Childminder in West Northamptonshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY437284 Inspection date 10/05/2012 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 2011. She lives in Northampton with her husband and two children aged 12 and nine years old. The whole of the ground floor and a first floor bedroom and bathroom are registered for childminding. There are toilet facilities on the ground floor. A secure garden is registered for outdoor play. The family has a dog.

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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 six children aged under eight years at any one time, of these, three may be in the early years age group and of these, one may be under one year old. The childminder is registered to care for one child overnight. She is currently caring for seven children, of these, two are aged over eight years and four are in the early years age group. All children attend on a part-time basis. The childminder walks with 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 good.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The childminder's knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage is good. She promotes children's individual developmental needs effectively and meets their care needs well. Health and safety systems are generally good. The childminder makes sure that all children are valued and included. Information obtained from parents helps her to identify and address children's differences. Information provided for parents is thorough. The childminder is aware of her strengths and areas for improvement and she 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?

 extend the risk assessment to make sure that anything with which a child comes into contact is fully covered; with specific reference to the security of the bedroom window.

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the early years provision

The childminder ensures that children play in a warm and welcoming environment. Health and safety is addressed generally well and a thorough risk assessment record has been drawn up. However, even though the record states that all windows in rooms registered for childminding are locked, the bedroom window is not. The window latch is not directly accessible to young children but potentially This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 children's safety may not be maximised. Necessary checks for the childminder and her husband 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 with regard to protecting children from abuse. Parents are made aware of her safeguarding policy and the Northamptonshire Safeguarding Children Board procedures and contact details.

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the early years provision

The childminder is aware of the benefits of self-evaluation. She has begun to complete the Ofsted self-evaluation form. She identifies her strength in order to meet the needs of different families. Since registration, her priority has been to review her paperwork in line with the requirements of the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage and to ensure that her systems for observation and assessment are effective. She values advice and support from other experienced childminders. She has made contact with the local Sure Start centre to make enquiries about training courses and to talk about how they can work together for the benefit of the community. Resources are used effectively to promote children's enjoyment and development. 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. Parents are well informed about their children's achievements. The childminder makes sure that she works well with parents to ensure that each child's individual needs are met. She seeks the views of parents about the provision in their child's communication book and through the implementation of a questionnaire. Children do not currently attend any other early years setting but the childminder is aware of the importance of establishing good links, in order to ensure continuity of care and learning.

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and outcomes for children

Children are making good progress because the childminder challenges them effectively to reach next learning steps. Children cared for are aged up to two years and the childminder has been caring for them for only a short period of time. Relationships between the childminder and the children are good and resources and activities meet their needs well. Children's independence is promoted effectively as they are able to choose and select toys. Social skills are developing well and children are learning to share and take turns. They gain an understanding of diversity because resources reflect positive images and they learn about different cultures and traditions.

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and outcomes for children

Young children are learning to match and name colours and shapes. They are encouraged to count with on- to-one correspondence, initially to three and then to five. They sing songs, such as 'Five green speckled frogs' that encourage counting and an early awareness of calculation. Children build towers with bricks. The childminder encourages them to recognise the different sizes of the bricks, colours and the height of the towers they build, using language, such as biggest and smallest. The childminder encourages children to recognise their own name in print This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 and hear the sound of the first letter in their name. They enjoy looking at books and continually choose picture books to look at with the childminder. Children make marks with their fingers and with tools in play dough and with paints and felt tipped pens on paper. The childminder inspires them to pretend that a large

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and outcomes for children

cardboard box is a bus. They use different coloured felt tipped pens to draw on the box using large strokes. The childminder puts a stool inside the box and children sit on it and pretend that they are the bus driver. They make the sounds of the bus as they pretend to turn a steering wheel. This activity helps to develop their imagination and creativity.

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and outcomes for children

Children learn how to keep themselves safe. They know to stop, look and listen before crossing the road and how to use the pedestrian crossing. They gain an awareness of the fire drill because it is practised every month and they learn good hygiene practices through everyday routines. Children enjoy singing and moving their bodies in different ways to music, which develops their creativity. Their physical skills are developing well as they use challenging physical play equipment at the local park. Children's learning is promoted across different areas of learning as they take part in cooking activities. For example, they are reminded of the need to wash their hands, which promotes their awareness of being healthy. They look at a recipe book, which shows the ingredients in words and pictures, the cooking process and a picture of the end product. Children help to weigh the ingredients, which helps them to develop an awareness of quantities. They learn about

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and outcomes for children

properties as they explore the differences between wet and dry ingredients when they are mixed together. This activity also boosts children's self-esteem as they proudly examine their end product and devour what they have made. 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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