Childminder in Birmingham

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY431343 Inspection date 30/01/2012 Inspector Diane Ashplant

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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 has been registered since 2011. She minds children at another childminder's premises in the Witton area of Birmingham, close to local shops, park and school. The whole ground floor of the house and one upstairs bedroom is used for childminding purposes and there is a fully enclosed rear garden for outdoor play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children under eight years at any one time when working on her own and a maximum of 12 children when working with two other childminders. There are currently seven children on roll, of whom five are in the early years age range. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and on the compulsory part of the Childcare Register. The childminder holds an appropriate early years qualification.

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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 has settled into childminding well and along with her two sisters, with whom she works, provides a welcoming and inclusive environment where the individual needs of children are well met. She has a good understanding of how to support young children's learning and development from her experience as a teaching assistant. She has completed all the required training since registration and is beginning to use systems to evaluate her practice and support continuous improvement. Partnership with parents is open and friendly, although, links with others to promote outcomes for children are still in their early stages.

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further?

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

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further?

 providers must record the following information for each child in their care: full name, date of birth, the name and address of every parent and carer who is known to the provider, which of these parents the child normally lives with and emergency contact details of the parents and carers (Documentation). 12/02/2012

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further?

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

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further?

 improve the use of reflective practice and self-evaluation to identify strengths and prioritise development that will improve the quality of provision for all children  review the hand-washing routines to further promote the good health of children and prevent the spread of infection This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006  develop further a regular two-way flow of information with other early years settings.

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the early years provision

Children are safeguarded as the childminder shows a good awareness of her role and responsibilities in protecting children from possible harm or neglect and how to pass on concerns appropriately. There is a clear policy which is shared effectively with parents and information is also displayed around the setting. There are appropriate safety precautions in place to protect children from most hazards and rigorous procedures to further safeguard children, such as, safe collection with the use of passwords and identity checks to support unknown collectors. The childminder regularly reminds children about keeping themselves safe and uses visual and written risk assessment checks to monitor the premises and equipment. All three childminders hold current first aid certificates and nappy changing procedures with the use of plastic gloves further help to promote children's health. The childminder knows that all adults who come into contact with children must be

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the early years provision

either appropriately checked or fully supervised and ensures attendance records for children and visitors are well maintained. The childminder is an experienced teaching assistant and has completed an appropriate early years qualification as well as attending the required courses since registration as she recognises the value of training to support continuous improvement. She talks regularly to parents to assess their views and has started to use questionnaires for parents and the older children. However, systems for routinely reflecting on her practice are still in the early stages which may mean that not all areas for development are recognised. Most documentation for the safe and efficient management of the setting and to meet the needs of the children is in place and is kept well organised and up to date. However, not all the required details are recorded on admission for every child, such as emergency contact numbers, which means that children's

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the early years provision

The childminder provides an accessible, welcoming and attractively decorated environment and gets to know individual children through discussion with parents and by observing their play choices and abilities as they settle in. Children have easy access to a wide range of resources which encourages them to explore their environment and helps them initiate their own play. Children benefit from the attention they receive from three different adults which helps individual needs and routines to be effectively met. The childminder has experience of supporting children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and of working alongside other professionals and recognises the value of this in encouraging each child's development and integration.

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the early years provision

Partnership with parents is working well and the childminder provides an approachable, friendly service and daily verbal feedback when children are collected. There is a very informative parent notice board at the entrance with photos of all three childminders. All policies are shared with parents on the initial visit and a monthly planning notice keeps parents informed of topics and activities their children will be involved in. Children's learning journeys are readily available This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 for parents to read if they wish and there are many displays of children's work and photos to view. Parents are invited to come and discuss their children's progress and look through their work. However, links with other early years settings where children also attend are not yet fully developed which may mean not all opportunities for offering effective, consistent support for children's individual

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and outcomes for children

Children are settling well into this welcoming environment where their care, learning and development are generally well supported. They are learning about safety through the reminders from the childminder to play safely or to use equipment properly. Children take part in fire drills so they start to learn about fire safety and help tidy away toys so they will not fall over them. Children have daily outdoor play where they exercise and develop their coordination as they kick balls, enjoy running games and play with hoops. They are encouraged in daily routines to promote their health, such as hand washing, although, the practice of using a shared linen towel does not properly protect them from the risk of cross infection. Home-cooked meals and healthy snacks are provided daily and children's dietary needs are respected. Children and childminders all enjoy a sociable time together around the meal table. Children respond well to routine requests to sit together for

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and outcomes for children

circle time or line up for outdoor play. Their behaviour is generally good as they receive praise and encouragement, for example, for 'good sharing' and feel proud when they are awarded stickers and go on the star chart. Children have a wide range of resources to promote independent choices and these reflect the wider world, with labelling often being underlined in another language. Children enjoy activities based around different festivals and the childminder follows traditional customs at parents' requests, like the short prayer before lunch time.

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and outcomes for children

The children benefit from having the attention of three adults who enthusiastically engage and play with them which, in turn, encourages children's interest and participation. There is a good balance of adult involvement and child-directed play which means children happily amuse themselves, mimicking adult roles in the role play area, such as ironing and cooking or trying on the various dressing up clothes. They come together to listen to a favourite story like the 'hungry caterpillar' or join in singing nursery rhymes. They make marks with different tools and are helped to recognise their names as they self-register. Children's early language skills are supported by lots of conversation and circle time provides opportunities for sharing events from home and family which helps to promote their self-confidence. They are encouraged in independent skills like collecting coats from their pegs, while some try hard to master buttons and zips. Problem solving is brought routinely into

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and outcomes for children

the day as they count the bricks as they build towers and then knock them down or arrange the magnetic numbers on the easel. Children develop their creativity as they use paint and glue, for example, pasting different coloured paper into fruit shapes as they talk about their favourite fruit and try and identify their colours. Children take part in exciting activities and celebrations around festivals like Eid and Christmas or get to know their local community as they visit the park to collect leaves for their collages or go to the soft play centre. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 There is a basic routine to the day which always includes physical play outside and there are planned topics throughout the year. The childminder uses observations to monitor children's progress and identify the next steps she will plan for. An initial profile is drawn up after each child has settled in which identifies their play

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and outcomes for children

choices and patterns and all the childminders discuss their observations and thoughts about children's development as part of their regular planning. Photo observations along with examples of children's work are collected together in their individual learning journeys as a record of time enjoyed and progress made at the childminder's. 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 3 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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