Childminder in Lincolnshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY422130 Inspection date 08/03/2012 Inspector Melanie Arnold

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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 2011. She lives with her husband and two children in North Hykeham, Lincoln, Lincolnshire. Areas of the ground floor are used for childminding and the premises are accessible by one step. There is an enclosed garden available for outside play. The family has a tank of fish as pets.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of four children under eight years at any one time, of whom no more than three may be in the early years age range. There are currently three children attending who are within the Early Years Foundation Stage. The childminder also offers care to children aged over five years. She is registered on the Early Years Register and on both the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register. She is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is satisfactory.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children's health and safety is maintained through mainly good practices and procedures. Each child has fun as they participate in a suitable range of activities, which enables them to make satisfactory progress towards the early learning goals. Partnership working with parents and carers is good and the childminder is aware of the benefits of developing partnership working with other providers. This ensures each child is appropriately supported in line with their individual needs, backgrounds and beliefs. The childminder uses a suitable process of self-evaluation to promote continuous improvement.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop further the observations and assessments to more accurately monitor children's progress and use these to identify and plan for individual children's next steps for learning  ensure risk assessments cover everything with which a child may come into contact.

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the early years provision

Children feel safe and secure in the childminder's warm and welcoming home. Space is organised well to meet children's needs, proving areas for them to rest, eat and play. In the designated play room children enjoy freely accessing a good range of well-maintained, developmentally appropriate toys and resources. Children's safety is protected through mainly effective procedures. For example, the home and garden are kept secure and the childminder is knowledgeable about This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 child protection procedures. The childminder continually risk assesses the environment and outings to ensure potential hazards are identified and minimised. However, her risk assessment record does not fully include information on all of these checks. All other required records, documents and policies are in place, competed with necessary information and implemented generally well to meet

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the early years provision

children's individual needs and protect their well-being. The childminder strives to make improvements and has developed her practice since registration to ensure all requirements are appropriately met. Her current process of self-evaluation, which involves the views of all users, is satisfactory and improving. This results in the childminder mainly identifying her strengths and some areas requiring further development.

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the early years provision

The childminder remains in sole charge of the children at all times and she has completed all required training courses, which enables her to protect and promote children's well-being. Each child is respected in line with their specific backgrounds and beliefs . She knows children's care needs well because she gathers and exchanges clear information with parents and carers. This helps children to feel settled and to develop confidence in their surroundings. The childminder is aware of the benefits of developing links with other providers when the care of children is shared, to ensure children's continuity of care and learning is adequately promoted. An appropriate equal opportunity policy confirms any form of discrimination is challenged. The childminder has a satisfactory awareness of how to adapt activities to ensure the inclusion of all children in line with their needs and abilities. Therefore, outcomes for individual children are improving as the

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the early years provision

childminder continues to develop her practice in all areas.

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and outcomes for children

Children are happy and they relate well to the childminder. Space and resources are clean and organised well to ensure children's individual needs are met. Children's safety is ensured through the childminder's practices. For example, children are supervised at all times and clear outings procedures are in place to ensure children remain safe when they are away form the childminder's home. Children are beginning to learn about maintaining their own safety through positive reinforcement, discussion and regular events. For example, children's awareness of road safety and fire evacuation procedures are promoted form a young age. Children are provided with regular outdoor play opportunities and they are encouraged to adopt healthy lifestyles. Parents and carers provide meals for their children and they are encouraged to provide a balanced diet through the childminder's healthy eating policy. Children's awareness of healthy eating is

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and outcomes for children

further promoted as children help to plant and grow their own vegetables. Their well-being is protected through effective hygiene practices, which are used to minimise the risk of cross infection. For example, children develop good hand practices through the daily routine, using individual hand towels to dry their hands. Children's good behaviour is promoted through regular praise and encouragement. They are encouraged to learn to share as they develop their social skills. The This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 extensive range of positive images displayed around the room and the accessibility of toys and resources reflecting differences and diversity, helps children to learn about wider society. Children also learn to respect others because the childminder acts as a positive role model.

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and outcomes for children

Children make satisfactory progress in their learning and development. They have fun as they participate in a suitable range of adult-led and child-initiated play experiences, which are planned around their interests. Observation and assessment systems are in place and shared with parents and carers. However, the childminder has yet to fully monitor children's progress in relation to the early learning goals and to use this information to clearly identify and plan for each child's next steps for learning. Children enjoy playing in the designated play room, where they independently access a good range of toys and resources covering the six areas of learning. For example, a baby enjoys exploring and investigating a rattle before crawling over and pulling themselves up to access a keyboard and push button toys. The child bangs the keyboard and they show delight as their actions have resulted in it making a noise. They then continue to do this as they

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and outcomes for children

bounce excitedly up and down. Children's interest in books is promoted from a young age as the childminder sits with them looking through textured pictures books. The child is encouraged to touch and feel the pictures, with the childminder explaining what each picture is. Children are also introduced to counting as the childminder encourages them to count what they can see in the book. Trips to the library further promote children's enjoyment of books and stories. Children develop their creativity and mark making skills as they have fun playing with gloop, making hand prints in paint and colouring with crayons and pencils. 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 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 3

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 3 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 3

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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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