Childminder in West Sussex

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY362443 Inspection date 29/11/2011 Inspector Helen Penticost

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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 2007. She lives with her husband and two children in Haywards Heath, West Sussex. The majority of the childminder's house is used for childminding, where there is a dedicated purpose built playroom and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play.

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Description of the childminding

She is registered to care for a maximum of five children at any one time, of whom no more than three may be in the early years age group and of these, not more than one may be under one year at any one time. She is also registered to care for one child overnight. She is currently minding ten children in the early years age group. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and on the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register. She is happy to collect children from local schools and attend toddler groups and places of interest.

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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 make good progress overall in their learning and development, due to the dedication shown by the childminder to work in complete unison with parents and others. Children are happy and content and have formed positive relationships with the childminder. Safeguarding is given very high priority and children's individual welfare needs are highlighted and met well. She makes good use of self- evaluation, which enables her to effectively target plans for the future of the setting and therefore promote continuous improvement.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop further the planning system in order to plan relevant and motivating learning experiences for each child linked to the areas of learning  develop systems to enable children to self-select from the range of stored resources.

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the early years provision

Children are exceptionally well safeguarded within the childminders care as she has a clear, highly effective policy in place, which details how she accomplishes this. The parents receive a copy of this along with all of her written policies, so they are clear how their child will be protected and the childminder has recently updated her training in this area. All required documentation is excellently well maintained and is stored effectively to maintain confidentiality. Thorough and This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 robust written risk assessments that fully reflect the setting are in place and updated regularly, therefore, potential hazards are fully minimised and children are kept safe at all times. The childminder fully promotes home safety with the children. They regularly practice the emergency evacuation procedures which are then recorded and evaluated. This helps children to understand about keeping

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the early years provision

The childminder organises her home well with care taking place on the ground floor in the home where children are provided with a varied range of resources some of which are easily accessible in low level storage boxes or placed on the floor. However, the childminder stores resources in the loft where children are not able to select independently. The childminder provides a good range of resources for children to use in their creative play, including painting, cooking and malleable play. Daily routines are flexible and are focused around their individual needs with time for rest and quiet play as well as fresh air and exercise. Equality and diversity are actively promoted by the childminder and she supports all children to enable them to be fully included. A wide range of books and toys helps them learn about difference in practical and enjoyable ways. Children enjoy a varied and interesting range of activities each day which includes very good use of the outdoors and local

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the early years provision

community facilities. For instance, regular visits to local farm parks, toddler groups, parks, libraries and play sessions provides them with plenty of opportunities to learn about the wider world and to meet and socialise with others.

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the early years provision

The childminder's is enthusiastic in her approach and the enjoyment of her work is evident. The childminder is aware of the strengths and weaknesses of her provision and she self- evaluates her provision very well, through the use of parental and children's questionnaires. She demonstrates a strong commitment to ongoing development to continue to raise standards, to improve the outcomes for children. Strong, trusting relationships are formed between the childminder and parents. Parents are extremely pleased with the high levels of support and care the childminder provides. Parents are fully involved in all aspects of their children's learning and share their observations with the childminder. As a result, children's individual needs are exceedingly well met and they make good progress. The childminder is experienced in caring for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. She has highly effective systems in operation when working

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the early years provision

with others in order to promote a consistent and cohesive approach to children's learning and development. She has also initiated and maintained very strong communication links with other early years settings.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder demonstrates a good knowledge and understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage and therefore children make good progress in their learning and development. The childminder uses learning journals to which parents contribute their knowledge of their child's interests, starting points and routines. Regular observations supported by photographs of children at play aid the childminder in her planning for children's next steps. Although, the childminder This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 clearly demonstrates that she knows the children well, planning systems have yet to be fully developed to enable her to plan more efficiently, using the next steps that she has assessed for each child's developmental progress.

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and outcomes for children

Children are active and independent learners. They are well motivated by the childminder who provides a wealth of interesting and enjoyable experiences for them. For example, they show great delight as they pour and scatter the lentils in and around the sand tray. Children demonstrate a very strong sense of security in the warm and welcoming setting where their artistic creations are effectively displayed. They are reassured by the consistent and gentle interaction of the childminder and well-established routines that meet their needs. They show that they feel safe as they freely approach her for cuddles. Children move around the comfortable setting confidently selecting their own play experiences. They learn right from wrong because the childminder is fair and ensures children understand why certain behaviour is unacceptable. Children have good manners as they routinely say 'please' and 'thank you'. Good behaviour is acknowledged with lots of

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and outcomes for children

praise and encouragement and this contributes to the children developing good self-esteem.

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and outcomes for children

Children develop an understanding of the need to develop a healthy lifestyle as they are offered fresh and dried fruit at snack time and access drinking water freely. They receive plenty of fresh air either in the garden or at local play areas and woods. Hygiene routines are in place that effectively aid in the prevention on the spread of infection, for example, each child has their own towel for drying their hands. The childminder provides a very clean and well maintained environment. The exclusion of sick children helps to minimise cross infection and the childminder has appropriate procedures in place for the administration of medication and recording accidents.

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and outcomes for children

They develop their skills of problem solving as they build tall towers from wooden bricks, piece together jigsaw puzzles and look at the colours of the play fruit and vegetables. Children's creativity is enhanced as they take part in countless activities including leaf rubbing, cooking, making firework pictures and harvest windmills. They self-register on arrival at the setting and access a wide variety of book, which supports their understanding of the written word. Children also use a good range of age-appropriate information and communication technology, such as battery operated toys where children are rewarded with flashing lights and a tune. As a result, children are developing good skills for the future. 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 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 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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