Childminder in Bedford

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY431617 Inspection date 18/04/2012 Inspector Susan Marriott

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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 one child aged two years in a house in Bedford. The whole of the ground floor of the childminder's house is used for childminding and there is a first floor bedroom for children requiring undisturbed rest and for those staying overnight. Children have access to the fully enclosed garden for outdoor play. The bathroom is on the first floor. The childminder is able to take and collect children from local schools and pre-schools.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register to care for a maximum of two children in this age range. She is also registered on the compulsory part of Childcare Register and is able to care for a maximum of three children in this age range. The childminder is currently caring for one child in the early years age range on a full-time basis. The childminder is also registered for overnight care for one child. The childminder 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 good.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children are welcomed and gently nurtured into this friendly, child-centred home which provides a service to the local community. The childminder promotes most aspects of children's care and education in a suitably inclusive manner and children make good progress in their learning and development. Planning, observation and assessment systems are in place although observations are not closely linked to the language and criteria of the Early Years Foundation Stage. The childminder builds strong relationships with parents to underpin children's welfare. She uses effective reflective practice as a process for identifying strengths and weaknesses in her provision to support continuous improvement.

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further?

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

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further?

 improve the use of information gathered about children's learning to fully secure children's good progress towards the early learning goals, for example, through the use of the criteria in the Practice Guidance for the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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the early years provision

Children experience a good quality of care and education in this childminding setting which serves the Polish and wider community. The childminder offers a secure, warm and safe environment and she has developed clearly written policies This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 and procedures and all required written records, to underpin the safe and effective management of the service. Children's welfare is promoted well because the childminder has a good understanding of her responsibilities relating to safeguarding children. This is supported by appropriate reference materials and a written procedure which enables her to identify any child at risk of harm and take prompt action. The childminder has attended recent safeguarding training. All relevant household members are appropriately checked and deemed suitable to be in contact with children. Comprehensive risk assessments are in place and effective

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the early years provision

action is taken to manage or eliminate risks for children. For example, the identity of visitors is always checked before admitting them to the home.

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the early years provision

Children make good progress in their learning and achieve well because the childminder makes good use of resources. Her home is welcoming and totally dedicated to the children. Resources are well-organised and accessible in the living room, enabling children to make independent choices about their play. There is no television in the house and she makes good use of local resources, such as the library and the children's centre. The childminder has a good understanding of anti-discrimination and this means that she provides a service which is inclusive for all children and their families. The childminder takes good account of children having English as an additional language. Provision is personalised, with the childminder offering support tailored according to the individual needs of the children. She helps children to develop their communication, language and literacy skills in English.

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the early years provision

The childminder has good partnerships with parents and carers and the childminder keeps parents well informed of their children's activities and progress through regular discussions about daily events. She has not yet cared for any children who also attend other early years provision. However, she has a secure understanding of the importance of partnership working to support children's continuity of care. She demonstrates enthusiasm for her work and is well- motivated to continue to make changes that improve the outcomes for children. The childminder constantly seeks the views of parents and children and reflects upon her practice to sustain continuous improvement. She has been extremely proactive in using the internet to seek the information she requires to be the very best childminder she can be. The childminder makes good use of the support available from her development worker. She demonstrates a firm commitment to

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the early years provision

attending training courses to update and extend her knowledge and skills.

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and outcomes for children

This friendly childminder has recently established her service and treats children with gentle warmth and kindness. The childminder capably guides learning from child-led interests and play, sustaining competent levels of interaction with the children which develops positive attitudes to learning. She currently speaks to the children in a mixture of Polish and English, constantly introducing new words in English so that children are developing skills for the future. Children are well- supported and all six areas of learning are covered in the daily programme. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 Children clearly feel safe, happy and enjoy being in the childminder's home. This is evident by the way in which children soon accept the visiting inspector on arrival and quickly continue with their self-chosen play.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder gives good support to children through her caring interaction and her genuine affinity with young children. For example, she knows what the children like to play with through her observations and ensures that appropriate resources are brought into the living room. She aims to teach children to communicate effectively in English and the names of basic shapes and numbers, colours and letters in English, in preparation for children going to school. The childminder gives lots of praise for children's attempts to identify colours as they choose to play with different colour cars. She takes care to develop children's social skills and ensures they meet and play with other children at the Children's Centre. Children know the daily routine very well and climb onto the childminder's lap to read stories, chosen from the wide range of English and Polish books.

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and outcomes for children

Children are becoming aware of healthy lifestyles and the relevance of hygiene practices. Children have plentiful opportunities to develop their physical skills in the fresh air because the weekly routine includes daily opportunities to play in the garden and visit the nearby park. They are provided with healthy snacks such as rice cakes and banana. Clear procedures and required permissions are in place, protecting the children's health and well-being. The children learn about keeping safe inside and outside of the home and their behaviour is managed very well. For example, the consequences of leaping about and climbing on the furniture are calmly and simply explained to children.

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and outcomes for children

Planning of daily routines is appropriately flexible and responsive to the needs of children and the childminder ensures that she provides a balance of activities across the differing days of minding activity. Photographs show a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities including play dough, paint, messy play, arts and crafts and garden play. The childminder makes extremely detailed notes of her observations of children's learning, linking these to the six areas of learning and identifying the next steps. However, she is not yet making best use of the Practice Guidance to actively promote children's progress. 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 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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