Childminder in Newcastle upon Tyne

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY349407 Inspection date 26/01/2012 Inspector Julie Larner

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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 children aged 12 years and nine years. They live in the residential area of Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne. The whole of the ground floor and an upstairs front bedroom is used for childminding. There is an enclosed garden for outdoor play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered by Ofsted on the Early Years Register and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She is registered to care for a maximum of six children aged 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 three children, all of whom, are in the early years age range. She can also offer care to children aged over eight years. The childminder cares for children Monday to Friday from 8am until 4.45pm, for 48 weeks of the year, but can care for children for longer periods to accommodate parents working patterns. The childminder has completed a relevant training course and holds a current paediatric first aid certificate. The childminder occasionally smokes but does not smoke on the premises, or when she is caring for children.

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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 cared for by a highly skilled practitioner who places the children's needs at the heart of her practice and values each child for their own unique abilities. Children make very good progress in their learning through highly successful planning and continual support. Children's welfare is successfully promoted due to mostly constantly good systems the childminder uses. The childminder has a strong capacity to improve and focuses on the areas in her setting that will bring about the most improvement for children. Partnerships with parents are exceptionally good due to the excellent systems she uses to continually share information and to gain parents views about her setting. The childminder shows a commitment to work in partnership with other professionals, to ensure that children make as much progress as they possibly can in her setting.

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further?

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

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further?

 ensure the risk assessment covers all of the areas in the premises that the children can access (Suitable premises, environment and equipment) 10/02/2012

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further?

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

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further?

 ensure children have opportunities to manage their own personal hygiene by This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 consistently encouraging them to wash their hands before eating food.

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the early years provision

The childminder places a high emphasis on safety in her setting. She conducts comprehensive risk assessments that are continually updated, to ensure that all hazards are successfully eliminated. Whilst there are no safety issues throughout the premises, the childminder has not included all of the areas of the setting that children use on her written risk assessment. This is a breach of the welfare requirements. The childminder shows a thorough understanding of child protection issues. She completes regular training to ensure she adheres to current practice and guidance and shows a clear understanding of what to do if she has a concern about a child in her care. This contributes to children's safety and results in children being well safeguarded in her setting. Space and resources in the setting are very well organised. A separate play room area provides both a comfortable and relaxing area and a good space for children make their own choices about

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the early years provision

what they want to do, from easily accessible equipment. Children's work is highly valued. The childminder strings pictures and masks that children have made across the play room with pegs. This contributes towards raising children's self-esteem.

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the early years provision

The childminder shows a high commitment to improving her practice. She attends several relevant courses and is currently completing a degree, which in turn, benefits the care of the children. The childminder has made exceptional progress on one of the recommendations since the last inspection. She provides several worthwhile opportunities for children to explore diversity and consequently, children learn about the need to respect those with differing views, needs and cultures. The childminder displays a highly dedicated approach to working successfully in partnership with parents. She provides them with an exceptionally detailed amount of information about their child's development, encourages them to come into her setting to share their skills and invites them to watch puppet plays that the children have practised. Effective systems are used to work with other professionals to provide a continuous learning journey for the children in her

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and outcomes for children

Children are highly secure in the childminder's care. They have developed very positive relationships with the childminder and thrive on her involvement in their learning and development. The childminder supports individual children very successfully. She encourages them to be involved in activities and play opportunities together, that they thoroughly enjoy. They all laugh and giggle with excitement whilst doing the 'hat song' and jump up and down enthusiastically as they try and find who is left wearing the last hat. The childminder has a clear understanding of how to encourage children's learning through their active play, which she supports very well. Children's interests are at the forefront of planned activities. The childminder successfully uses these to extend children's learning. For This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 example, as they excitedly get out some laminated shapes the childminder has

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and outcomes for children

made to create different pictures with them. The childminder kneels on the floor and spontaneously asks them to identify each shape, which some children do with complete ease. Children have well planned, enjoyable, opportunities to explore the world around them. They make binoculars from cardboard tubes and tick off a list of different birds when they see them in the garden. They also enjoy nature walks and bring back different things to the childminder's setting to explore and talk about. Children develop an exceptionally good understanding of different cultures and the need to respect differences. The childminder plans a very successful range of activities to celebrate Chinese New Year, where children watch video clips on the computer, attempt to copy Chinese writing, make dragon masks and enjoy local trips to watch a dragon dance. The childminder completes comprehensive observations on the children in her care and uses these successfully to inform her

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and outcomes for children

planning for the next steps in the children's development. Consequently, children make very good progress in their learning.

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and outcomes for children

Children know how to stay safe in the setting. Younger children are given gentle reminders and appropriate explanations from the childminder as to why they should not do something. Children learn about basic road safety when they are on outings in their local community and regularly practise fire drills, which ensure they know what to do in the event of an emergency. Children behave well in the setting. The childminder shows a clear understanding of how to manage behaviour and works alongside the parents wishes to build a consistent set of boundaries to teach the children about. Children learn from the childminder who provides a good role model as she praises their achievements and ensures that she promotes good manners by saying 'please' and 'thank you' to them. Children benefit from a good selection of home made meals which contribute towards a healthy diet. The childminder plans a menu which includes foods, such as, haddock, peas and

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and outcomes for children

healthy oven baked chips or spaghetti bolognaise with hidden vegetables. She shares the menu with the parents on a weekly basis. Although, the childminder has several policies and procedures to ensure the spread of cross-infection is limited in her setting, routines to encourage children to wash their hands before eating a snack are not always sufficiently secure to promote their good health. Children are gaining good control over their bodies and have planned sessions during the week to enjoy movement and dance. Spontaneous play opportunities compliment this well. The childminder encourages children to dance with the Chinese fans they have made that morning and to make their bodies into different shapes which children really enjoy. 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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