Childminder in North Northamptonshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY428158 Inspection date 05/12/2011 Inspector Anne Archer

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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 aged seven and three years in the town of Rothwell, Northamptonshire. The childminder's home is close to shops, parks, schools and public transport links. The whole of the childminder's home may be used for childminding. Toilet and sleeping facilities are provided on the first floor. There is a fully enclosed garden for outdoor play. The childminder has a pet dog and cat.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of four children under eight years at any one time, of whom no more than two may be in the early years age range. She also offers care to children aged over five to eight years. This provision is registered by Ofsted on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is a member of the National Childminder Association.

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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 in their play and learning and their welfare is successfully promoted. Safeguarding systems are robust and partnerships with parents are established and generally supportive. The childminder knows the children she cares for well and meets their individual needs thoroughly. Ongoing reflective practice ensures that areas for development are identified and that an increase in resources or other steps are taken to bring about improvement. As a result, the childminder's capacity to make continuous improvement is good.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop further the outdoor play provision to secure children's understanding of adopting healthy lifestyles and to support their physical development  explore ways to enable parents to share what they know about their child to further support continuity of learning.

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the early years provision

Children's welfare is well safeguarded because the childminder has an accurate understanding of her responsibilities in relation to child protection and is confident in her ability to respond to any concerns by following current advice from her Local Safeguarding Children Board. Procedures are in place to confirm the identity of visitors or other adults collecting children on behalf of parents and her complaints This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 policy and procedure are shared with parents.

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the early years provision

A thorough risk assessment has been conducted on the childminder's home and garden and on the regular outing venues. It is reviewed and updated when new children start with the childminder and when anything else changes. In addition, the childminder carries out visual checks throughout the day to ensure that any potential risk is eliminated or at least minimised.

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the early years provision

The childminder checks fire detection and control equipment regularly and practises the emergency evacuation procedures with the children to try to resolve any potential difficulties such as the need to have a bag available to carry her mobile phone and children's contact details when she has the baby to evacuate as well as the pre-schooler.

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the early years provision

The effectiveness with which the childminder promotes equality and diversity is good. She has a thorough knowledge of each child's welfare and developmental needs and has established systems to improve outcomes for children in relation to their starting points and capabilities.

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the early years provision

The childminder's engagement with parents is good overall. She keeps them well informed of their child's achievements, well-being and development verbally, through a daily communications book and by providing regular access to their learning journal. She provides a monthly newsletter so that parents know what outings and activities are planned and what the prominent learning intentions are.

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the early years provision

Whilst the childminder has successful procedures in place to enable parents to regularly contribute to their children's learning journals with comments on how their children are progressing, she has so far been unsuccessful in developing a system to obtain information about what the children do when they are not with her to enable her to more quickly review her activity plans to support new interests or learning needs. Systems to liaise with and share information with other agencies and providers are established but not presently in use.

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the early years provision

The childminder's premises are suitable for purpose and she strives to maintain a stimulating and supportive environment which children enjoy spending time in. Resources are safe and suitable and support children's interests and learning needs although resources for outdoor play are limited in some areas.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a clear vision for the future of her provision and her capacity to maintain continuous improvement is good. Reflective practice ensures that areas for development are planned for and addressed and the childminder is very keen to continue with her child-based training to enable her to gain a qualification and improve her practice further. 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 settled, content and eager to take part in activities planned by the childminder to support their interests and learning needs. The childminder makes regular observations of the children as they play so that she can assess their changing needs and their progress towards the early learning goals.

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and outcomes for children

Children learn about personal safety through daily routines such as wearing indoor shoes so that they do not slip on the laminate flooring and holding on to the hand rail as they walk up and down the staircase. They learn about road safety as they walk around the town with the childminder to school or to various groups and how to use the play apparatus properly when the visit the park.

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and outcomes for children

They develop an understanding about the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle as they decide which fruit to have as part of their morning snack and then go off to wash their hands before eating it. They learn that as the weather turns colder they need to wear more clothes to keep warm and that they must wash their hands after stroking the family pets and playing in the garden so they do not spread any germs they may have picked up.

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and outcomes for children

Children enjoy the childminder's attention and their contentment is reflected in their behaviour and mannerisms, showing that they feel safe in her care. They show by their actions that they are beginning to understand the childminder's house rules and their boundaries and they behave well under her consistent, caring approach.

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and outcomes for children

Children like to listen to favourite stories read to them by the childminder often joining in and pointing things out in the pictures. They are beginning to make marks with crayons and paint and are learning how to hold and use utensils correctly as they use their imagination with the play dough.

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and outcomes for children

Children participate in baking activities with older children joining in with the weighing and mixing and younger children enjoying decorating and eating them. Children attend small activity groups with the childminder which gets them used to mixing with other children without them becoming fearful or overawed.

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and outcomes for children

Children develop knowledge and understanding of the world as they go for walks with the childminder and watch as the leaves on the trees change colour and fall and enjoy collecting them up, taking them home and making pictures with them. 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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