Childminder in West Northamptonshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY428787 Inspection date 12/01/2012 Inspector Melanie Eastwell

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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 partner and one child aged 10 years in the village of Byfield, near Daventry in Northamptonshire, close to shops, schools, parks and public transport links. The whole of the premises are used for childminding and there is an enclosed garden available for outside play.

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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, no more than three of which may be in the early years age range and she is currently minding five children in this age group. She also provides care to children aged over five years to 10 years and is registered by Ofsted on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder takes children to and collects them from the local school and attends toddler groups regularly. She holds a Level 3 qualification in Childcare, Learning and Development and a Level 2 qualification in Play Work. No children were present at the time of the inspection.

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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 demonstrates a good knowledge of each child's needs that enables her to be successful in promoting their welfare and learning. Children's safety is given high priority and the childminder provides them with opportunities to make the most of the rural location in which she lives. The partnerships with parents are strong and this means that the needs of all children are met along with any additional support needs. This helps children to progress well given their age, ability and unique starting points. The childminder has commenced the process of self-evaluation and she is keen to develop this further in order to continue to enhance her practice and to identify her priorities for the future.

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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 for observation and assessment to ensure the next steps in learning are revisited and cross referenced to clearly demonstrate children's progression in their learning  improve the risk assessment document to include each type of outing the children are involved in  develop further the procedures for self-evaluation to continue to enhance the outcomes for the children and to identify priorities for future development. 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 has developed an organised approach to her childminding that ensures she is able to provide each child with good amounts of attention and all the required documentation is in place. Safeguarding is high on the childminder's list of priorities. For example, each adult in the household has the required clearances in place, the children are involved in regular emergency evacuation drills and written risk assessments are in place. Although children are safe during outings because the childminder is able to describe how she manages their safety; not all the outings the children are involved in are recorded on the document. The childminder understand the importance of following the Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures in the event of any child protection concerns. The children have access to a good range of play materials and resources that are linked to the current topic and from which they can choose freely.

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the early years provision

The childminder is developing effective working partnerships with parents. She seeks information from them before children start attending that relates to their individual needs as well as about their progress at home. The childminder gives verbal feedback each day. This includes practical details about food intake and nappy changes as well as information about the activities their child has enjoyed. Parents have regular access to their child's record of achievement file and agree with the childminder each term on the identified learning intentions for their child. The childminder is aware of the importance of working in partnership with other providers delivering the Early Years Foundation Stage and continues to develop these links. The childminder's commitment to partnership working promotes a consistent approach and a smooth transition for the children in her care.

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the early years provision

The childminder has begun to consider her procedures for self-evaluation. For example, she has sought the views of the parents and the children about her service through the use of questionnaires and has received positive and complimentary comments. She evaluates her activity planning to ensure it meets the needs of all the children. The childminder is keen to continue to develop her practice and she demonstrates a good capacity for continuous improvement. However, she has yet to formalise her arrangements for reflection on her activity in order to celebrate areas she does well and to identify well-targeted plans for the future.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder is able to describe a good range of activities that she offers the children. These cover all six areas of learning and follow the children's interests as well as the current topic. The childminder plans her activities around a topic that changes each half term. The children are involved in choosing the topic. She plans activities that link to the six areas of learning and provides resources for the children that are relate to the topic. For example, the current topic is 'What do we look like?' The childminder provides puzzles and books showing children's faces as This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 well as mirrors for them to look into and small world characters that depict able- bodied as well as disabled people from different cultures. She said the children have enjoyed looking in the mirrors and the younger ones are learning to point to

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and outcomes for children

The childminder shows through photographs the wide range of activities she offers to the children such as baking bread and decorating cakes, visiting country parks, feeding the ducks at the local reservoir and art and craft and music activities. Each child has a file that shows their progression through written observations, samples of their work and photographs. The childminder uses the Practice Guidance document to help her link the observations to the relevant areas of learning and she has recently identified each child's next steps in learning. She has yet to re- visit these and cross reference back to the observation to clearly show how children make progress in their learning.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder describes how she encourages the children to feel safe by showing them around her home when they start attending and through closely supervising them and getting involved in their play. She said they are confident to ask for items they want and enjoy sitting with her for stories. Children are aware of their own personal hygiene with the childminder supporting them; she said they understand the routine for hand washing before eating and after using the toilet. She talks to them about boundaries for behaviour and the expectation to walk together, hold hands and she talks to them about road safety when out and about. Photographs are in place of the children playing together. For example, two children taking turns to get inside a large cardboard box. The childminder said she spends time encouraging the children to share and to think of others. She also develops their independence skills through them learning to put their own coats on

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and outcomes for children

and choosing what fruit they want from a local market. Although no children were present on the day of inspection, the childminder demonstrates clearly how the children's individual needs are met. 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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