Childminder in North Yorkshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY350465 Inspection date 30/09/2011 Inspector Caroline Midgeley

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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 2007. She lives with her husband and their two sons aged four years and 15 months in Starbeck, on the outskirts of Harrogate in North Yorkshire. The whole of the ground floor, except for the conservatory, spare bedroom and first floor bathroom, is used for childminding purposes and there is a fully enclosed garden for outdoor play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register to care for a maximum of four children at any one time and is currently minding one child aged 17 months on a full-time basis. She offers overnight care for one child aged between one and eight years. She attends two local toddler groups on a regular basis and makes frequent visits to the park. The family has a pet snake.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is satisfactory.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Generally effective practice means that children's welfare is largely promoted. The premises are not fully secure, although the childminder's vigilance helps ensure the children are safe. Children are settled and happy. They make progress through their secure relationships with the childminder, who intuitively promotes their learning through play. The childminder is perceptive and is beginning to work with parents to plan for children's individual needs. As a result, children enjoy learning, but the childminder does not use the Early Years Foundation Stage guidance sufficiently to develop her provision. This means some opportunities to maximise children's progress towards the early learning goals are missed. The childminder is enthusiastic and demonstrates a clear understanding of what she needs to do to further develop her practice.

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further?

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

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further?

 ensure that steps are taken to prevent intruders from entering the premises (Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare). 28/11/2011

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further?

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

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further?

 implement a system of planning, assessment and review using the Early Years Foundation Stage guidance  develop communication and consultation with parents  provide additional resources, both outdoors and indoors, to promote children's creative thinking, skills in learning and independence. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

Children are generally safeguarded and well protected in the setting because the childminder is vigilant. She has attended a course on basic safeguarding practice and is knowledgeable about appropriate practice and procedures. She conducts regular risk assessments, both in her home and before taking children on outings. She holds a current paediatric first aid certificate. These steps, together with the childminder's vigilance help ensure children are safe, although the premises are not fully secured against intruders. The childminder provides some age-appropriate toys and books that are stored at ground level, which means children can easily access them independently. However, although the children are making progress the childminder is not yet sufficiently knowledgeable about how children learn and the theory and practice laid down in the Early Years Foundation Stage, and does not accurately assess the children's progress against these guidelines, to ensure

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the early years provision

that this progress is maximised. Consequently, opportunities are missed to provide activities and to develop resources for both the outdoor and indoor provision that will further promote children's learning, creative thinking and independence.

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the early years provision

The childminder is aware that she does not sufficiently review her practice against the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage and has identified that record keeping and policies require development in order to improve quality further. She is enthusiastic and has addressed most of the recommendations identified at the last inspection. She displays a poster informing parents about Ofsted's role and telephone number.

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the early years provision

The childminder forms close relationships with parents who greatly appreciate the way she looks after their children. She informally obtains some useful information from the parents about children's likes and dislikes. For example, a parent told her that their child was particularly delighted with a type of ball, so she obtained a similar one for the child. This means that parents' wishes and some of children's needs are met. The childminder is aware of her requirement to liaise with other providers, to ensure children have access to specialist support and or continuity of care, although she has not as yet had the need to do this.

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and outcomes for children

Children really enjoy being in this setting and have developed firm attachments to the childminder. This is because she has an intuitive understanding of young children and has developed strong nurturing relationships with them. She offers them familiar routines so children are confident and secure. This enables them to explore and learn from the opportunities offered.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder is aware of the importance of fresh air and exercise and regularly takes the children to toddler groups and to the park. She offers them healthy home-cooked food and teaches them the importance of washing hands before eating. These measures help promote the children's health and well-being. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 The childminder uses some resources and routines well to promote early learning goals. For example, she reinforces vocabulary during play and snack time, which supports children's communication skills. She provides interesting books, such as textured and turn-the-flap-type books, to engage children's interest in reading. The childminder uses some natural and found materials to make a musical shaker with the children and points out pencil marks a younger child has used to decorate cut out shapes for the shaker. The children's body language showed that he was

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and outcomes for children

obviously very pleased. She encourages children to find and fit shapes into a shape sorter, naming the shapes as selected. Children show delight at success and demonstrate positive self-esteem in their body language, clapping and vocalising with joy. Such activities and encouragement promote writing, physical and mathematical skills, as well as self-esteem and positive dispositions towards learning.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder also provides resources that can be switched on and off, for example, the toy organ. Such resources help children develop skills in technology. However, although the childminder intuitively works well with children and assesses their capabilities and interests informally, she does not yet have a fully secure working knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage's requirements or guidance. This is reflected in her not planning or assessing children's learning sufficiently effectively to ensure that children continue to progress in their learning and development towards the early learning goals.

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and outcomes for children

The children are well behaved and get on well with each other because of the childminder's care, concern and consistent boundaries she sets. She ensures children learn about keeping themselves safe, for example she teaches young children to safely negotiate the step to the outdoor play area. She actively promotes good manners. For example, during snack-time she encourages the children to say 'thank you'. This means they are developing a respect for themselves and for others. 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 3 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 3 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 3

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 3 The extent to which children feel safe 3 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 3

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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: Not Met (with actions)

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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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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The registered provider does not meet the requirements of the compulsory and or voluntary part/s of the Childcare Register.

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 ensure that no one can enter the premises without the knowledge of the person who is caring for the children on the premises (Suitability and safety of premises and equipment). 28/11/2011

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