Childminder in Essex

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY271875 Inspection date 23/02/2012 Inspector Jenny Forbes

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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 2003. She lives with her husband and four children aged seven, five, three years and 22 months old in Loughton, Essex. The whole of the ground floor of the childminder's house is used for childminding.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She may care for a maximum of three children at any one time. She is currently minding two children on a part- time basis. The childminder takes and collects children from the local school.

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Description of the childminding

The family have a dog, two cats and fish in a large tank as pets.

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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 has effective systems in place to ensure that children's welfare, learning and development needs are well met. She knows the children in her care well and works effectively with the families to meet their individual needs. Children participate in an exciting range of planned and freely chosen activities, which enable them to make good progress across all six areas of learning. The childminder has links with other early years provisions to share information to help develop children's learning. The childminder reviews and evaluates her provision to enable her to maintain continuous improvements, which would be further enhanced by completion of the Ofsted self-evaluation form on an ongoing basis.

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further?

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

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further?

 use the Ofsted self-evaluation form and quality improvement processes as the basis of ongoing internal review - assessing what the setting offers against robust and challenging quality criteria.

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the early years provision

Children are safeguarded and well protected in the setting because the childminder has a good knowledge of local safeguarding procedures. She is well informed about child protection and has the appropriate contact details available should she be concerned about a child. All household members are suitably vetted and the childminder is going to ensure that Criminal Record Bureau checks are kept up-to- date for herself, her husband and her assistant. Children are kept very safe while in the childminder's care because she is vigilant and supervises them well. She regularly reviews and updates her risk assessments, which cover all areas of her home, including the garden. This means that children are well protected when This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 using equipment and resources. Children are also further protected because the childminder keeps excellent records, including accident, medication and attendance

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the early years provision

The childminder uses her Early Years Foundation Stage training and knowledge well to support children in their learning. The environment is well organised. There is a good range of exciting resources for children to choose from, some of which are immediately accessible for them to choose and others, which are kept in locked cupboards or stored elsewhere and are rotated regularly to ensure a good variety. The childminder and assistant use their skills as nursery nurses to provide exciting and engaging activities to aid the children's development. This means that they are able to thrive and make good progress.

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the early years provision

The childminder uses observation and learning journeys to look for ways to improve her provision for the children and to this end, sets herself ambitious and appropriate targets. She would be helped in this by completing the Ofsted self- evaluation form on an ongoing basis, which currently she does not do. She has addressed previous actions and recommendations promptly and effectively. For example, she has now attended Early Years Foundation Stage training and is implementing the framework well and she celebrates a wide range of different festivals, so that children learn more about other cultures and beliefs. To aid continuity and enhance the children's development, she works with the nursery and school to extend their activities to bring into her own setting. Thereby, reinforcing and extending the children's learning.

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the early years provision

The childminder forms close working relationships with parents and carers. She obtains useful information about each child, such as what they can do themselves, as well as their dietary and personal care needs. This means that parent's wishes and children's individual needs are effectively met. The childminder and parents share important information about their child's starting points and progress. This means that parents can become involved in their child's learning and each child is well supported in making progress towards the early learning goals. Effective relationships with the other provisions and professionals involved with the children are firmly established and contribute well to supporting their welfare and learning. The childminder helps children to develop positive attitudes towards themselves and others because she challenges any discriminatory comments and teaches them about disability and other cultures and beliefs.

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and outcomes for children

Children enjoy being in this setting and are familiar and secure in its routines because the childminder is careful to meet their needs. Children are able to move freely and safely around the setting because the childminder ensures that their environment is safe. For example, they are well aware of where they can go in the setting and know how to use toys and other resources safely. Pets are well cared for and controlled and children are taught how to be safe around them. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 Children's good health is promoted effectively by the childminder. They are learning about making good choices in food because they are offered healthy options, such as fruit. Children are able to get out in the fresh air on most days. They are developing good physical skills because they make use of a variety of resources. For example, they have a good range of physical play equipment in the

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and outcomes for children

garden and are regularly taken to the local parks.

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and outcomes for children

Children are making good progress towards the early learning goals because the childminder plans activities around their interests and needs. She regularly observes what they can do and records their progress, so that what they need to do next is identified. Children are developing good language skills. They enjoy looking at books and talking about what they can see. For example, during a storyboard activity about the lifecycle of a caterpillar; the children were able to identify various foods in the story, find the corresponding laminated pictures and stick them onto the board, which they did in order and being encouraged to count aloud. They also enjoyed completing floor puzzles, one of which had textured shapes for them to feel. This gave them a sense of achievement and helped develop their fine motor skills. The childminder promotes children's knowledge and understanding of the world through a variety of activities, such as making cakes,

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and outcomes for children

using play dough, planting in the garden and play with small world figures. This means that children are also developing good skills for the future.

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and outcomes for children

Children behave well in the setting. This is because the childminder offers clear explanations and sets appropriate boundaries. Children are developing respect for themselves and others as she discusses disability openly and honestly with them and they are learning about their own and other cultures and beliefs because they celebrate festivals together. 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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