Childminder in Devon

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY361222 Inspection date 02/03/2012 Inspector Julie Neal

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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 2007. She lives with her partner in Bideford, North Devon. The whole ground floor of the childminder's house is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She may care for a maximum of six children under eight years, no more than three of which may be in the early years age group at any one time. The childminder is currently caring for three children in the early years age range at different times.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is outstanding.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children's individual needs are met extremely well; they make excellent progress towards the early learning goals, relative to their starting points. The childminder has excellent professional partnerships with parents, which successfully promote her highly effective systems of sharing information about children's welfare, learning and development overall. The childminder's rigorous systems of self- evaluation result in extremely good action plans for the future. These are very well focused on promoting and achieving high quality outcomes for children. The childminder clearly demonstrates an extremely good capacity to make continuous improvements in order to maintain exceptionally high standards.

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further?

To further improve the high quality early years provision the registered person should consider:

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further?

 encouraging parents to contribute to their children's learning records to further support and extend children's individual learning and development.

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the early years provision

The childminder demonstrates an excellent understanding of the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. She demonstrates this through her extremely good implementation of routines and procedures that help to safeguard children. The childminder has a thorough understanding of local procedures for reporting safeguarding concerns. She keeps her knowledge up-to-date through training. The childminder gives parents copies of her written safeguarding policies and procedures, which makes them aware of her responsibility to take appropriate action if she has concerns. The childminder's excellent risk assessments and safety This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 routines help to keep children safe and secure. She links these closely to children's development and frequently reviews them to reflect the changing safety requirements of growing children. For instance, risk assessments for local walks

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the early years provision

clearly identify how children of different ages and abilities are kept safe until they understand road safety. All documentation that supports children's welfare is in place and is well-maintained. The childminder reviews her policies and procedures regularly and provides these to parents.

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the early years provision

The childminder develops extremely good relationships with parents. She provides parents with very high quality information about all aspects of the childcare provision. This includes information about the welfare and learning and development requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. The childminder promotes an inclusive environment where each child is valued. The childminder's strong relationships with parents results in very good systems of two-way communication about individual children. Therefore, the childminder has an excellent understanding of each child's backgrounds and needs. The childminder is not currently caring for children who also attend other providers of the Early Years Foundation Stage, such as pre-schools. However, she has done so in the past and understands the importance of partnership working in order to promote children's learning and well-being.

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the early years provision

The childminder's self-evaluation systems are excellent. She reflects most effectively on all areas of her practice, identifying what she does well and where there is scope for improvement. Parents are actively encouraged to provide feedback, which the childminder includes in her self-evaluation. For instance, parents remarked that they found the childminder's website useful as an additional source of information. As a result, the childminder identified this area would be further improved if she updated it more frequently and she has put implemented a plan to do so.

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the early years provision

Children have unlimited access to toys and resources that are well-maintained and provide endless opportunities to reinforce and gain new skills. The childminder values children's views highly and takes account of these when planning for improvements. For example, children have been actively involved in the development of the childminder's garden to provide a more interesting learning environment. They identified things that are important to them, such as space to grow their own plants. Children now have a mini allotment area and are planning which seeds to plant this spring. The childminder offers an inclusive service; recognising children are unique, carefully taking into account and addressing their individual needs. She acknowledges and understands the value of finding out about children's families, backgrounds and other cultures to create an inclusive environment that encourages each child to feel a sense of belonging and promote

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the early years provision

their self-esteem. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

Children's welfare, learning and development are supported extremely well. Children make excellent progress towards the early learning goals, relative to their starting points. This is because the childminder uses her very good observations of children highly effectively in planning for their individual development. Children enjoy an excellent balance of activities that equip them very well with the skills they need to secure future learning. Their learning plans identify recent key achievements and how these can be built upon. The plans promote each child's progress and the childminder regularly reviews these with parents. Children's individual learning diaries are extremely well-organised and provide parents with wonderful examples of how their child learns through play. However, parents rarely make use of opportunities to contribute to children's learning records.

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and outcomes for children

Children are eager, inquisitive learners and extremely confident communicators. Very young children benefit from the childminder's excellent encouragement to practice new sounds and to name familiar objects. Older children are encouraged to express their thoughts and ideas, as they develop their games and activities. For example, children make a train using large boxes and recycled materials. They use their problem solving skills as they decide how big it should be so they can fit inside, and make wheels and windows. When they have finished building, the childminder encourages children to think about their recent train journey and things that they might want to include. Children identify that they all had tickets, that 'you can't get on without one', and so they make these. A child dresses in a high visibility vest and a hat 'like the train man' and checks tickets. Children talk about what they saw out of the windows, such as sheep in a field, and relate this

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and outcomes for children

to other occasions when they have seen animals in different settings. For example, they discuss visits to local farms and pet shops and the range of large and small animals they have seen. Children use the laptop computer to look back on photographs of activities and outings they have enjoyed, which develops their confidence in using everyday technology.

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and outcomes for children

Children are happy, well-behaved and secure that their needs will be met. Children are kind and helpful towards each other. For example, while playing together with cars, a child patiently shows a very young friend how to extend and turn the ladder on a fire engine. This delights the younger child who proudly shows the childminder what they have learned. All children are encouraged to be helpful and the childminder uses everyday routines very well to encourage them to use the skills they have learned. For example, children collect the post, they count how many letters have arrived and sort it into 'big' and 'little' piles. At snack time, children help to peel and slice fruit and spread their toast, handling knives confidently and safely. Children predict how many slices there will be in a banana. When they have prepared the fruit, children divide it so each has the same. Children demonstrate an excellent understanding of the importance of following

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and outcomes for children

good hygiene routines. For example, a child who has recently become independent in managing their own personal care is adamant that no help is needed from the childminder. The child explains that they will wash their hands carefully and use lots of soap, and that they will use their own towel, declaring 'I know about This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 germs'. Children develop extremely good safety awareness, both on outings and within the childminder's home. For example, children regularly practice the childminder's emergency procedures. As a result, they confidently describe what they must do to keep safe if there is a fire. Children have recently enjoyed a train journey and talk confidently about what they did to keep safe while at the station and on the train. 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 1 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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