Childminder in Milton KeynesOfsted inspection, 30 May 2012

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY365315 Inspection date 30/05/2012 Inspector Glenda Pownall

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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 registered in 2007. She lives with her husband and three children, who are aged nine, five and one year, in Furzton, Milton Keynes. The childminder uses the whole of the ground floor of the house for childminding with sleeping facilities for very young children provided in a first floor bedroom. There is an enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder makes use of local facilities such as parks, the library and toddler groups. The family has a cat.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She may care for a maximum of four children under eight years at any one time, of whom no more than two may be in the early years age group. She is currently minding one child full time and one child part time in this age group. The childminder has a National Vocational Qualification at level 3 in childcare.

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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

The childminder provides a welcoming environment that is interesting and well- equipped to meet children's individual needs. Children appear happy and settled in the childminder's care. Risk assessment is used effectively to consider all hazards in the home and almost all in the garden. The breach of requirements regarding medication records has low impact on children's health and safety. The childminder successfully supports children to make good progress in their learning and development and assessments monitor children's progress well in most areas. Partnerships with parents are well established overall. There are effective systems to support continual improvement to benefit children's care and learning.

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further?

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

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further?

 keep written records of all medicines administered to children, and inform parents (Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare). 13/06/2012

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further?

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

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further?

 develop the risk assessment so that it covers anything with which a child may come into contact, with particular regard to the rotary washing line  build on existing systems of observation and assessment by consistently assessing the progress children are making in problem solving, reasoning and This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 numeracy  involve parents as part of the ongoing observation and assessment process, sharing children's planned next steps in learning with them.

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the early years provision

Overall, the childminder demonstrates a good understanding of her role and responsibilities and there are effective procedures in place to promote children's safety. The childminder has most required documentation in place to support the safe and efficient running of the childminding service. Parents provide prior written consent for the administration of medication but the childminder is in breach of a legal requirement because she has not kept a record of the medicines she has administered to children. However, there is low risk to children's health and safety. This is because parents provide all medication for children and record the time they want the childminder to administer the next dose. On most occasions the childminder has recorded the time she gave medication in the daily diary that goes home with parents and she demonstrates a willingness to rectify her procedure immediately. The childminder is confident to liaise with the appropriate agencies if

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the early years provision

concerned a child is at risk of harm. Children play in a safe environment because overall the risk assessment is effective in identifying and minimising hazards to their safety. However, the risk assessment does not include everything with which a child may come into contact, such as the rotary washing line being left in a closed position. However, there is no risk to children as the childminder supervises them closely when outside. The childminder adopts the good practice of recording the risk assessments she carries out for specific outings. These help the childminder to keep children safe when they are out in the local community with her.

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the early years provision

The childminder fosters highly positive relationships with most parents. All parents receive a pack of useful information before their child starts. The childminder communicates effectively with parents verbally each day, through the use of a daily diary and by text message. Learning journals, observations and assessments, and next steps in learning have been shared with some parents but not all. Parents are very happy with the care the childminder provides and the progress their children make in their learning and development. Children do not have any involvement with other services or attend any other early years provision. However, the childminder demonstrates a secure understanding of how to work effectively with other professionals when the need arises to provide coherence for children in their care and learning. Planned activities in the home and local community help to develop children's awareness of culture and diversity.

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the early years provision

Overall, there is an effective system for monitoring practice. This includes using the Ofsted self-evaluation form to accurately identify the strengths in practice. The childminder accurately identifies developing aspects of the observation and assessment system to enhance parents' involvement in the planning cycle for their child. The childminder demonstrates a commitment and enthusiasm to the continual improvement of her practice. The records of pre-existing injuries have been improved and this was a recommendation at the last inspection. Since that This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 inspection the childminder has improved her knowledge and understanding by attending training including first aid and food safety. She has also completed an NVQ level 3 in children's care, learning and development.

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the early years provision

The childminder uses a good range of resources effectively to support children's good progress across all areas of learning. The childminder shares resources with other childminders to supplement and extend the range available. Children learn to think about the environment by growing and caring for plants and helping with the household recycling.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder is adept at providing effective support to children. She is observant of children and takes her lead from what they do. She knows when to join in to move them on in their learning. For example, when young children choose dolls to play with she encourages them to think of the needs of others by modelling feeding and cuddling the doll, which they then imitate. A young child then says "shh, baby's asleep" as they rock the doll in their arms. Overall, observation and assessment are used effectively to record children's achievements and plan for their next steps in learning. Observations cover all areas of learning although the childminder is less confident in consistently assessing the progress young children make in problem solving, reasoning and numeracy. The childminder talks to parents about their children's progress but does not encourage them to be involved in the observation and assessment system. Not all parents are aware of

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and outcomes for children

the planned next steps in learning for their child.

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and outcomes for children

Children enjoy their learning. They use a spray gun to water plants. The childminder explains that they are getting wet because the wind is blowing the spray of water back towards them. Young children enjoy looking at books about animals. The childminder names the different animals on the pages that children do not know. Young children nod to indicate that they recall seeing rabbits on a recent visit. Linguistic diversity is valued as children have opportunities to use their home language in their play and learning. For example, children name the colours of crayons and count to 10 in their home language and the childminder provides the English translation for them. Children access a wide variety of materials to explore and experiment creatively with. For example, their imaginative play with cars and diggers is enhanced by moving them through shaving foam. Other materials include dry and wet spaghetti, sand, dough, paint and different materials

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and outcomes for children

The childminder is kind and caring and offers praise and encouragement to children during activities. This helps children to feel secure and promotes their self- esteem. Children develop strong relationships with the childminder and other children. They snuggle in close to the childminder to listen to stories and willingly co-operate and share resources with younger children. Their behaviour is very good. Children develop understanding of diversity by trying foods that are associated with different cultures and engaging in planned activities to celebrate This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 different festivals. For example, having helped to make the dragon head they then perform a dragon dance with their friends to celebrate Chinese New year.

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and outcomes for children

Children freely move between the indoor and outdoor environments making decisions about where they want to play. In addition to the daily walks to and from school, two activities to develop children's physical skills are planned each day. These include outings to parks and a soft play centre to provide challenge and develop climbing skills and risk taking in a safe environment. Children become aware of what to do in the event of an emergency evacuation because they practise the fire drill with the childminder. Children develop useful skills to support their future learning. 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: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The registered provider does not meet the requirements of the compulsory and or voluntary part/s of the Childcare Register.

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 keep records of any medicine administered to any child who is cared for on the premises, including the date and circumstances and who administered it, including medicine which the child is permitted to self- administer (Records to be kept) (also applies to the voluntary part of the Childcare Register). 13/06/2012

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 take action as specified for the compulsory part of the Childcare Register (Records to be kept). 13/06/2012

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