Watkinson, Heidi Louise

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY428626 Inspection date 13/12/2011 Inspector Yvonne Layton

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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 child aged 20 months in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The whole of the ground floor and two bedrooms and the bathroom on first floor of the property is used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The childminder is able to take and collect children from local schools and pre-schools and she undertakes outings. The childminder is registered to care for five children at any one time, of whom two may be in the early years age group. She is registered on the Early Years Register and on both the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register. Currently, she is caring for one child who is in the early years age range. She is also registered to provide overnight care for two children. 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 good.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children are happy and settled at the childminder's. Their welfare is well promoted and they make strong progress in their learning and development. Inclusive practice is carefully promoted and children's needs are effectively met through recognising and supporting their uniqueness. Active links with parents help to ensure consistency in care and education. The childminder has started to evaluate her provision and has strong aspirations to develop the quality to drive and maintain continuous improvement.

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further?

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

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further?

 promote further the educational programmes with particular regard to embedding systems to meet the identified priorities for children's learning and development  enhance the complaints procedure by devising a system to keep a written record in the event of a complaint.

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the early years provision

Children are effectively protected as the childminder has a secure knowledge of her responsibility for safeguarding children supported by a clear safeguarding children policy. Children's welfare is promoted well as all required and many additional records, policies and procedures are in place. However, the complaint procedure is not fully supported as currently there is not a system in place to record a complaint or it's outcome. Children are kept safe as the childminder is very alert to their safety both in the home and on outings. Detailed risk assessments and established fire evacuation procedures ensure children are This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 protected. The childminder is very clear about her individual responsibilities and has clear procedures for visitors to the home. Children's health is supported soundly as she has well-established hygiene procedures and routines. This includes

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the early years provision

individual flannels and consistent hand washing. Equipment and resources are well maintained, clean and suitable for their use.

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the early years provision

Children are helped to make good progress and their development is encouraged as the childminder is knowledgeable about implementing all aspects of the learning and development elements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Individual planning of activities for each child is devised through observations of their progress, interests and to encourage development. Each child has their own learning journeys which details progress and clearly identifies their next steps of learning. Spontaneous and planned observations are extremely well supported by photographs. The childminder is clear about visiting all of the areas of learning.

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the early years provision

Partnerships with parents are well established which helps to create consistency between the home and the setting. They are provided with quality information about the care and education of their child. Each child has an individual two-way diary which contains information about their care, experiences and learning. The childminder also provides a copy of her fortnightly activity plans. She seeks feedback from parents by providing them with questionnaires about her service. There is ongoing discussion about the care and learning of each child between the childminder and their parents. Inclusive practice is well promoted and all children are included in activities. The childminder is confident in her knowledge of how to develop children's understanding of diversity so that all differences are valued fully. The childminder routinely uses signing with young children. Currently, no children in the care of the childminder attend any other settings. However, she clearly is

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the early years provision

able to identify how she will establish links with other settings in the future. The childminder is proactive in establishing communication with extended family members of the children who care for them to ensure continuity of care and education.

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the early years provision

The childminder has only recently stated to care for children and has very clear aspirations to develop and improve her setting. She has clear plans and priorities to develop her activities and play opportunities for children which she is eager to implement. Reflection and evaluation of the provision is ongoing. Consequently, the outcomes for the children are continually improved.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder is keen to provide children with a positive experience and a sound base to support their learning. Interactions are good and children benefit as the childminder is warm and caring with them. They enjoy purposeful play through a rich range of activities which ensures that they make good progress towards the early learning goals. Activities are planned to meet specific developmental needs of individual children.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder is committed to extended children's experience and learning by This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 using natural resources and enabling them to learn from the natural world. A treasure box with every day items is readily used. Children learn about counting and sound as they empty bracelets out of a round tub and listen to the noise the bracelets make. A Peek-a-boo game is spontaneously enjoyed using material from the box. Trips to the woods encourage children to explore and experience their environment. They get down on their hands and knees to investigate the flora and fauna. Items collected are used to explore touch, smell and sound as they feel a clean feather, smell holly and listen to dry leaves. The childminder uses good communication as she uses describing words such as leaves are 'crispy' and moss is 'soft'. Stones are used to explore sound as the children place them in a box and

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and outcomes for children

bang them. Outings are enhanced by books and activities. After children play with the farm animals they visit local animals and a farm park. An outing to a building site is related to the toy vehicles they have been using. Books enhance experiences, such as, when it snows the children find related story books and pictures.

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and outcomes for children

Children learn about the world around them and diversity through discussions and activities relating to different people and cultures supported by books, resources and discussions. Colour, letter, calculation and mark-making development are supported well within spontaneous, routine, child-led and focussed/ themed activities. Creativity and exploration is promoted as all children enjoy access to a variety of art, craft and imaginative activities, such as role play and 'small world'. A love of music and books is promoted by spontaneous and planned story times and visits to the library, including attending music and rhyme sessions.

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and outcomes for children

Children's communication is enriched as the childminder uses lots of open questions and a wide range of vocabulary to encourage the children to express themselves. Mackaton signing is used to enhance young children's communication. They are developing a sense of self-worth as they follow the childminder's behaviour boundaries including they are encouraged to follow suitable house rules and tidy away activities. She is extremely alert to responding to children's individuality and different personalities. The childminder is a good role model and the consistent use of praise and positive reinforcement contributes effectively to the children developing a good sense of self and belonging to a wider family group.

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and outcomes for children

Children's health and safety is well promoted. The childminder has effective hygiene policies, procedures and consistent routines, including discussions and explanations about personal care. Strong relationships with the childminder help children to feel safe and secure in their surroundings. They learn about possible dangers and how to keep themselves safe through routines and activities. For example, they learn about road safety by using pictorial traffic lights in the home.

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and outcomes for children

Children gain an understanding about food as they bake and are involved in the preparation of food. They choose what they make and visit the shop for ingredients. At snack time they select a healthy snack from pictures. Food tasting sessions enhance children's learning about different foods and they learn where it is from by discussion and outings. Children are involved in caring for their environment as they assist the childminder to take things to the recycling centre and to the compost in the garden. They keep fit as they visit local amenities and This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 undertake challenges safely as they use equipment in the park, on outings and in the home. 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 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 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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