Childminder in Essex

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY436122 Inspection date 17/04/2012 Inspector Moira Oliver

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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 and works with another registered childminder and minds from her co-childminder's house in Coggeshall, Suffolk. The whole of the ground floor of the property is registered for childminding and there is an enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder is able to take and collect children from local schools and preschools. The household has two cats and a guinea pig as pets.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children under eight years. When working with her co-childminder, together they may care for a maximum of nine children. Currently they are caring for five children between them, four of whom are within the early years age range. The childminder also offers care to older children and is registered on the Early Years Register and on both the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register. She shares overall responsibility for the childminding practice with her co-childminder.

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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 are extremely happy and settled in the care of the childminder and her co-childminder. The childminder is qualified and experienced in Montessori education. She constantly considers the children's needs and how best to provide activities that they will find enjoyable, whilst helping them to make excellent progress in their learning and development. She works in close partnerships with her co-childminder, parents and others to ensure a consistent approach. Children are extremely safe and their health needs are met to a high standard. The childminder is passionate and dedicated to her role as she strives for excellence, consistently bringing about improvements.

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further?

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

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further?

 enhancing the methods used for reflecting on practice and self-evaluation so that strengths and areas for development continue to be identified to ensure that the high quality develops further.

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the early years provision

The childminder and her co-childminder have an excellent awareness of safeguarding issues and give the highest priority to safeguarding children. Comprehensive policies and procedures are implemented consistently and robustly to ensure any concerns are prioritised and dealt with effectively. The childminder This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 has recently up-dated her training in safeguarding children. Parents are provided with copies of all policies and procedures. Children receive high levels of attention and are supervised at all times. The premises are secure ensuring unauthorised persons cannot gain access and children cannot leave unattended. Thorough risk assessments are carried out on all areas of the provision and for all outings, ensuring children are cared for in a safe and secure environment at all times.

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the early years provision

The childminder has very effectively used her qualifications and experience to provide a high quality provision for all children. She is dedicated to her role and works exceptionally hard to ensure the provision is continuously improving. The childminders work together to reflect on their practice and have already made several improvements to their provision. For example, they have reviewed their policies and attended training to provide them with additional ideas to support children's physical skills and offer more play opportunities for children under two. Parents, early years staff from the local authority and the children are involved in the self-evaluation process. At present they use an informal process to self- evaluate which relies on remembering the actions they identify during discussion. They are considering devising a method to clearly record areas identified for development to support them to assess the impact that the improvements have on

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the early years provision

Children significantly benefit from a wealth of high quality toys and resources which they access independently from low-level storage units. Children are supported to value difference and gain an understanding and acceptance of a diverse society. For example, the resources reflect equality and inclusion, promoting positive images of diversity. The childminder is experienced in caring for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and has a keen interest in speech and language. She has many ideas of how to support children's communication skills including using gestures, signing and pictorial clues.

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the early years provision

Partnership with parents is a key strength and close, trusting relationships are built. The childminder finds out all she can about each child's background and their individual needs when they first start. Daily discussions take place with parents and dairies are completed detailing how each child has spent their day. Children's records are shared with parents and a parent's evening is planned to provide additional opportunities to share and discuss individual children's progress. The childminder has very close links with other local preschool groups. They attend music and 'treasure basket' groups providing children with many opportunities to socialise, sing, play music and experience a wide range of play opportunities.

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and outcomes for children

Children have fun in the bright and stimulating environment. They are extremely happy and confident and build close, trusting relationships with the childminder. The playroom is set out invitingly and organised into designated play areas with all resources within the children's sight and reach. Children confidently move around the room, making choices as they independently access the equipment and This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 activities. The childminder keeps valuable records of the children's achievements and interests and has collated them and supported the observations with photographs. The observations are evaluated and the children's next steps in their learning and development are fed into the planning, ensuring progression and meeting their individual needs. For example, a range of toy vehicles are provided and activities using wheels for a child who loves to turn and push them.

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and outcomes for children

Children are learning to communicate with the childminder and their peers and even the very youngest will make sounds and gestures to ensure their needs are met. For example, they get excited when the childminder goes to get their dessert at lunch time. They look at board books, turning pages and point to the pictures making sounds for the animals in the pictures. The childminder talks to the children about what they are doing, introducing new words and phrases to extend vocabulary. They enjoy clapping out a rhythm and listening to rhyming words. Children visit places of interest in the local community and they point out cars and other vehicles as they go by. They enjoy taking the stacking boxes out one by one and the childminder supports them to stack them up on top of each other, talking about the sizes and how they fit.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder is skilled in teaching music to young children and they enjoy listening to singing and some join in. They have a range of musical instruments to play and older children happily sing as they play. They use their imaginations in role play as they push dolls around in pushchairs and make pretend meals in the play kitchen. Photographs and wall displays show children using a range of craft materials and exploring textures and colours in paint. An extensive range of opportunities are made for children to develop their physical skills both indoors and out. Many of them are becoming stable on their feet and enjoy pushing brick trolleys and climbing up steps, over cushions and up onto the settee. Children's well-being is promoted exceptionally well. The childminder is qualified in baby massage and finds this a highly effective way to support young babies to settle and form close bonds. Older childrenl enjoy having their feet massaged.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder has an excellent understanding of maintaining a hygienic environment and there are effective procedures in place to prevent the spread of infection. Nappy changing procedures are robust and children learn from an early age to clean their own hands and faces before and after eating. They have opportunities to try a range of tastes and textures of fruit and raw vegetables at snack times and have seeds ready to grow their own produce. Thechildminder has received training and uses positive language to support children to manage their own behaviour and learn how to keep themselves safe. The childminder is calm and provides a consistent approach using simple explanations and offering alternatives. For example, when children use the settee as a climbing frame they are asked to sit on their bottoms and cushions are provided for them to climb up and over instead. The childminder values and respects the children as individuals

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and outcomes for children

and provides a positive role model for them to follow. 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 1 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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