Childminder in Norfolk

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY308768 Inspection date 21/10/2011 Inspector Glenda Field

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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

Children only attend this setting before and/or after the school day and/or during the school holidays. The judgements in this report reflect the quality of early years provision offered to children during those periods.

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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 2005 and started minding in her own home which is in a village near to Great Yarmouth, Norfolk in 2007. The childminder lives with her husband and two children aged 10 and 14 years. The whole of the ground floor of the property is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden at the front of the property for outside play. The childminder walks to take and collect children from the local school. The family have one dog and a cat. Overnight care is not provided.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children under eight years at any one time, of whom no more than three may be in the early years age range. When working with an an assistant a maximum of seven children may be cared for at any one time, of whom four may be in the early years age range. There are currently 10 children on roll, six of whom are within the early years age range, all attend on a part time basis. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and on both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder supports 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.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is outstanding.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The childminder is exceptionally well organised so that children's well-being is significantly enhanced and their safeguarding is assured. She has high aspirations for quality through ongoing improvement so that children make outstanding progress in their learning and development. Recommendations from the previous inspection have been satisfactorily addressed. She has a very strong commitment to equality and diversity and makes very good use of resources, including training opportunities, to meet the requirements of individuals. Each child's needs are exceptionally well met through highly effective partnerships between the childminder and their parents. The childminder's positive commitment to self- evaluation fully involves children and families in developing and taking forward her provision to ensure continuous improvement.

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further?

To further improve the high quality early years provision the registered person should consider:

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further?

 consider continuing to access training opportunities to further enhance what is already a high quality provision. 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 promotes high levels of organisation. This ensures that children are happy, have positive experiences and are well cared for in a secure environment where their health and safety is of a very high standard. The childminder is fully aware of her responsibilities for the safeguarding of the children in her care. She regularly updates her knowledge with regard to child protection to have current understanding of legislation. All adults living in the house are vetted and the children are always protected from those who are not checked. Detailed policies and procedures are available for the parents and all childminding records are highly maintained to support the excellent care offered to children and their families. As a result, the childminder supports each child to achieve in their learning and development.

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the early years provision

The childminder has clear systems to liaise in depth with other agencies. She works very closely with other providers delivering the Early Years Foundation Stage for the continuity of care and sharing of relevant information to benefit the children. These approaches enable her to respond swiftly to any identified learning and development needs. The childminder is meticulous in constantly improving her partnership with parents, and families receive a high level of information. All of the parents' ideas and suggestions are listened to and responded to in a very sensitive and efficient manner. For example, a parent, in response to a questionnaire pertaining to the setting, requested more art and craft activities to be provided. The childminder now ensures that more opportunities are available for children to enjoy art and craft activities. Another parent was not aware of the complaint procedure, so the childminder spent time with the parent explaining how the

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the early years provision

procedure worked and also now ensures that parents have copies of the procedure with all policies of the setting. Parents have excellent opportunities to contribute to their children's learning. They share highly interesting, daily accounts of the children's day so that reading these together as a family helps them to feel part of the children's care. They speak highly of the childminder and state that they have every confidence in her, to provide a family environment where their children have fun, grow and develop.

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the early years provision

The childminder's practice has excellent regard to equality of opportunity and is highly inclusive because of her knowledge and clear understanding of each child's background and needs. Her knowledge, resources and activities effectively help children to understand the society in which they live. They highly enjoy learning about their local area and the natural world around them. For example; outings are made to local parks, woods, beaches, children's soft play areas and music groups. The childminder is enthusiastic and has ambitions to raise the standards of care and learning further, for all the children in attendance. She has a clear vision of developments she wishes to make, for example, attending further training opportunities, and is confident and capable to make continuous improvement. Evaluation takes full account of parents' and children's views to identify her many strengths and she is highly competent in accomplishing the goals she sets for

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the early years provision

herself. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

The childminder has comprehensive knowledge of learning and development requirements and of how children achieve. Exceptional organisation of the educational programme reflects rich, varied and imaginative experiences that fully meet all children's needs. Assessment through quality observations is rigorous and information gained is used very effectively to guide planning of themes and experiences tailored to each child's requirements. Secure monitoring systems ensure that children continue to make excellent progress in all areas of learning.

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and outcomes for children

Children enjoy their time with the childminder who interacts with them effectively. She continually responds to their early communications, talking about what they and she are doing. For example, while young children make marks with crayons, she supports and challenges continuously saying, 'What is it? 'You've made a big circle'. Some children recognise and produce letters of the alphabet using a variety of resources. For example, whilst on a visit to the beach, a child made the first letter of his first name using pebbles. Children are active learners, interested in the variety of resources at their level and concentrating for a long time at each activity. From an early age, children are highly motivated to be creative and to think critically. They explore exciting materials for painting and play imaginatively to become familiar with different roles, for example, setting up the outside playhouse as a fish and chip shop, pet shop and cafeteria. Their interest in sound

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and outcomes for children

and music is fostered as the childminder frequently introduces songs and nursery rhymes and children explore sounds and different instruments, including drums.

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and outcomes for children

The children gain an excellent understanding of how to lead a healthy lifestyle. They adopt hygiene practices from a very early age, for example, young children ask to use the toilet, and are able to tell the adults that they wash their hands 'to wash germs away'. Children are active and gain a very good understanding of the benefits of fresh air and physical experiences. They have free access to the large garden with its wealth of resources, including space to practice their rolling and throwing skills and areas for growing fruit and vegetables. Children are excited to smell and taste different foods such as Greek Meze and Taramasalata. They make healthy choices about what they eat and drink, while role play in 'shops' and 'cafes' further illustrates healthy choices to make.

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and outcomes for children

Young children are very settled and quickly become absorbed in their play. They laugh and feel safe with the childminder and gain an excellent understanding of issues relating to safety. They behave in ways that are safe for themselves and others, confidently moving around the open spaces and following house rules many helped to devise. They have outstanding opportunities to develop awareness of their responsibilities and play a part in the setting and wider community. Children enjoy their learning immensely and show a strong desire to participate and make choices. 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 1 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 1 The effectiveness of the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement The effectiveness of partnerships 1 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 1

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 1 The extent to which children feel safe 1 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 1 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 1 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 1

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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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