Childminder in Leicestershire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 225948 Inspection date 17/11/2011 Inspector Karen Cooper

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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 1998. She lives with her husband and 14-year- old child in a residential area of Broughton Astley, which is located in the south of Leicestershire. The ground floor and upstairs bathroom are used for minding. There is a fully enclosed rear garden available for outdoor play. The family's pets include two dogs, a guinea pig, a budgerigar and an aquarium of fish.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children at any one time and is currently caring for 17 children, all of whom attend on a part time basis. There are eight children attending who are in the early years age group, and the childminder provides care for children over the age of eight years old. 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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Description of the childminding

The childminder is able to take and collect children from the local school. She is a member of the local childminding group.

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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 settled; they form positive relationships with the childminder and each other. Toys and resources are well deployed and suitable to each child's age and stage of development. The uniqueness of each child is highly recognised, and the individual needs of all children are very effectively met. Exceptional partnerships between parents ensure individual children's needs are well met. The childminder works in close partnership with other early years professionals and the local school to promote continuity of care for the children. Documentation is well organised and stored appropriately to maintain confidentiality. Policies and procedures are mostly effective. Strategies for monitoring and evaluating the provision are effective, and the childminder demonstrates a strong commitment towards continuous improvement.

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further?

To meet the specific requirements of the EYFS, the registered person must:

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further?

 ensure the record of risk assessment clearly states when it was carried out and the date of review (Documentation). 02/12/2011

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further?

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

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further?

 provide an adequate supply of hand-washing materials for young children to minimise the risk of cross-contamination. 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 enhances the development and welfare of children because she has a sound knowledge of procedures to follow in relation to child protection and safeguarding. She is aware of the various signs and symptoms of abuse and of the procedure to follow should she have a concern about a child in her care. Children flourish in the childminder's care, and the homely and welcoming environment that she provides helps children to settle and feel at ease. Children's freedom of choice is well supported because resources are plentiful, and a good selection is easily accessible by them. The childminder carries out daily checks and regular risk assessments to enable children to play safely indoors, outdoors and on outings. However, the record of the risk assessment is not dated, which is a breach of a specific legal requirement.

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the early years provision

The childminder is a very caring person and totally dedicated to providing the best possible care for the children and their families. She is an experienced childminder and has cared for many of the older siblings of the children that she is currently minding. She is committed to continuous improvement and has attended several workshops to update her knowledge and skills, including training in the Early Years Foundation Stage, child protection and first aid. The childminder regularly reflects on the service that she provides, and has completed the Ofsted self-evaluation form. The planning of activities is flexible and develops through the individual interests and play preferences of the children. This ensures that children benefit from a good balance of child-initiated and adult-led activities. The childminder encourages children to gain an excellent understanding of similarities and differences between people. For example, she provides a range of resources that

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the early years provision

reflect positive images of diversity including dolls, figures and books, and leads by example. The childminder goes to a great deal of effort to ensure that the individual needs of all the children in her care are met. This sometimes involves her conducting research on children's specific needs.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a good range of written policies and procedures in place, which she ensures are shared with parents. She works extremely well in partnership, sharing information regularly with parents to maintain a very effective two-way flow of information. The childminder places great value in ensuring that parents develop a sense of belonging to the setting and have a say in the care and well-being of their children. She seeks parental opinions and input on a regular basis to enable her to monitor and develop the service provided. Parents speak highly of the childminder, and one comment in particular echoes the overall sentiments expressed, 'She is kind, polite and quite simply, the children love her'. The childminder has a clear system in place to gather information from parents regarding children's individual needs from the onset, and effective settling in arrangements ensure children are happy to be left with a trusted adult. The

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the early years provision

childminder is aware of the benefits of establishing and maintaining positive links with other professionals involved in the care and education of the children, and has formed strong links with the local school, nursery and childminding group to ensure children's needs are well-met. The childminder is methodical in her This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 approach to paperwork, and as result, children's records and documentation are well organised and stored appropriately to maintain confidentiality.

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and outcomes for children

Children are cared for in a stimulating environment, where they make good progress in their learning and development. The childminder's knowledge of each child's preferences ensures that their individual needs and are well met. She promptly acknowledges children's good behaviour, effort and achievement and is very attentive towards their needs. The childminder ensures that children learn to show consideration for others, to share and to be kind to each other. She encourages children to always feel good about themselves by praising them for their behaviour and efforts. The childminder clearly demonstrates that she knows the children well and takes positive steps to find out what interests each child, how much they know and what they can do. She regularly observes the children as they play and records their achievements. Photographs and samples of children's work are attractively presented in individual folders and include detailed

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and outcomes for children

assessments with next steps for learning clearly identified.

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and outcomes for children

Children have formed positive relationships with the childminder and are relaxed and settled. This enables them to make good progress in their personal, social and emotional development. Children are keen to join in the activities. For example, they enjoy using their imagination in role play. They sometimes take on family roles and like to include the childminder in play such as dressing and undressing dolls. They show great pleasure in helping the childminder to sweep up birdseed that has accidently been knocked over. Children develop their simple problem- solving skills as they count everyday objects, use shape-sorters and build with construction toys. Plenty of opportunities are provided for children to develop their creative skills through a range of dressing-up props and craft activities such as painting, printing, cooking and collage. Children have access to a variety of books, paper and crayons to help develop their early literacy by making marks. They

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and outcomes for children

concentrate well when listening to a familiar story and sit patiently when the childminder shows them the pictures to look at. Children also learn about the environment. They are developing their understanding of how to care for animals and have made fat balls and feeders for the birds and squirrels to eat during the winter. The children clearly learn from the experience and are discovering about the world around them. Children also benefit from a variety of activities outside the childminder's home. They frequently go for walks around the local community and attend the local soft play centres, park and childminder group, where they have plenty of opportunities to socialise with their peers.

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and outcomes for children

Children learn about keeping themselves safe through the discussions and activities provided. They regularly join in fire-evacuation practices to ensure that they know what to do in an emergency. Through activities and daily routines, children become aware of healthy eating. Food provided by parents is stored appropriately, and children's individual dietary needs are established on admission. Children are encouraged to wash their hands at appropriate times of the day. However, the use of a communal towel does not minimise the risk of cross- This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 contamination. Children are well cared for if they have an accident, and there are effective procedures, overall, to protect them from illness and infection. Children develop their physical skills through a range of outdoor activities. They have access to the garden on a regular basis, where they benefit from a good range of toys

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and outcomes for children

and equipment which help to foster their good health. 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 1 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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