years provision

There are currently no children on roll with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Nevertheless, the childminder demonstrates a sound understanding of meeting these children's needs. The childminder treats children as individuals and seeks information from parents to promote their needs. She uses the toy library to borrow resources to promote children's learning and is able to adapt activities to meet children's varying ages and stages of development. She works with families who speak English as an additional language, for example, by trying to learn words in their home language to aid communication.

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the early years provision

The childminder has secure relationships with parents. She ensures all contracts and children's record forms are completed so that children are cared for according to their wishes and shares verbal information on a daily basis. However, she has not developed systems to ensure parents' views and observations are contributed to children's learning journeys. As a result, she is unable to plan activities to extend children's interests from home. Additionally, partnerships with other providers have not been developed and, therefore, there is no continuity in children's learning and development when they move between settings.

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the early years provision

The childminder has recently started to evaluate her practice and highlight some strengths and areas for development. An action plan has been prepared to ensure targets are realised and these improvements will provide children with more learning opportunities, such as the renovation of the garden into a fun and child- friendly environment.

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and outcomes for children

Children are settled in the care of the childminder. Their confidence is evident as they move around the home independently and make choices about what to play with. The children are supported in their play both physically and emotionally and the childminder joins in with them chatting with them about what they are doing and modelling how to do the activity. The childminder appears to know children This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 well. She carries out observations and assesses what children have learnt, using this information to plan the next steps for children. She has recently introduced a more effective planning system and is embedding this in her practice to promote children's progress.

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and outcomes for children

Children take part in a satisfactory range of activities which contribute to their learning. They roll out the play dough with rolling pins and the childminder introduces them to mathematical language, for example, 'roll it over and make it big'. Children use problem-solving skills as they try to fit over-sized play figures into a smaller truck and realise they do not fit. They practice writing the letters of their name and enjoy activities, such as cookery. Children communicate with the childminder confidently and some language is developing in younger children. They display great enthusiasm in playing with the household's new puppy and are learning to respect and care for it. Children have matched shapes during craft activities and use different media to paint and make creative pictures. Children enjoy trips to the library or to the park where their physical skills are further developed.

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and outcomes for children

Children learn about risks and their personal safety when the childminder talks to them about road safety or stranger danger. She ensures children understand the 'rules' for an outing so that they can help to keep themselves safe. Children mostly receive healthy meals and snacks and they occasionally help in the preparation of their food, for example, washing and chopping fresh fruit. Older children are developing an understanding of the importance of good hygiene practices, but because children use one communal towel, there is a potential risk of infection spreading.

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and outcomes for children

Children's sense of belonging is fostered and they are made to feel secure by the cuddles and gentle encouragement given by the childminder. Their behaviour is good and they communicate their feelings to the childminder confidently, standing up for themselves. Children's self-esteem is raised through the praise and encouragement they receive, helping to make them confident and independent. 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 3 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 3 The effectiveness of the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement The effectiveness of partnerships 3 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 3

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 3 The extent to which children feel safe 3 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 3 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 3 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 3

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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: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The registered provider does not meet the requirements of the compulsory and or voluntary part/s of the Childcare Register.

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 take action as specified in the early years section of the report (Records to be kept). 24/11/2011

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 take action as specified in the early years section of the report (Records to be kept). 24/11/2011

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