PhoenixPlace

Inspection report for early years provision

p.1

Unique reference number 141701 Inspection date 26/03/2012 Inspector Anahita Aderianwalla

p.1

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.

p.1

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

p.2

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.

p.3

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).

p.3

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.

p.3

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

p.3

Description of the childminding

The childminder registered in 1997. He lives with his wife, who is also a registered childminder, and their two adult children in Walnut Tree, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. The childminder uses the whole of the ground floor for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. He is registered to care for a maximum of six children under eight years of age at any one time. Of these, no more than three children may be in the early years age group. When working with a co-childminder, together they may care for no more than six children under eight years of age at any one time. Of these, no more than two children may be under one year. Currently there are three children in the early years age group on roll. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. He attends the local

p.4

Description of the childminding

parent toddler group and takes children to the local park.

p.4

The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is outstanding.

p.4

The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children's individual needs are extremely well promoted by the childminder and his co- childminder. Overall, the childminder promotes children's learning exceptionally well and they are making excellent progress towards the early learning goals. He is highly effective in working in partnership with parents, children and other settings and agencies. The childminder promotes children's welfare and safety extremely well. Excellent systems for reviewing and evaluating the provision mean the childminder demonstrates an extremely good capacity to maintain continuous improvement.

p.4

further?

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

p.4

further?

 increasing opportunities for children to regularly access information communication and technology resources in daily play.

p.4

the early years provision

The childminder has a secure knowledge of child protection issues and the correct procedures to follow should he have a concern about a child in his care. He shares his written safeguarding policy with parents, who sign to show they understand his responsibilities. He promotes children's safety through high levels of supervision as This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 they play. He conducts very effective risk assessments to help ensure that all areas accessed by the children are safe. The childminder works extremely well with his co-childminder. All required documentation is extremely comprehensive and the childminder ensures it regularly updated. As a result, the childminder's practice is highly effective in promoting the care and welfare of children.

p.4

the early years provision

The childminder has organised the home, garden and play provision highly effectively. As a result, children have plenty of clear, free space to explore and move around the different areas within the home. The childminder provides children with a wide range of resources that promote their interests and learning. He is very successful in ensuring that activities are meaningful, especially when supporting boys learning. The children, especially boys, thoroughly enjoy the freedom of outdoor learning. The childminder promotes equality and diversity extremely well and successfully raises children's awareness of difference and diversity. For example, he engages children through positive discussion about what they see and say. He also provides an exciting range of play opportunities that introduces them to differences in people's abilities, cultures and backgrounds.

p.5

the early years provision

The childminder has an extremely good understanding of working closely with parents and is confident to approach parents when necessary. His co-childminder is mostly responsible for information sharing, although the close partnerships forged with parents promote continuity of care for children. This gives parents comfort and reassurance, as they make a positive contribution towards their child's care and learning routines. The childminder's systems to share information with other professionals are extremely robust. He is very active in gaining and sharing information to further support the continuity in children's lives.

p.5

the early years provision

The childminder and his co-childminder evaluate the provision exceptionally well to offer a high quality service to benefit children and their families. He attends training provided by the local authority and in-house training with his co- childminder. As a result, he continually develops his skills and knowledge in areas, such as safeguarding children and also promotes positive changes in practice. For example, he has made changes in the set up of the play environment. Consequently, the environment is more enabling for children, for example, for those with learning difficulties, as well as promoting the learning needs of boys. This has had a highly positive impact on the children in his care, who are better able to communicate and become more involved in their play and learning. The childminder therefore has an accurate understanding of the priorities for development and is actively involved in continually improving the setting for

p.5

and outcomes for children

Children thoroughly enjoy their time with this childminder and benefit from his exceptional organisation of the provision. As a result, he promotes their learning needs extremely well and they enjoy excellent opportunities to learn through rich, varied and stimulating experiences. For example, the childminder is highly skilled This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 at planning a wide range of stimulating and challenging activities based on children's interests and their stages of development. In particular, he makes very good use of outdoor play, with regular opportunities for children to discover plants, look at animals and their habitats, observe insects and build dens. The children respond well to the childminder's enthusiasm and motivation. They enthusiastically access an exciting selection of resources and have opportunities to express themselves creatively and through imaginative play. They enjoy the interaction

p.5

and outcomes for children

they receive from the childminder and his family and have fun playing with the extensive range of equipment in the garden. For example, they enjoy pouring mud in and out of containers and watch as it flows through their hands. They have great fun building high towers, with large building blocks and giggling as they watch them fall down.

p.6

and outcomes for children

Children are happy and enjoy listening to stories and looking at the pictures in books. They are provided with regular opportunities to develop social skills as the childminder and co-childminder take them on many exciting visits to local attractions; such as a local deer park. The childminder has an extremely good understanding of children's individual needs and interests because he observes what they do on a regular basis. He actively seeks information from their parents to help extend children's learning. His knowledge of how children learn through play is very good, in particularly in relation to physical development. His co- childminder, takes main responsibility for the planning of activities, based on both childminder's observations. As a result, children make generally excellent progress in their learning. Children's skills relating to numbers and counting are extremely well promoted through everyday activity. For example, the childminder supports

p.6

and outcomes for children

them in counting and exploring simple addition when playing with large trucks in the mud.

p.6

and outcomes for children

Children show an extremely good sense of security and feel safe in the childminder's care. They approach him and his wife with ease and enjoy the enthusiastic responses they receive from them. Children are encouraged to develop a clear understanding of keeping safe indoors and outdoors. They learn to develop a very good understanding about road safety and stranger danger. Children show a clear understanding of the importance of following good hygiene practices as they follow the childminder's example. They thoroughly enjoy fresh air and exercise on a daily basis and are able to make excellent choices about whether they play indoors or outdoors. Children benefit from an extremely exciting well- balanced diet, which takes into account their individual dietary needs and requirements. They are encouraged to take ownership of their own health needs through open discussions with the childminder about maintaining a healthy

p.6

and outcomes for children

All children are extremely settled and content in the childminder's care. They show a good sense of belonging in the home. They develop exceptional relationships with the childminder, co-childminder and their peers. They are enthusiastically encouraged to be kind, caring and considerate towards each other. Overall, children have excellent opportunities to develop skills, which will help them in the future. They enjoy activities, which enable them to progress in communication, language and literacy, such as gluing, mark-making and reading their favourite stories. However, they do not have free access to programmable resources that This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 help them to learn how things work, as these are not always readily available. Children learn about the wider world through excellent activities and discussions. They regularly visit places of interest and learn about their local community,

p.6

and outcomes for children

developing an excellent knowledge of their place in society. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

p.7

Annex A: record of inspection judgements

The key inspection judgements and what they mean

p.8

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

p.8

children in the Early Years Foundation Stage?

The capacity of the provision to maintain continuous improvement

p.8

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 1 The effectiveness of the setting’s engagement with parents and carers

p.8

Stage

The quality of the provision in the Early Years Foundation Stage 1

p.8

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

p.8

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

p.8

Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register are: Met

p.9

Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are: Met

p.9