Walton Julie

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 224606 Inspection date 07/10/2011 Inspector Mary Henderson

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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 2000. She lives with her husband and two adult children in a house in Stoke-on-Trent. Her husband and daughter are also part- time assistants to the provider. All areas of the house are used for childminding purposes and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The family has two dogs.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register. She is registered to care for a maximum of six children when working on her own and for nine children when working with an assistant.

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Description of the childminding

There are currently five children on roll within the early year's age range. The childminder collects children from the local school and attends toddler groups on a regular basis. She is a member of the National Childminding Association and she receives support from the local authority.

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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 fosters good relationships with children, parents and other providers of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Most systems to evaluate the provision are in place. The capacity to make further improvement is good. Most systems to inform parents of their child's ongoing progression are good.

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further?

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

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further?

 ensure all parents are fully included in the self-evaluation processes of the setting  develop further systems that provide a summary of children's achievements to ensure their progression

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the early years provision

The relationships between the childminder and the children and their parents are good. There are strong relationships with other providers of the Early Years Foundation Stage which ensures inclusion for all children on roll. The childminder makes good use of all available space to ensure children can easily access their resources. Children are taken out every day by the childminder for fresh air and exercise. Observations are used to plan children's next steps across all areas of their development. Parents are fully included in the identification of their child's starting points. However, parents are not yet provided with summaries of their This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 child's learning and development to ensure they are kept up to date with their child's progression over time.

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the early years provision

The risk assessments in place ensure children's safety includes all indoor and outdoor areas and all outings involving the children. Children are appropriately safeguarded because the childminder and her assistants have a good understanding of the policies and procedures to be followed. All adults are suitably checked and vetted.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a strong commitment to supporting children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. The self-evaluation systems in place include input from the childminder, her assistants and the children. However, parents are not yet fully included in these systems.

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the early years provision

Engagement with parents is good. There is verbal and written two-way exchange of information to ensure each child's needs are fully identified and met. Parents have free access to all policies and procedures of the setting and their child's learning and development files at all times.

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and outcomes for children

The children observe, find out about and identify, features in the place they live and the natural world. They enjoy outings to places of interest, where they explore historical memorabilia and talk about past events. They also like to visit the local farm where they look at the various animals and feed the goats and the farm horse, under close supervision of the childminder at all times. At the farm they also like to ride around on the small tractors which are set up in the hay barn. Children enjoy nature walks in the local areas where they feed the ducks, look around for insects and pick up autumn leaves to bring back to examine closely at the setting. The children like to use a variety of large equipment during their every day visits to the local park. They climb over, under and through climbing frames, use the slide and run around in the fresh air.

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and outcomes for children

Children are beginning to recognise the importance of living a healthy life and those things which contribute to this. They independently wash their hands before eating and after visiting the toilet. They learn about good oral health as they brush their teeth and talk to the dental nurse that visits them to talk about food which is good, or not so good for their teeth. They talk about healthy foods and drinks as they socially interact with one another during meal times. They plant potatoes in pots, watching them grow over time and harvesting them to have in their meals.

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and outcomes for children

The children learn about personal safety as they cross the road under close supervision of the childminder at all times. Their learning about personal safety is further fostered through regular practise of the evacuation procedures of the setting. To further promote children's awareness of personal safety issues, they visit the fire station to talk to fire officers about keeping people safe in their homes. This all builds on children's sense of feeling safe. They show they feel safe This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 within their environment as they smile and have fun with their peers and the adults caring for them. Their sense of belonging is fostered well through positive display of their art work and photographs around their play areas.

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and outcomes for children

Children are beginning to show confidence as they independently make choices about what they want to do. They have a high regard for one another and the adults that care for them and they share and take turns with the resources. Children help themselves to a broad range of tools. This includes paintbrushes and crayons to make their own pictures and rollers and moulds while manipulating the play dough. The children choose books to sit and look through with their peers and staff and they enjoy a variety of stories and rhymes of their choice.

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and outcomes for children

The children access an extensive range of equipment and toys that support them with skills for the future. This includes using laptops and table top computers to explore mathematical concepts and problem solving skills, such as, counting, shape and colour recognition and spotting the odd one out. Children enjoy their imaginary play. They like to dress up in costumes and walk about with the dolls, making imaginary cups of tea and role playing with the home corner resources.

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and outcomes for children

Children are beginning to have a developing respect for their own cultures and beliefs and those of other people. They explore a broad range of resources that reflect positive images of diversity. These include dolls and small world people and looking through story and reference books. Children's resources also depict positive images of disabled people. The children are also beginning to explore various festivals around the calendar through food tasting and arts and crafts. 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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