Childminder in Cornwall

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY273175 Inspection date 08/02/2012 Inspector Jayne Pascoe

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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 2004. He lives in Threemilestone, on the outskirts of Truro, in Cornwall, with his wife who is also a registered childminder and their three children aged between 12 and 16 years old. The family has a cat. All areas of the home are used for childminding. There is a secure rear garden for outside play. When working alone the childminder is registered to provide care for a maximum of six children and of these, three may be in the early years age group. When working with his wife he may care for a maximum of 10 children and of these, six may be in the early years age group. He may also care for up to three children overnight.

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Description of the childminding

There is currently one child attending who is within the Early Years Foundation Stage. Children live locally and some also attend the local Children's Centre. The childminder also offers care to children aged over five years old. The childminder is registered by Ofsted on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is outstanding.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The childminder is highly confident and competent in his delivery of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Children are extremely happy, settled and secure. The childminder provides exceptionally positive and supportive interaction. Highly effective partnerships with parents enable the childminder to meet children''s individual needs exceptionally well. Because of the excellent partnership working with others, the childminder is successful in maintaining shared care and learning experiences for children. An extensive range of enjoyable activities, high quality resources and excellent levels of support, helps them to make extremely good progress in their learning. Overall, the environment is organised exceptionally well. The childminder demonstrates an excellent capacity to improve. He follows rigorous processes to self-evaluate, in order to identify appropriate action to bring about continuous improvement.

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further?

To further improve the high quality early years provision the registered person should consider:

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further?

 enhancing the environment further, by providing pictures or photographs of things associated with regular routines This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

Children''s welfare is of paramount importance to the childminder. The home environment is exceptionally safe and secure. Comprehensive written risk assessments are successfully backed-up by daily visual checks. A risk assessment of outings is also completed. The childminder shares a detailed safeguarding policy with parents, ensuring they understand about his role and responsibilities. He has completed child protection training and follows excellent procedures to safeguard the children in his care. The childminder follows emergency evacuation procedures with children on a very regular basis and keeps a detailed record for monitoring and evaluation purposes. He maintains high levels of supervision for children at all times and monitors visitors to the home closely. All adults living and working on the premises have completed suitability checks. Excellent health and hygiene procedures are in place, with which children are clearly familiar.

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the early years provision

The childminder works exceptionally well in partnership with his wife, who is also a registered childminder. They make excellent use of their individual strengths to maintain a highly efficient early years provision. The childminder is extremely well organised and continually updates the documentation to help promote children''s ongoing safety and welfare. Self-evaluation systems are extremely robust, helping him to focus on the most significant areas for improvement in order to promote good outcomes for all children. For example, he plans to extend his knowledge and skills further, through completing relevant training and to introduce a wider range of materials for creative play. The home environment is exceptionally welcoming and visually stimulating. There are safe and comfortable areas for children of all ages to rest and play. Children can move freely to self-select favourite toys and resources and to explore and investigate the outdoors. As a result, they are

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the early years provision

developing a sound sense of belonging. Creative use of the range of high quality resources both indoors and out, ensures that children have equal opportunities to enjoy and achieve in their favoured environment. The childminder provides sufficiently challenging opportunities for children to extend their skills. He successfully identifies appropriate areas for children's individual development and learning. This information successfully influences future planning, which ensures that children make excellent levels of progress.

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the early years provision

The childminder has an excellent awareness of children''s backgrounds. He recognises and respects children's uniqueness and is therefore highly effective in promoting inclusion and equal opportunities. The childminder is skilful in his ability to engage children in purposeful activities and discussion, which increases their value and respect of people's differences. There is an excellent range of visual images available, which depict positive images of the range of people in the local community and wider world. These include photographs of the children attending. Because they have access to an excellent range of resources and have the support of a skilful practitioner, children are developing a very positive understanding of equality and diversity. The childminder has established highly positive partnerships with parents. The excellent use of documentation and discussion leads to highly efficient practise in information sharing. In addition, the childminder has enhanced

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the early years provision

methods for partnership working further as he has recently developed a This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 designated website. The childminder actively seeks regular feedback from parents through questionnaires. This feedback shows that parents are highly satisfied at the standards of care and learning provided. The childminder has excellent assessment systems in place, with which to monitor children's progress. He shares these records with parents regularly, in order to celebrate children's achievements. Some children also attend other early years settings and the childminder follows excellent procedures to promote opportunities for shared care and learning.

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and outcomes for children

Children benefit from balance of both male and female role models. They are cared for in a warm, welcoming and enabling home environment. There are extremely positive and trusting relationships between children, the childminder and his family. Children are eager to engage the childminder in self-initiated role-play. They dress-up in brightly coloured hats and capes. The childminder is skilful in extending the range of resources and introducing new vocabulary to challenge children further. Children clearly enjoy the high levels of interaction, praise and encouragement provided by the childminder. They are developing excellent social skills because of the positive role modelling by the childminder. As a result, children are very well mannered, helpful and are able to share, negotiate and cooperate successfully. Children benefit from very good opportunities to develop relationships with others in the local community, through their attendance at social

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and outcomes for children

activity groups. Daily routines are followed which promote children's individual care needs very well. The childminder is highly successful in promoting children's awareness of maintaining their own health and safety. For example, children participate in very regular fire drills, eat healthy and nutritious food and follow excellent hygiene practices. They play outdoors in the fresh air each day, running, jumping and climbing to develop their physical skills. The childminder respects and meets children's individual sleep and dietary requirements extremely well. Children feel safe and secure, as the childminder is highly attentive, reassuring and encouraging. He meets children's needs promptly and effectively.

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and outcomes for children

Children benefit from excellent opportunities to enjoy and achieve. They confidently self-select favourite toys, such as a multi-coloured hoop, shopping trolley and dressing-up clothes and sustain purposeful play for a considerable period. They are extremely confident, settled and happy. Children particularly enjoy observing reflections in the strategically placed wall mirrors. They are rapidly developing future skills as they communicate exceptionally well through facial expression, body language and their emerging vocabulary. They are beginning to recognise that they can communicate through mark making, when using the outdoor chalkboards. Children take responsibility for tidying-up after snack time and after playing with toys. Their progress in skills relating to information and communication technology is developing very well. Children have excellent opportunities to develop an understanding of the wider world and to equip them

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and outcomes for children

with the skills they need in order to secure future learning. The home environment is visually stimulating and exceptionally well resourced. Although there is currently no visual cue to the daily routine, which would enable younger children to monitor This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 the passing of time and influence the order of events.

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and outcomes for children

Children are rapidly developing their ability to problem-solve as they sort coloured plastic golf balls into different sized containers, stack natural wooden blocks and connect blocks to build towers and shapes. They are competent in their use of programmable and interactive toys. Children are able to make a positive contribution as they participate in social activity groups. They benefit from regular outings to local places of interest such as the park, Children's Centre and Eden project. Children are developing a good awareness of sustainability through planting and growing their own fruit and vegetables. They also use the garden for sensory play and exploration. Children encourage wildlife into the garden by providing bird boxes, seed feeders and ladybird boxes. They also benefit from an excellent range of sensory resources and are able to express themselves creatively through role-play, singing, musical instruments, painting, collage and story telling.

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and outcomes for children

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 1 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 1 The effectiveness of the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement The effectiveness of partnerships 1 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 1

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 1 The extent to which children feel safe 1 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 1 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 1 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 1

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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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