Childminder in Cambridgeshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY430104 Inspection date 14/12/2011 Inspector Margaret Barwell

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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 July 2011. She lives with her husband and one adult child. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding. The childminder is able to take and collect children from local schools and pre-schools. The family has two pet cats and a dog.

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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 five may be in the early years age range. There are currently five children attending who are within the Early Years Foundation Stage, all of whom attend on a part-time basis. The childminder is able to care for children aged over five years to eight years. She is registered on the Early Years Register and on both the voluntary and compulsory 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 good.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The childminder creates a welcoming environment for all children and demonstrates a good understanding of their individual needs. A key strength is her positive, friendly working relationships with parents and the good procedures in place to keep them informed about their child's care and learning. The childminder is establishing effective observation and planning systems to help children make good progress. She is at an early stage of reviewing and evaluating her service and self-evaluation systems are not yet fully developed. However, she has a very positive attitude to improvement and has consulted with parents, children and assistants to gather their views, so that these can be taken into account in the future development of the service.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop further the systems and use of self-evaluation to maintain continuous improvement and to enhance outcomes for children.

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the early years provision

Effective safeguarding policies and procedures ensure that children are well protected. For example, the childminder has a good knowledge of child protection, having attended training to update her knowledge. She has the required contact numbers in place for dealing with concerns should they arise. All adults living in the household are known to Ofsted and appropriate checks have been completed. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 The childminder uses clear procedures, such as regular risk assessments, for monitoring the safety of the environment. This ensures that children can move around freely and with confidence. She also regularly practises the fire drill with the children increasing their knowledge of the action to take in an emergency. The childminder has well thought out procedures for taking the children out and about, including having available emergency contact details for all of them. All the

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the early years provision

regulatory details, which supports children's welfare is in place.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a good understanding of anti-discriminatory practice, enabling her to provide a service, which is inclusive for all children and families. Children's individuality is fostered by the childminder. Her good knowledge of the child and of the family helps her to create an environment where children are settled and feel a strong sense of belonging. She is very attentive and tuned into the needs of all children. The childminder's home is effectively organised, comfortable, spacious and child friendly. Children confidently move around between the living room, hall and kitchen making choices about their play. They access an adequate range of suitable and age-appropriate resources, which encourage play and learning in all areas of the early learning goals.

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the early years provision

Children benefit from continuity of learning and care because the childminder liaises with other providers delivering the Early Years Foundation Stage for them. The childminder shows a very good understanding of the benefits of involving parents fully as partners in their children's learning. Parents are kept informed about the service directly from the childminder or via a designated area in the hallway, which displays information about the childminder's registration, policies and procedures. Parents know about the progress their children are making through the sharing of daily dairies and through access to their children's learning stories, which show photographs and record children's successes and achievements.

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the early years provision

The childminder has clear plans for the future and has identified improvement priorities. However, the self-evaluation process is not yet fully utilised to identify how the strengths and weaknesses of the provision impact on outcomes for children in respect of their welfare, learning and development.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder makes regular observations of children and is able to build on children's prior learning to provide activities that will interest them and move their understanding, knowledge and skills forward. Consequently, children make good progress in relation to their starting points. She responds spontaneously to children's emerging questions, encouraging children to think critically as they share a book about a hen and a goat. Children successfully use picture cues to predict the story. There is sustained engagement, quality talk and children feel successful in their learning. Children's communication, language and literacy skills are developing well because the childminder maintains a communication-rich environment, which significantly promotes their speaking and listening skills. Children have fun singing action songs and nursery rhymes, developing the This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

confidence to show their skills, such as being keen to sing Baa Baa Black Sheep on their own.

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and outcomes for children

Children's emotional development is well promoted as they develop secure and trusting relationships with the childminder and with their friends. Children's behaviour is good because the childminder sets clear boundaries and sensitively supports children to understand the consequences of inappropriate behaviour. Children show an understanding of their own role in keeping themselves and others safe and talk with the childminder, for example, about what they should do if a fire starts at their own house. Children gain further skills for the future as they learn about the uses of information and communication technology. Children enjoyed a 'photo shoot' as the Childminder captured photographs of them wearing a Christmas hat. The children were highly interested in seeing their photograph on the camera. They showed an understanding of the storage function on a digital camera. Children operate simple equipment independently, such as a

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and outcomes for children

singing/dancing electronic Santa or the calculator and abacus in the number area.

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and outcomes for children

Older children take responsibility for taking themselves to the toilet and washing their hands or using sanitiser to clean their hands. They help to tidy toys away and take responsibility for caring for toys and equipment. Children's decision making is fostered as they self-select from the available toys, choose books or find some interesting packaging to adapt to make a bowling alley to roll balls down for someone to catch at the other end. Young babies have very good opportunities to develop their physical skills, as they have time to crawl and are assisted to walk around. The childminder demonstrates a clear commitment to promoting children's good health. Children are offered fresh, home-cooked meals for lunch and tea with fresh fruit to follow. They have regular opportunities to enjoy fresh air and exercise. For example, they visit the local parks and public places enjoying developing their large muscle skills, as they climb, jump, run and play on the

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and outcomes for children

various apparatus. 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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