Childminder in North Northamptonshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY399072 Inspection date 01/05/2012 Inspector Jan Burnet

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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 2009. She lives in Kettering, Northamptonshire with her husband and three children aged 13, 11, and eight years. The whole of the ground floor is registered and also two first floor bedrooms and a bathroom. There are toilet facilities on the ground floor. A secure garden is registered for outdoor play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She may care for five children aged under eight years at any one time and of these, three may be in the early years age group. The childminder is currently caring for two children aged under eight and one is in the early years age group. She is registered to provide overnight care for two children. The childminder is able to walk with and/or transport children to and from the local school.

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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

The childminder demonstrates a sound understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework and Guidance. She meets children's care needs appropriately and practice generally ensures that children are safeguarded. Most necessary information is shared with parents, but a legal requirement is not being fully met. Children's good health is protected appropriately. The childminder ensures that all children are valued and included and information obtained from parents helps her to identify and address children's differences. The childminder is aware of her strengths and areas or improvement and she is beginning to use this awareness to review her practice.

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further?

To meet the specific requirements of the EYFS, the registered person must:

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further?

 engage with, and provide information for parents on: the procedure to be followed in the event of a parent failing to collect their child at the appointed time, and the procedure in the event of a child going missing (Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare). 04/05/2012

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further?

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

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further?

 make sure that understanding of safeguarding issues is up-to-date in order to implement the safeguarding children policy and procedure appropriately  make sure that regular evacuation drills are carried out and record details of This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 any problems encountered.

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the early years provision

The childminder creates a warm and welcoming environment. She is aware of her responsibilities with regard to supervising children in her care and health and safety systems are sound. However, the fire drill has not been practised and so the childminder is not able to identify how any problems encountered may be resolved, and children are not able to gain an awareneess of the drill. A written risk assessment identifies that potential hazards have been identified and addressed satisfactorily. Necessary checks for the childminder and her family have been completed and she ensures that children are never left unsupervised with a person who has not been vetted. The childminder is aware of her responsibility to protect children from abuse. She provides a policy for parents that makes reference to the Northamptonshire Safeguarding Children Board procedures. However, the childminder does not have an up-to-date understanding of safeguarding children

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the early years provision

issues in order to implement the policy appropriately.

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the early years provision

The childminder has begun to complete a paper copy of the Ofsted self-evaluation form. She has cared for children in her own home for a short period of time, but she assists another registered childminder in her home every morning Monday to Friday. The childminder welcomes the support and shared experiences of her co- childminder and explains that she has grown in confidence as a result. She is currently renewing her first certificate before the current certificate lapses. Her priority for improvement is to review her written policies and other paperwork and she plans to work towards a level 3 early years qualification. Sufficient resources meet the needs of the children attending.

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the early years provision

Parents are provided with a range of written policies and procedures including ones on equal opportunities, behaviour, illness, complaints and safeguarding. However, a legal requirement is not met because the childminder is unaware that she must engage with parents and provide information on; the procedure to be followed in the event of a parent to collect their child at the appointed time, and the procedure in the event of a child gong missing. A daily journal is provided for parents and this contains photographs and a record of their child's achievements. Admission information includes details on children's different needs and backgrounds and the childminder ensures that differences are addressed. In discussion, she explains how she will ensure that the needs of children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities and children with English as an additional language are met. She will do this by agreeing with parents how they can work

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the early years provision

together to meet these needs. The childminder is aware of the benefits of establishing and maintaining positive links with other early years providers in order to ensure continuity of care and learning. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

The childminder is aware of the six areas of learning and children are making satisfactory progress. She is keeping a record of children's achievements in order to track their progress and plan for next learning steps. Personal, social and emotional development is strong. Children are happy and settled and the childminder ensures that children feel emotionally secure by building good relationships. Behaviour is managed with positive reinforcement and children are encouraged to show consideration for others, share and take turns. Social skills are promoted well at toddler groups and young children particularly enjoy taking part in group time singing sessions. Children's independence is encouraged as they are able to choose and select resources. They gain an awareness of diversity as they play with resources that reflect positive images.

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and outcomes for children

Children learn how to keep themselves safe, for example, they learn how to cross the road safely and gain an awareness of stranger danger. Hygiene practices effectively promote children's good health. Children develop confidence and physical skills as they climb, swing and slide on equipment at groups and at the park. At the childminder's home children play with bats and balls and ride on wheeled toys. Manipulative skills develop as children build with bricks, press buttons on interactive toys and learn to use tools. They enjoy helping the childminder make play dough. They learn that the childminder is following a recipe, count the required scoops full of ingredients and notice the change as the ingredients are mixed. They mould the dough, cut with plastic knives and make marks with cutters.

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and outcomes for children

Children learn about the natural world. Animals are a current focus and children have visited the local pet shop. The childminder is promoting kindness to animals, children are making marks with different coloured pencils on colouring sheets and they are learning the sounds that the different animals make. Children are planting flower seeds in pots and help the childminder to count four seeds with one to one correspondence. They sing songs such as 'Five little ducks' that encourage them to count to five. Children learn to match and name colours. The childminder focuses on one colour for a period of time and parents are asked to encourage their child bring something in from home in the chosen colour. Children's favourites are red and yellow and they choose these colours when making marks with crayons. Once older children are able to draw recognisable pictures, the childminder encourages them to write their own names. Children are able to choose books that are

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and outcomes for children

appropriate for their stage of development. Young children choose colourful picture books that contain different textures. Children enjoy singing and moving to music. 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 3 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 3 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 3 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 3 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 3 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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