Childminder in Windsor and Maidenhead

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 108347 Inspection date 06/03/2012 Inspector Sheena Bankier

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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 has been registered since 1996. She is registered on the Early Years Register and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder is registered to provide care for six children under eight at any one time. There are currently two children on roll in the early years age group.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder lives with her husband and adult child in the Oaken Grove area of Maidenhead. All areas of the home are used for childminding, which is all on the ground floor. There is a communal garden for outdoor play. The home is accessible at street level. The family have a pet cat.

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Description of the childminding

Local facilities are within walking distance, such as, parks, schools and shops. The childminder is able to take and collect children from local schools and pre-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 make excellent progress towards the early learning goals. They benefit from a wide range of activities and the childminder interacts exceptionally well with them. The childminder evaluates her service and practice effectively overall and demonstrates a strong capacity to maintain continuous improvement. Thorough practices and procedures underpin children's safety, well-being and good health. Partnerships with other settings children attend are not always established. Excellent communication and relationships are in place with parents that help to ensure children's individual needs are met.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop further reflective practice and self-evaluation to identify additional strengths and priorities for development that will continue to develop the quality of provision for children  develop partnerships with other settings to share relevant information and support continuity in children's development and progress.

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the early years provision

The childminder has an effective understanding of safeguarding issues, including her responsibilities to children's welfare. She thoroughly promotes children's safety and wellbeing through her effective policies, procedures and practices, such as This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 accurate risk assessments. The childminder extensively underpins children's understanding of safety, for example, through discussions and practising road safety and evacuation procedures with the children.

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the early years provision

Paperwork is organised well and is up to date with the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. The childminder demonstrates an overall active approach to her continuing professional development, such as researching information and accessing professional websites. Recent developments include the provision of more information and communication technology to develop children's skills. The childminder's self-evaluation helps her clearly identify areas to develop and improve. This underpins the childminder's ongoing strong development in most areas of her practice and service, although partnership working has not been identified for development. As a result, she drives and maintains good continuous improvement. The childminder positively welcomes parent's feedback and takes full account of children's interests and ideas, which she effectively implements. For example, she obtains toys in relation to children's favourite film characters.

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the early years provision

Children benefit from meaningful activities and resources to promote their positive understanding of diversity. Training supports the childminder in caring for children with special educational needs, and additional ways to communicate with children, such as using sign language. The childminder resources are of a high quality and the childminder manages these exceptionally well to provide variety and interest to children. The childminder makes excellent use of her home and local facilities to significantly underpin children's care and learning outcomes.

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the early years provision

The childminder develops and maintains excellent relationships and communication with parents. She provides an extensive range of information about her service and ongoing discussions and information about children's days and progress keep parents very well informed. The childminder does not have direct contact with other settings some children attend in order to share children's next identified steps and records of progress. However, she gains some information about children's time spent in other settings through discussions with parents and the children. This helps her provide some appropriate continuity and consistency in meeting children's learning outcomes.

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and outcomes for children

Children make excellent progress in their learning and development outcomes. The childminder engages with children highly effectively. She extends children's knowledge and understanding through rich discussions and uses effective questions to underpin children's critical thinking skills. A wide range of activities, outings and play experiences motivate and engage children in active learning experiences, for example, children use effective mathematical skills as they weigh out ingredients during cooking activities. Children develop exceptionally good skills for the future as they develop extensive language, mathematical and modern technology skills during everyday routines, activities and outings. For example, during a painting activity children explore and investigate using different tools and This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 techniques, they make different patterns, which the childminder encourages them

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and outcomes for children

to describe and relate to shapes. Children play imaginatively and creatively, such as toddlers exploring paint with their hands and tools to create pictures and role play caring for their 'baby' as they pretend to feed and change a doll.

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and outcomes for children

Children are extremely happy and secure in the childminder's care. They benefit from enriching relationships with the childminder. As a result, children feel extremely safe and exceptionally at ease in childminder's care and home. Children demonstrate an excellent understanding of their safety, for example, they know to walk on the inside of the pavement when out with the childminder. Extensive opportunities develop children's social skills. They benefit from attendance at social activities, such as toddler groups, music sessions and the library's rhyme time. The childminder provides an excellent role model to children. She praises and encourages children warmly and effectively to promote children's excellent self- esteem and confidence. Children's behaviour is exemplary. The childminder provides consistent and secure behaviour expectations and boundaries, for example, she provides calm, clear explanations and reminders to underpin

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and outcomes for children

children's understanding further, such as using good manners. Children are fully involved in daily routines and help prepare for activities, such as squeezing out the paint and mixing colours together. This enables children to make highly positive contributions and to experiment and observe the paint as it changes colour.

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and outcomes for children

Children enjoy and benefit from healthy and nutritious home cooked meals. The childminder demonstrates an excellent understanding of children's likes, dislikes and preferences. She positively encourages children to widen their tastes. Children develop a thorough understanding of good hygiene and the importance of this. For example, they know why they need to wash their hands before they eat. Children benefit from plenty of fresh air as they walk to and from the local school, use the garden and nearby parks. This provides a wide range of different physical activities to challenge and underpin children's physical development and promotes their excellent health. 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 2 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

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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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