Childminder in Lincolnshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY433484 Inspection date 19/04/2012 Inspector Melanie Arnold

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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 two children in Washingborough, Lincoln, Lincolnshire. Areas of the ground floor are mainly used for childminding. The premises are accessible by one step and there is an enclosed garden available for outside play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of four children under eight years at any one time. There are currently two children attending who are within the early years age range. The childminder also offers care to children aged over five years. She is registered on the Early Years Register and on both the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register. She 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 satisfactory.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children are cared for in a warm and welcoming setting where mainly good systems are in place to safeguard them from potential harm. The childminder works generally well with parents and carers, supporting and meeting children's individual needs. Links with other providers, along with the childminder's learning and development assessment systems have yet to be fully developed to aid children's continued progression towards the early learning goals. The childminder's system of self-evaluation is in the early stages of development, resulting in the identification of some targets requiring further improvement.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop ongoing observational assessment to inform planning for each child's continuing development through play-based activities  ensure the exchange of clearer information with other providers to further promote coherence of learning and development across different settings.

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the early years provision

The childminder's home is safe, secure and welcoming, resulting in children feeling settled in their surroundings. Space and resources are organised appropriately to create an accessible environment where children play freely across all areas of the ground floor. They have the freedom to choose their own play resources from the suitable range provided and to play with them where they feel most comfortable. However, the childminder is allowing children to use one of the first floor bedrooms. At the time of the inspection this was not permitted by her conditions of registration, resulting, in the childminder breaching her conditions of registration. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 On this occasion Ofsted does not intend to take any further action. The childminder maintains suitable records, documents and policies to safeguard children and promote their welfare. Generally good safety procedures are in place

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the early years provision

to protect children's health and safety. For example, the childminder continually risk assesses her environment and any outings to ensure potential hazards are identified and minimised. She also remains in sole charge of the children at all times and she has a sound knowledge of child protection procedures. All adults within the home, including, the assistant, have undergone relevant suitability checks with Ofsted, which further safeguards children from potential harm.

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the early years provision

The childminder works in partnership with parents and carers, ensuring children's individual needs, backgrounds and beliefs are valued and respected. Clear information is gathered from the outset, enabling the childminder to help children to settle into her care and to make satisfactory progress from their unique starting points. The childminder promotes the inclusion of all children ensuring equality of opportunity is promoted. Parents and carers learn about their children's daily routines through a range of means. These include verbal chats face-to-face or on the phone and through written information via a communication book, mobile phone text messaging or email. The childminder does exchange some information with other providers where the care of children is shared. However, she has yet to exchange information about children's learning and development to fully promote an integrated approach to children's care and learning. As the childminder has not

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the early years provision

been childminding long, she is just starting her process of self-evaluation to monitor the effectiveness of her policies and procedures. This shows her commitment to promoting positive outcomes for children through the continual development of her provision.

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and outcomes for children

Children are happy and confident in the childminder's care. Their good behaviour is promoted through the constant use of praise and encouragement and through the childminder helping children to learn to respect clear boundaries. Children freely explore and investigate their surroundings, accessing and playing with a suitable range of developmentally appropriate toys and resources. Their social skills are beginning to develop as they are encouraged to play co-operatively with their peers. Children are encouraged to respect and value each other through the childminder acting as a positive role model. Their awareness of differences and diversity is promoted through their play and when watching appropriate television programmes based on cultural festivals, which helps to raise children's awareness of wider society.

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and outcomes for children

Indoor and outdoor space and resources are safe and suitable for their purpose. Children's health and safety is protected at all times through the childminder's suitable procedures and through the childminder maintaining a current first aid certificate. This ensures she can confidently deal with any emergency situations if and when they arise. Children's well-being is protected through good hygiene routines and the exclusion of children when they are ill, which helps to minimise the risk of cross-infection. Children's awareness of maintaining their own health is This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 promoted through discussions, regular events and play. For example, children now show awareness of when to wash their hands during the daily routine as the childminder has continually promoted this with them. Children are actively encouraged to make healthy choices as the childminder promotes healthy eating,

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and outcomes for children

providing children with a balanced diet which meets their dietary requirements. Constant discussions about the benefits of healthy eating and exercise and the effects exercise has on their bodies, all contribute to helping children to learn how to maintain their good health. Children's awareness of how to safely cross the road is promoted during outings, which helps children to learn to be safe.

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and outcomes for children

Children are making satisfactory progress towards the early learning goals. Planning, observations and assessment systems have yet to be fully developed to monitor children's progress and to identify their next steps for learning. However, children participate in a suitable range of activities, with the childminder engaging in play with them to create some purposeful learning opportunities. Children access and use a satisfactory range of electronic and battery operated toys and resources, promoting their interest in technology. They learn through play as the childminder introduces children to new experiences, which promote several different areas of learning. For example, the childminder creates a cafe role play area where children develop their use of imagination and communication skills, as they pretend to take orders and to make the food requested. They have fun creating menus and writing down the orders, which promotes children's mark

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and outcomes for children

making skills. They also use a till and money when paying for their food, with further counting opportunities also incorporated into children's everyday play experiences. Children's physical skills are promoted during regular outdoor play in the garden and during trips to the park. Regular walking adventures where children are provided with opportunities to play on a fallen tree branch under the supervision of the childminder, provide children with a sense of adventure as they develop their imagination. 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 2 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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