Childminder in Warwickshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY359588 Inspection date 31/05/2012 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 2007. She lives in Warwick with her husband and two children aged eight and nine years. The whole of the ground floor is registered for childminding and also a first floor bedroom. There are toilet facilities on the ground floor and the first floor. A secure garden is registered for outdoor play. The family has a cat.

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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 four 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 in the early years age group and both attend on a part-time basis. She also cares for a child aged over eight and she walks with children to and from the local school. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association. She holds a level 3 early years qualification.

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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's understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage is strong. She promotes children's individual developmental needs effectively across the six areas of learning and meets their care needs well. Health and safety systems are strong and the childminder ensures that children are safeguarded, although she cannot be sure that her procedures are fully in line with local procedures. The childminder makes sure that all children are valued and included and information obtained from parents helps her to identify and address children's differences. The partnership with parents is good. The childminder is aware of her strengths and areas for improvement and uses this awareness to review and improve her practice.

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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 local safeguarding children procedures is up to date and that the safeguarding children policy and procedure is in line with Local Safeguarding Children Board guidance and procedures.

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the early years provision

The childminder provides a warm and welcoming environment. Health and safety is given a high priority and potential risks have been addressed in practice, and are included in a risk assessment record. Necessary checks for the childminder and her husband have been completed and she ensures that children are never left This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 unsupervised with a person who has not been vetted. The childminder is aware of the signs of child abuse and neglect, and her responsibility with regard to protecting children from abuse. Parents are made aware of her safeguarding policy. However, children's best interests are not fully served because the childminder has not updated her policy since 2009 and she does not have a copy of the Warwickshire Safeguarding Children Board procedures. Consequently, she does not have up-to-date knowledge of local procedures and so cannot be sure

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the early years provision

that her procedure is in line with local guidance and procedures.

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the early years provision

The childminder is aware of the benefits of self-evaluation. She has used the Ofsted form as a guide as she records her current self-evaluation. The childminder values the support of other experienced childminders and day care staff in helping her to review and improve her practice. Her current priority is to complete safeguarding training, gain knowledge on the 2012 Early Years Foundation Stage and update her knowledge on promoting the development of babies. At the time of the last inspection two recommendations were raised and both have been addressed well. The childminder was asked to ensure written permission for transporting children in the car is in place for each child, and ensure a clear complaints procedure is in place. Resources are chosen for their quality and durability. The childminder makes sure that these meet the different developmental needs of children well. Toys are maintained in a good state of

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the early years provision

repair. Required documentation is kept up to date and in good order.

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the early years provision

Information provided for and obtained from parents is good and includes a full range of written policies and procedures. A daily diary is completed for parents and includes information on activities, food and sleep times. Parents are well informed about their children's achievements and progress. A folder containing observations and assessment is shared with them. Contracts are reviewed every six months and the childminder constantly seeks the views of parents about the provision verbally. The childminder is fully aware of the importance of obtaining as much information as possible about each child's individual needs from parents and agreeing with them how they can work together to meet these needs. She has experience of working as an educational assistant in a school for children with special educational needs and she ensures that children gain an awareness of their differences and their similarities. Children do not attend any other early years provision, but the

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the early years provision

childminder is aware of the importance of establishing links in order to ensure continuity of care and learning for children.

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and outcomes for children

Children make good progress because the childminder makes sure that they are challenged effectively. She has developed effective systems for obtaining information from parents and for recording children's achievements in order to plan next steps in their learning. Children currently attending are aged under two years. The range of resources and activities meet their needs well. They are happy, settled and confident and relationships are good with the childminder and with older children. Social skills are promoted well at the childminder's home and at groups. In discussion, the childminder explains how she ensures that children's This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 behaviour is managed in line with her clear behaviour policy. Positive behaviour is rewarded and she ensures that children never feel humiliated. She encourages self-discipline and respect and sets realistic limits according to the age and stage

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and outcomes for children

of development of each child. Building self-esteem is key and house rules include being kind to each other. Opportunities for children to gain an understanding of difference are good, for example resources reflect positive images and children learn about different cultures, traditions and beliefs.

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and outcomes for children

Numeracy and problem solving is promoted well as part of daily routines. Babies' manipulative skills develop as they play with shape sorters and learn to match colours and shapes. The childminder counts up to three items with one to one correspondence as she supports their play and looks at pictures books with them. Favourite books are ones that are brightly coloured and contain different textures that babies stroke and scratch. Babies make marks in their food and in drinks that they tip onto the tray of their high chairs. They explore paint and gloop with their fingers and are beginning to make marks with thick chalks. The childminder explains that older children are able to choose from a full range of art and craft materials and develop good pencil control as they draw pictures. She encourages them to talk about their drawings and makes suggestions about what they may like to add, for example, if they draw a round shape suggesting that if this was a

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and outcomes for children

face they could add hair and features. The childminder continually communicates with babies with her voice, gestures and facial expression. Babies respond with sounds that identify their contentment and emotional security. They explore their own voices and enjoy listening to songs and music. A favourite outing is to the local library for 'rhyme time'.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder makes sure that children learn how to keep themselves safe. In discussion she identifies that older children learn how to cross the road safely, know why the fire drill is practised and gain an awareness of stranger danger. She has developed systems to ensure children's good health and she uses her food hygiene knowledge effectively. Children are active and develop confidence and skills as they use physical play equipment that is appropriate for their different stages of development. The childminder ensures that babies have plenty of space to move around in freely as they shuffle and/or learn to crawl. 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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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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