Home Childcarer in Bracknell Forest

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY280317 Inspection date 23/02/2012 Inspector Susan May

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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 registered in 2004. She lives with her partner and two children aged seven and 12 years. All of the premises are used for minding. There is a fully enclosed garden for outdoor play. The family has a cat and a dog.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and both compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register and may care for a maximum of five children under eight years at any one time. The childminder is currently minding three children in the early years age group. The childminder holds a recognised early years qualification. The childminder is prepared to take and collect children from local schools.

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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 play safely and happily in the childminder's home. Activities and experiences the childminder provides help children become inquisitive learners and support their welfare and development. Consequently, children make good progress in their learning. Each child is valued as an individual, with clear policies and procedures in place to promote inclusion. There are secure links with parents and others involved in the children's care, with most information on children's learning shared. The childminder demonstrates a commitment to improving her practice as she seeks further training and identifies areas for development to benefit the children.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop the systems for involving parents in contributing to the developmental records.

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the early years provision

Children play in a secure, child friendly environment clearly enjoying the time they spend with the childminder. Children are eager to play with the easily accessible and attractively set out range of toys and activities on offer. Children's safety is given priority; they are supervised at all times and the childminder has clear procedures to follow, should she have any concerns about a child in her care. Good organisational skills that include clearly written policies and procedures are shared with parents to provide clear expectations of her practices. All children's documentation is in place and includes all required parental consents. Information This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 is stored securely and the childminder observes confidentiality at all times. To further protect children, detailed risk assessments and daily safety checks are completed for the premises and for outings.

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the early years provision

The childminder demonstrates commitment to inclusion, as she provides a setting where all children and their families are welcomed and valued. This imbues children with a sense of belonging; they are clearly comfortable and settled within her home. The partnership with parents is good. Information on the children's welfare is shared verbally and through a daily diary with regular opportunities provided for parents to access their child's record of progress. Parents clearly hold the childminder in high regard, as they praise the care their children receive and comment on the well-planned and diverse range of fun and educational activities children have access to. The childminder builds good links with other settings. For example, she shares information with staff at the pre-school children attend. This provides consistency and continuity in the children's care and development. The childminder is a qualified child care practitioner who thinks about her practices and

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the early years provision

identifies areas for development and improvements that would be of benefit to the children. She demonstrates ongoing commitment, as she regularly undertakes training with the local authority and meets up with other early years providers to discuss good practice to promote children's learning.

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and outcomes for children

Children enjoy a warm relationship with the childminder and look to her for support if they are unsure of a situation, for example, if they are wary of visitors. Children are provided with good opportunities to help them make progress across all areas of learning, both indoors and outside. They play in an environment that is conducive to their development, with good access to age-appropriate toys and resources from which to self select. A balance of adult-initiated and child-led activities is planned that takes into account children's interests. For example, a visit to the airport is organised, following a child's interest in transport. The childminder uses photographs, observations and assessments of the children and incorporates them into development records. These are used to help plan future activities that meet individual children's needs and show an ongoing record of children's progress. However, while these records are shown regularly to parents, there are

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and outcomes for children

limited systems in place for parents to include learning experiences from home. This leads to some gaps in their shared knowledge. The childminder understands how to promote children's language and social skills, such as turn-taking in conversation, as she waits for young children to respond to her questions. The childminder is on hand to support children at all times, while encouraging them to be independent as she allows them time and space to try things out for themselves. She boosts their confidence in their developing skills and abilities as she praises their achievements. The childminder regularly attends several groups, providing opportunities for children to find out about local community and develop social skills. Children's awareness of the wider world and its diversity is promoted by the childminder's positive attitude and through planned outings and resources, such as dressing up clothes, books and games. Children

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and outcomes for children

This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 have good access to books which they can enjoy alone, or with the childminder. The childminder uses outings to help children begin to understand the written word has meaning, for example, as they recognise road and shop signs. Crayons, pens and magnetic sketch pads are available for older children to make marks, while younger children happily use tools to make marks in the play dough. Children begin to understand mathematical concepts through everyday events, such as counting the pieces of fruit on their plates at lunch time and calculating quantities as they make cakes. Children develop future skills, as they have access to a range of resources, such as mobile phones and a camera. Children adopt a healthy lifestyle, developing physical skills and beginning to find out about the natural world as they go for walks to the park, collect leaves in the woods and feed the

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and outcomes for children

ducks, talking about what they see outdoors.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder offers an inclusive environment; she knows each child and their family well, is fully aware of individual circumstances and welcomes all into her home, recognising and respecting their particular needs. The childminder provides children's snacks and meals, offers healthy choices and encourages young children to drink regularly. She has good procedures to help prevent the spread of infection, raising children's awareness of looking after themselves as she explains to them why she is cleaning the table with antibacterial spray before lunch. The childminder provides clear guidelines that help children begin to learn about keeping themselves safe. For example, increasing their road safety awareness as they go on outings and to and from school. A particular strength of the childminder's is her excellent understanding of promoting children's moral and social skills. Children behave extremely well. They learn about acceptable

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and outcomes for children

behaviour, as the childminder provides a calm role model who is committed to promoting good behaviour. The childminder uses positive strategies to encourage good behaviour; children are eager to please and are given frequent praise. The commitment she demonstrates to improving her practice, along with her knowledge of the early learning goals and understanding that children learn through play, enables children to progress well in her care. 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 1 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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