Childminder in Essex

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY269971 Inspection date 05/01/2012 Inspector Lynn Hughes

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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

Children only attend this setting before and/or after the school day and/or during the school holidays. The judgements in this report reflect the quality of early years provision offered to children during those periods.

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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 2003. She lives with her husband and two children aged four and eight years in Feering, Essex. The whole of the ground floor of the property is used for childminding. There is an enclosed garden available for outside play. The childminder takes and collects children from local schools. The family have a dog and two cats as pets.

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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. There are currently four children attending who are within the Early Years Foundation Stage, all of whom attend on a part-time basis. The childminder also offers care to children aged over five years. She is registered on the Early Years Register and on both the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register. 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's welfare, learning and development needs are met to a good standard. The childminder knows the children in her care well. She provides them with a range of mostly freely chosen activities and play experiences which help them to explore learning and to enjoy their time with her. At present her informal observations are not effectively used to inform future individual planning and parents are not actively involved in their children's learning. The childminder currently offers before and after school care and has links in place with the children's teachers to enable her to work in partnership with them and to share relevant information about their development. The childminder has improved and developed her childminding service since her last inspection and has systems in place for reviewing and evaluating her provision.

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further?

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

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further?

 ensure children make good progress towards the early learning goals by developing the rigor of the planning process to consistently challenge and extend children  develop partnership working to provide further opportunities for parents to share in their children's learning, and consider ways of liaising with other providers delivering the Early Years Foundation Stage to ensure progression and continuity of care. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

The childminder's clear knowledge of safeguarding issues ensures that children are protected from harm while in her care. She has attended safeguarding training in the past and has plans in place to refresh her knowledge over the coming year. A written safeguarding children policy is in place and is regularly reviewed and updated by the childminder. All adults living on the premises are vetted and proof of their clearance is held on file. Children play in safe and secure environments as the childminder conducts rigorous risk assessments of her home and outdoor activities.

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the early years provision

The childminder demonstrates a firm commitment to maintaining continuous improvement. She has implemented a number of improvements to her provision since the last inspection. These include changes to the structure of the premises to provide additional spaces for children to play and learn. The range of toys and play equipment has also been increased and now includes more books and resources which reflect equality and diversity.

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the early years provision

Children safely select play materials from low-level storage units and containers stored in the dedicated playroom. They are knowledgeable about where their favourite toys are kept and seek assistance from the childminder to reach any equipment which is not easy accessible to them. The childminder supports the children's learning well. She sits with them, chats to them about their day and becomes actively involved in board games and learning experiences. Children are provided with good opportunities to develop their knowledge and understanding about other people's cultures and beliefs as they participate in a range of festivals and activities which enable them to explore different cultures.

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the early years provision

All of the children currently being cared for attend the childminder's care before and after school. The childminder has very good links with the local school and liaises well with the reception class teacher, sharing relevant information about their time with her and how they are settling in and developing. Parents have an open and informal relationship with the childminder. There is a good two-way flow of information between which provides good opportunities for them to communicate effectively. Written policies and procedures are shared with parents to ensure that they are well informed about the childminder's provision. However, the information she shares about the children's progress with parents and any other people who might need information about a child, such as a health professional, is limited.

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and outcomes for children

Children enjoy their time with the childminder. They socialise well with her children and participate in a range of planned and freely chosen play. The childminder uses her knowledge of the children in her care to provide them with toys and play resources which she knows will meet their interests. For example, a favourite This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 game is readily available and children who enjoy this game excitedly set it out and begin playing it. They are delighted as they count the number of small balls their character has eaten and chat confidently about being the winner. A joyful tune is played on a small plastic keyboard, accompanied by a dance. They also create a model with plastic construction bricks, ably assisted by some of the older children present. The childminder informally observes the children in her care and uses her observations to consider toys and play activities which she believes will capture

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and outcomes for children

their interests and challenge them appropriately. However, due to the informality of these observations, there is little evidence to show how children are challenged.

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and outcomes for children

Children feel safe within the childminder's care. They understand the childminder's house rules and know that they must remove their outdoor shoes and place them in a ground floor cupboard when they enter the house. They walk sensibly along the road to and from school and know that they need to stop and look carefully before crossing. Children adopt a healthy lifestyle as the childminder reminds them about the importance of good hygiene practices, such as hand washing. They know about foods which are good for them and those which are not. Children enjoy fresh air and exercise on a daily basis when they play in the childminder's garden or stop at the local play park on the way home from school. Walking the childminder's dog is also a favourite pastime, which provides good opportunities for children to be active.

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and outcomes for children

Children are settled within the childminder's care and approach her with confidence. Their self-esteem is actively promoted as the childminder offers them praise and encouragement. She encourages them to talk about their interests and family life. Children are very confident talkers and enjoy conversing with their peers and siblings. They actively participate in a range of activities which enable them to develop and further extend their skills for the future, for example, they count and use numbers in everyday activities and games. They are aware of technology and enjoy playing with electronic games. 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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