Childminder in Kirklees

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 310842 Inspection date 08/02/2012 Inspector Reshma Spafford

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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 1995. She lives with her husband in the rural area of Golcar in the outskirts of Huddersfield. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding. Accessibility to the premises is good. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The childminder is able to take and collect children from local schools and nurseries. The family has two dogs as pets. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children under eight years at any one time of whom no more than three may be in the early year's age range. There are currently three children attending who are within the Early Year's Foundation Stage. The childminder also offers care to children aged over five years. She is registered on the Early Year's Register and on both the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder supports children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and children who speak English as an

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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 make good progress in their learning and development. The childminder works closely with parents who appreciate her flexibility and partnerships with them. Effective relationships with children and families and some professionals have been established to ensure that children's individual needs are sensitively met. Children appear settled and happy and there is a good balance of adult-led and child-initiated activities. Overall planning of activities is good and children's learning is well supported by a good range of toys and resources available to them. The childminder is aware of her strengths and weaknesses and committed to continually improving the provision for the children by developing her practice.

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further?

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

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further?

 review planning to show how activities can be developed to ensure all areas of the curriculum are covered and how children can be successfully challenged to assist their learning.  ensure effective continuity and progression for children who attend more than one setting, by sharing relevant information with other settings

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the early years provision

The childminder has good knowledge and understanding of safeguarding and has attended the relevant course provided by the local authority. She updates her This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 knowledge by reviewing the council's safeguarding website on a regular basis. All policies and procedures are in place. The childminder offers a safe and secure home for minded children. Children are safeguarded because steps are taken by the childminder to ensure the suitability of outdoor and indoor places, furniture, equipment and toys through good quality risk assessments. This means that children are able to move safely and freely round the house and the outside play area.

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the early years provision

The setting has a good range of resources for indoor play and a satisfactory range of outdoor toys which are supplemented by children having access to a well- resourced playground nearby. Children are able to choose what they would like to play with in the playroom and can also access resources for themselves which are stored in see-through plastic boxes. The childminder is well aware of her strengths and weaknesses and is committed to developing her skills to continuously improve the provision further. For example, she is committed to developing her skills to provide more challenging experiences for children to enhance their learning further. She has been a childminder for 25 years and is confident and experienced in working with children. She has also attended a number of training courses throughout her career and achieved a quality assurance award from Kirklees Council. This has enhanced her skills in caring for children and providing them with

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the early years provision

good experiences to enhance their learning and development.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a close working relationship with parents and carers. She has daily communication with them and exchanges information with them on activities and meals through a notice board for parents. She provides a welcome pack for parents when children start which includes information on the Early Year's Foundation Stage and how they can develop the children's learning at home. Parents appreciate the care she provides. For example, children stay with her on a long term basis as she provides pre-school and after school care for some children over a significant length of time. She has good relationships with other childminders in the local area and works closely in partnership with one local childminder. They and the child minded children meet regularly and share equipment and practice to maximise resources and learning. She has established relationships with local schools and settings such as playgroups and nurseries that

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the early years provision

children in her care also attend. However, systems to share information on children's achievement towards the early learning goals have not currently been developed with other settings to ensure continuity of provision.

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and outcomes for children

Children enjoy being in the setting and are familiar and secure in its routines. Younger children are able to move freely, safely and confidently around. This is because the childminder ensures a safe environment and provides clear boundaries around the house and with regard to the use of toys and resources. For example, children are taught not to run inside the house and to respect furniture. Rules of the house are developed with the older children. This involves them in learning about acceptable behaviour. Children behave in ways that are safe for them and This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 develop an understanding of dangers and how to stay safe. Outings and visits to areas within the community also develop their road safety skills.

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and outcomes for children

Children's good health is promoted well by the childminder. They start to learn about making good choices of food because they are offered healthy snacks and meals. Children's knowledge of healthy food is further developed when they accompany the childminder on shopping trips when they buy healthy foods. Children then help to incorporate the food into a meal that they help to prepare. The parents board also highlights healthy food and a sample menu of the meals on offer. The childminder has also enrolled on a course which develops her knowledge of healthy eating and portion sizes. Children are able to play out in the fresh air on most days to develop their physical skills both within the childminders home and in parks, in other childminders homes and via daily walks to and from school. This means the children are able to thrive and make good progress in their physical development.

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and outcomes for children

The children make good progress towards their early learning goals because the childminder has good knowledge of the children's individual needs and their starting points. However, planned activities around children's interests and development needs, with regard to the Early Year's Foundation Stage, is less well developed. Children are independent, happy and confident with the childminder. Children are active learners. They are creative and think critically.Children play happily in an activity where they build a tower out of different sized plastic cups with the largest cup forming the base of the tower and the smallest cup forming the top of the tower.They learn about sizes and whether they are big and small as they make the tower. They learn about colour as they talk about the colours of the cups and numbers as they count them. Their mark making skills are developed as they make Halloween masks and decorate eggs in an Easter activity. Children

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and outcomes for children

listen to stories and look at books of their choice. They turn the pages to find their favourite picture and talk about what they can see.

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and outcomes for children

Children develop skills for the future with the use of information technology such as computers. They learn about the wider world as they go on visits to the community to support their learning, for example to the local shops and library. They learn about disability through a range of toys and books. The childminder is helping children to understand the differences in the society they live in through celebrating festivals such as the Chinese New Year and providing meals from different countries such as Indian and Italian food. The children behave well; they share and are responsive to the childminder. This is because the childminder offers clear explanations and encourages children to work together and take turns. 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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