Childminder in Oxfordshire

Inspection report for early years provision

p.1

Unique reference number 507087 Inspection date 21/12/2011 Inspector Janice Leo

p.1

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.

p.1

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

p.2

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.

p.3

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).

p.3

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.

p.3

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

p.3

Description of the childminding

The childminder registered in 1998. She lives with her husband and teenage son in a village near Kidlington. Children use the ground floor of the property for play and rest, and there is an enclosed garden available for outside activities.

p.4

Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She may accept a maximum of six children under the age of eight years at any one time of whom three may be in the early years age group. The childminder currently cares for a total of eight children including three who are in the early years age group and one who is over the age of eight years. All attend on a part-time basis.

p.4

Description of the childminding

The childminder makes use of local facilities including parks, play bus and the library van.

p.4

The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is outstanding.

p.4

The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children are extremely well served by this setting, becoming highly motivated and competent learners from an early age. All aspects of health and safety are robust and children fully understand how to keep themselves safe. Equality and diversity are considered paramount and the childminder is highly effective in helping children to integrate, providing positive experiences to create a strong sense of belonging. Well established channels of communication overall help all parents, carers and specialist agencies form a true partnership to make best use of the learning and development programme. The childminder shows both drive and the capacity to maintain continuous improvement, welcoming ideas from users, attending training and linking with other childcare professionals to maintain a very effective service.

p.4

further?

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

p.4

further?

 including more detail in planning to highlight the benefits of the activities to parents and practitioners and help sustain a successful learning environment. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

p.4

the early years provision

The childminder has a very secure understanding of safeguarding procedures having attended recent training to update her knowledge and become familiar with current requirements. She conducts robust safety checks for all aspects of her service and supervises the children diligently to protect them from harm and teach them safe practices. The children have a firm awareness of how to play safely and consequently they play sensibly and take on some responsibility for staying safe and well. For example, they remind each other of the house rules such as not playing in the bathroom as a demonstration of their level of understanding. All develop a very strong sense of belonging because of the strong bonds they form with the childminder. They know what she expects and willingly comply with expectations without reminders.

p.5

the early years provision

The children thrive at the setting because the environment is perfect for their needs. They have space to move around freely and benefit from a welcoming, inclusive and homely setting where they feel they belong. Children know where the resources are stored and access them freely to develop their own games. The childminder uses her considerable skill to join in play, extending ideas and explaining things tirelessly to improve children's knowledge and skills consistently.

p.5

the early years provision

Exceptionally strong partnerships exist between all adults who are involved in children's lives. These create a well rounded programme of development opportunities and a consistent approach to children's care. The childminder helps to monitor health issues and she suggests ways for parents to continue their children's learning at home. She works with parents, health professionals, school and pre-school staff to consolidate learning goals and activity plans and consequently, the children make extremely good progress in relation to their starting points. However, planning records do no highlight in detail the benefits of activities to fully inform parents and other practitioners. Parents have easy access to all essential information, planning and children's progress records. They have opportunities to talk to the childminder at drop off and collection to feel very involved in the day. Each child has a communication book to take with them

p.5

the early years provision

wherever they go in order to enable adults to read about their current needs and interests and contribute to their ongoing development by adding useful information themselves. Both parents and children are asked to suggest areas for development as part of the ongoing evaluation process. The childminder stays up to date with family requirements and children's changing needs in order to continually adapt what she does and remain effective. She shares good practice with other childcare providers and implements changes extremely well to maintain improvement and create a very professional service. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

p.5

and outcomes for children

The children adore attending and fit in like part of the family. They relish the opportunity to join in adult-led activities and to create their own games with their peers. For example, children sit together to make cakes in the kitchen before moving to the play room and engrossing themselves in small world play. The childminder routinely joins in the activities to explain, question and support the children. She links learning to promote thinking and reasoning skills, develops confidence through conversation and builds children's knowledge of the world. The children count how many bun cases they need for the baking tray, divide the number into half to see how many each child can make and negotiate who will go first when filling the paper cases, responding well to the challenge. The childminder suggests they take turns to fill half and then swap. A young child suggests he should go first when they repeat the process to fill the second batch,

p.6

and outcomes for children

showing a well developed sense of fairness. The children hear a running commentary to help them know what to expect, hearing about how long it will take to cook the cakes and how long they take to cool to develop a sense of time. The children confidently join in conversations to bring in related experiences, speaking clearly to make their thoughts and feeling understood.

p.6

and outcomes for children

The children successfully fit building shapes together to create a railway and small town, manipulating the pieces into place to build carriages and caravans for their baby animals to ride in. Children show good control over their movements and well developed imaginations. The childminder has excellent communication skills and interacts effortlessly to make the most of every learning opportunity without taking over. She encourages children to think for themselves and take control of their personal care from an early age to develop their independence. As a result, good practice regarding health and safety is well established and the children need very few reminders to comply with expectations. The children fully understand the need to wash hands frequently to remove dirt and germs and competently manage the process without the need of help. All display a high level of confidence for their age and act responsibly throughout the day to maintain harmony.

p.6

and outcomes for children

The children benefit from fresh air and exercise to develop a healthy lifestyle. They understand the need for coats in cold weather and learn about foods that are good for them to eat. The children have opportunities to run around and climb on large equipment when on outings and they use facilities in their local community to experience modern life and develop a sense of belonging.

p.6

and outcomes for children

The childminder plans a balanced and varied programme around each child's needs, setting individual targets to work towards jointly with parents and other carers when care is shared. She constantly monitors children's progress to decide on their next steps and her secure understanding of how children learn results in a stimulating and very effective day for all. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

p.6

Annex A: record of inspection judgements

The key inspection judgements and what they mean

p.7

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

p.7

children in the Early Years Foundation Stage?

The capacity of the provision to maintain continuous improvement

p.7

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

p.7

Stage

The quality of the provision in the Early Years Foundation Stage 1

p.7

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

p.7

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

p.7

Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register are: Met

p.8

Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are: Met

p.8