Childminder in Wokingham

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY429326 Inspection date 04/01/2012 Inspector Margaret Moffat

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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 registered in 2011. She lives with her two children aged nine and six in Charvil Berkshire. The childminder uses the whole of the ground floor for childminding, with sleeping facilities available upstairs. There is an enclosed garden available for outdoor play. The childminder makes use of the local facilities such as parks, the children's centre and toddler group. The family has a cat and two rabbits.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder may care for a maximum of five children under eight years at any one time, of whom no more than three may be in the early years age range. She is currently minding four children in this age group. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and on both the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register.

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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 content, playing in a child orientated environment where their individual needs are known and suitably supported. Overall children make good progress in their learning and development. The childminder develops good links with parents and generally involves them in the children's care and development. Most documentation is maintained appropriately, although risk assessment records are incomplete. The childminder has clear plans for further improvement to her practice.

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further?

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

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further?

 analyse observations to help plan what next for the individual children and ensure parents have regular opportunities to add to these records  update the record of risk assessment to include the assessment of risks for outings and trips.

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the early years provision

Children's safety is well promoted because the childminder has a range of safety features in place to minimise hazards for the children. She has completed risk assessments of her home and garden and these are regularly reviewed and added to when other risks arise. The childminder demonstrates a suitable understanding of the risk assessment for outings undertaken, but she does not follow the required practice of recording these. The childminder has a range of policies and This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 procedures and parents are given copies of these. This ensures they are well informed about the childcare service she provides. Children are safeguarded because the childminder knows the procedure to follow if she is concerned about a child in her care.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a good range of resources to support children's learning and development. They cover all areas of learning and are within easy reach of the children allowing them to make choices in their play. The childminder has a good understanding of the strengths of the childcare she provides and demonstrates a strong commitment to continual improvement. Since registration she has made improvements to her policies and procedures, she has renewed her first aid certificate and has also registered with the Local Authority Environmental Health Department. The childminder sees attending further training as key to improving the outcomes for children.

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the early years provision

The childminder promotes equality and diversity, recognising each child as an individual with a particular set of needs. She works closely with parents to ensure she follows correct procedures when dealing with the specific needs of the children. Parents are happy with the care their children receive. They particularly like the varied diet and healthy menu provided and the sharing of information to support children's learning. Some children attend other settings delivering the Early Years Foundation Stage. The childminder is developing links with staff at these settings to support children's well-being and progress. The childminder verbally exchanges information with parents about children's routines, activities and their development. This provides continuity or care and learning for the children.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder has been caring for children in the early years age group for a short time. The systems for observation and assessment are in the early stages of development. The childminder has made some observations of the children and has linked these to the areas of learning. She uses photographs and text underneath to record what children are doing at certain activities. However she does not yet plan what next for the children or share the records of achievement with parents. The childminder demonstrates a good understanding of child development and spends her time talking and playing with the children. She uses every opportunity to help young children develop their language skills and responds to their sounds and gestures. For example, as they play with bricks, she counts as they put one on top of another and children make noises as if counting. When they play with shape sorters she talks about the different shapes and their

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and outcomes for children

names and encourages their colour recognition as she helps them match the coloured balls to the squares they fit in.

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and outcomes for children

Young children enjoy exploring the environment as they move around comfortably stopping at different activities and playing with them. They develop their knowledge and understanding of how things work as they press the buttons, make things turn and open musical toys and listening to the sounds they make. They This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 enjoy playing with cars and moving them around the car mat and pushing the head down of the person in little car and chasing after this as it goes along the floor. Children enjoy looking at books with the childminder. They like to feel the different textures on the page and try to copy as the childminder says words such as smooth, bumpy sparkly. Children have fun as they make different animal noises when the childminder asks them what the dog says and other familiar animals. Children have opportunities to learn about the world around them through outings

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and outcomes for children

in the local community and as they attend toddler groups and children's centres. This also helps develop their social skills as they mix with other children and adults. Children develop skills for the future through being encouraged to be independent as they learn to feed themselves and deal with their own care needs. They talk about the weather on outings and the changes in season. The childminder is helping the children to learn about recycling and they look out for the van coming weekly to take the rubbish away.

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and outcomes for children

Children have daily opportunities to develop their physical skills both indoors and outside. They use the local park and play on the apparatus, run around and exercise. Indoors they play computer games which involve dancing or exercising to music, crawling through the tunnel or playing on the hopscotch mat. The childminder provides children with a range of healthy and nutritious meals and snacks, and parents comment how well their children now eat since going to the childminder. From a young age children follow good hygiene routines as the childminder talks to them as she wipes their hands and making them clean before they have snack or meals. The childminder has good nappy changing procedures in place and this helps the risk of cross infection. She has a range of equipment such as steps for children to reach the sink, toilet seat, liquid soap and wall sign reminding children to wash their hands after visiting the toilet.

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and outcomes for children

Children learn about keeping themselves safe as they practice the emergency evacuation and they talk about road safety on outings. Children have completed an activity after practising the evacuation of the premises talking about what vehicles may come in an emergency and learning the telephone number to call for themselves. Children have coloured pictures in relation to this activity and the childminder displays these by the front door. This helps children feel a sense of belonging. 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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