Childminder in West Northamptonshire

Inspection report for early years provision

p.1

Unique reference number 220594 Inspection date 20/01/2012 Inspector Jan Burnet

p.1

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.

p.1

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

p.2

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.

p.3

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).

p.3

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.

p.3

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

p.3

Description of the childminding

The childminder was registered in 1990. She lives in Brackley, Northamptonshire with her husband, adult daughter and 10-year-old son. The whole of the ground floor is registered and includes toilet facilities. A secure garden is registered for outdoor play. The family has a dog.

p.4

Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She may care for six children aged under eight years at any one time and of these, three may be in the early years age group. The childminder is currently caring for five children. Of these, one is in the early years age group and three are aged over eight years. She walks with children to and from the local school.

p.4

Description of the childminding

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association (NCMA).

p.4

The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is satisfactory.

p.4

The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The childminder demonstrates a sound knowledge of the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage and the Practice Guidance. She meets children's care needs appropriately, but a legal requirement is not being fully met, and she addresses learning and development satisfactorily although not all areas of learning are promoted with full effect. Communication between the childminder and parents is good. The childminder ensures that all children are valued and included and information obtained from parents helps her to identify and address children's differences. The childminder is aware of her strengths and areas or improvement and she is using this awareness to review her practice. Her commitment to continue to monitor and extend her practice within her childminding supports the development of children's care and learning appropriately.

p.4

further?

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

p.4

further?

 obtain information from parents about who has legal contact with their child; and who has parental responsibility (Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare). 09/02/2012

p.4

further?

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

p.4

further?

 provide opportunities for children to make marks in and squeeze and feel media such as paint and dough, and opportunities for them to develop an This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 awareness of space, shape and measure.

p.4

the early years provision

The childminder ensures that children play in a warm and welcoming environment. She is aware of her responsibilities with regard to supervising children in her care and the health and safety systems are sound. A written risk assessment identifies that potential hazards have been identified and addressed satisfactorily. Necessary checks for childminder and her family have been completed and she ensures that children are never left unsupervised with a person who has not been vetted. The childminder is aware of her responsibility with regard to protecting children from abuse. She provides a safeguarding policy for parents and a copy of the Northamptonshire Safeguarding Children Board procedures. The welfare of children is not fully addressed, however, and a legal requirement has not been met because not all parents have provided information on who has parental responsibility for their child and who has legal contact.

p.5

the early years provision

The childminder identifies that her priorities for improvement are to make sure that she continues to assess whether toys and resources for each child interest them and to develop the use of the outdoor play area. She intends to complete NCMA safeguarding training 'on-line' and has booked to attend a conference on 'Attachment' in February 2012. At the time of the last inspection four recommendations were raised and all have been satisfactorily addressed. These link to safety of premises, content of the first aid box, displaying the certificate of registration and record keeping. In order to improve her provision the childminder has welcomed the help of local development workers. Required documentation and records are kept up-to-date.

p.5

the early years provision

Communication between the childminder and parents is good. A questionnaire is provided and parents are asked for their views on: what they like most; if they feel involved and consulted with regard to their child's progress; if their child's needs are being met; and if there are any recommendations that they would like implemented. A daily diary is provided and parents are invited to take it home and add their own comments. A portfolio shown to parents includes previous Ofsted reports, training certificates, insurance details and a full range of policies and procedures. In discussion, the childminder explains how she will ensure that the needs of children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities and children with English as an additional language are met. She will do this by agreeing with parents how they can work together to meet these needs. The childminder ensures that resources for children at different stages of development generally meet their

p.5

the early years provision

needs appropriately and some of these reflect diversity. Early Years children do not currently attend any other early years provision but the childminder is aware of the benefits of establishing and maintaining positive links to ensure coherence of care and learning. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

p.5

and outcomes for children

The childminder is aware of the six areas of learning and children are making satisfactory progress. She is keeping a record of children's achievements in order to track their progress and information is regularly shared with parents. However, the childminder does not demonstrate a full awareness of the learning needs of very young children over all of the learning areas. Their creative development is limited because they do not make marks in and squeeze and feel media such as paint and dough. Opportunities for them to develop an awareness of space, shape and measure are limited as they do not have access to toys such as stacking toys, or shape sorters.

p.6

and outcomes for children

Personal, social and emotional development is strong. Children are happy and settled and the childminder ensures that children feel emotionally secure by building good relationships. Behaviour is managed with positive reinforcement and distraction. Behaviour rules for older children include sharing, turn taking, helping each other and helping to tidy up. Children learn that they must not spoil each others' fun and must not exclude others. Visits to groups encourage young children to develop their social skills.

p.6

and outcomes for children

Children's language development is promoted well as the childminder asks open- ended questions. She looks at picture books with young children and encourages them to name animals, make the sounds that the animals make and count them. Young children make sounds as they pretend to talk on the telephone. The childminder counts as she builds towers of bricks for young children and they delight in knocking the tower down. From toy boxes, children can select small- world figures and vehicles to put them in and a range of interactive toys. Young children use good manipulative skills as they turn buttons and move levers knowing that these will then make different sounds. Children learn how to keep themselves safe and healthy. They know that they must hold hands when out walking, they learn how to cross the road safely and learn good hygiene practice. Children learn to control their bodies as they move to music and they develop skills

p.6

and outcomes for children

and confidence as they access physical play equipment at the childminder's home and soft play centres and groups. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

p.6

Annex A: record of inspection judgements

The key inspection judgements and what they mean

p.7

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

p.7

children in the Early Years Foundation Stage?

The capacity of the provision to maintain continuous improvement

p.7

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

p.7

Stage

The quality of the provision in the Early Years Foundation Stage 3

p.7

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 3 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 3 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 3

p.7

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

p.7

Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register are: Met

p.8

Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are: Met

p.8