Childminder in Norfolk

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY439259 Inspection date 11/05/2012 Inspector Jacqueline Mason

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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 has been registered since 2011. She lives with her husband and three children, aged nine, four and three years in a village near Kings Lynn, Norfolk. The whole of the property is used for childminding with the exception of the main bedroom and one other bedroom. Bathroom facilities are available upstairs. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outdoor play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and on both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She is registered to care for a maximum of four children under eight years at any one time, of whom no more than one may be in the early years age range. When working with an assistant she is registered to care for a maximum of six children under eight years, of whom three may be in the early years age range. The childminder currently cares for four children in the early years age range, all on a part-time basis.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder 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 good.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children are happy and settled in the childminder's warm and welcoming home. The childminder is careful to ensure that all children are fully included, organising her setting so that children are able to make steady progress in their learning and development. Partnerships with parents and others who provide care and learning for the children, are effective to promote continuity of care and learning. Children's good health is promoted well and most safeguarding requirements are met. The childminder is establishing methods to monitor the strengths and weaknesses of her setting in order to promote better outcomes for children.

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further?

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

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further?

 improve self-evaluation processes in order to identify the strengths of the setting and areas for development to promote better outcomes for children  develop further systems to evaluate information from assessment and use this to plan individualised learning and development for each child.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a very good awareness of the signs and symptoms of abuse to help her recognise when children may be at risk. She knows how to report concerns in line with local safeguarding children board guidelines and has all necessary contact details for making a referral. An effective complaints procedure This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 is in place and this includes the contact details of Ofsted to enable general complaints to be dealt with quickly and efficiently. Risk assessments are carried out to ensure risks to children are identified and minimised, enabling children to play safely both indoors and outside. An effective emergency evacuation procedure is in place and this is practised with the children to ensure everyone knows what to do in an emergency to keep themselves safe.

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the early years provision

Policies and procedures, necessary for the safe and efficient running of the setting, are in place, and are routinely shared with parents. This helps them to be fully- informed about the service the childminder provides and make knowledgeable decisions about their children's care. Highly successful relationships with parents have been established, resulting in effective partnerships to meet children's individual needs and promote continuity of care and learning. The childminder has also established valuable partnerships with others who provide care and learning for the children so that any concerns about children's development or well-being can be quickly identified and managed. The childminder has a good range of resources, including ones that promote equality and diversity.

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the early years provision

The childminder's methods for self-evaluation are improving, although are not yet fully embedded. She currently reflects on her childminding day and records her actions for improvement. In addition, she has accessed a copy of the local authority quality rating folder and is waiting for her support worker to visit to carry out the assessment. The childminder is committed to her professional development and has applied to enrol on an appropriate level 3 training course.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder knows the children very well and talks confidently about their stages of development. She establishes their starting points when they first attend her setting through gathering useful information from parents. This gives the childminder an insight into children's likes, dislikes and interests and also ensures that individual routines can be followed to promote continuity of care. The childminder observes and records children's play and is starting to evaluate her observations in order to make informed decisions about children's progress and plan the next steps to meet their development and learning needs. The childminder has attended some training in the Early Years Foundation Stage and is also using the knowledge of other local childminders to develop her awareness of the learning and development requirements. The childminder provides consistent routines to help children to settle and develop a sense of belonging.

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and outcomes for children

Children are developing skills for the future and a good range of toys and resources are available to promote all areas of learning. The childminder is actively engaged in the children's play and responds well to the babbles and gurgles of babies and toddlers. They snuggle in to look at picture books and the childminder promotes younger children's vocabulary skills by talking about the pictures, encouraging children to repeat unfamiliar words and make the noises of the animals in the illustrations. Children are developing very good relationships with the childminder and confidently go to her for a cuddle. She encourages their This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 physical development, holding the hands of babies as they are learning to walk helping them feel safe. She provides activities to promote children's curiosity and problem solving skills, such as ducting and small world cars where children can

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and outcomes for children

explore size and speed, and develop their own ideas of how to stop the basket, put at the end of the ducting to catch the cars, from moving.

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and outcomes for children

Children are taken on outings into the immediate environment, such as the local playground, toddler group and the children's centre where a childminding support group meets. At these events children are able to meet with others and develop their social skills. Unwanted behaviour is managed sensitively, taking into account the age and level of understanding of the children. As a result, children are developing learning to respect the feelings of others and develop friendships with their peers. Good behaviour and individual efforts are recognised, valued and praised. The childminder recognises children as individuals and provides good resources to promote positive images of culture, disability and gender.

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and outcomes for children

Children's health, physical and dietary needs are met to a good standard. Children are developing self-care skills, such as being helped to wash their hands before eating. Children's dietary needs are met by the childminder and their parents as they jointly provide meals and snacks for the children. Children are encouraged to play outdoors. They walk to school and back when possible and enjoy stopping off to look at the ducks and look at the interesting shapes made by the cracks in the pavement. Individual needs are met with regard to rest and sleep. 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 2 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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