Childminder in North Northamptonshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY439680 Inspection date 21/06/2012 Inspector Melanie Eastwell

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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 partner and two children aged six and four years in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, close to shops, parks, schools and public transport links. The whole of the childminder's home is available for childminding, although upstairs is generally only used for children to sleep. Toilet facilities are provided on the first floor. There is an enclosed garden for outdoor play. The childminder has a pet cat and fish.

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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, of whom no more than two may be in the early years age range. She is currently caring for one child in this age range. She also offers care to children aged over five years. This provision is registered by Ofsted on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register.

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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 has developed a good understanding of the children's individual needs and this promotes their welfare and most aspects of their learning. Children are safe and secure and they benefit from the childminder's sensitive and positive interaction with them. The partnerships with parents are strong and this is significant in making sure the unique needs of each child can be met. This contributes to children making good progress given their age, ability and starting points. The childminder has begun to implement processes for self-evaluation that include well-targeted plans for the future and she is keen to develop these processes further.

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further?

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

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further?

 improve the systems for observation and assessment by re-visiting the previously identified next steps for the children and ensure the longer observations have a clear purpose to demonstrate children's progression  expand the procedures for self-evaluation through involving the parents in the process.

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the early years provision

The childminder has made an effective start to her work. She has a well-organised approach and the documents, policies and procedures underpin her daily activity with the children. Children's safety is given high priority. The childminder demonstrates a secure understanding of how to safeguard children. For example, the adults in the household have the required clearances in place, the childminder This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 has attended training in safeguarding and she maintains close supervision. The risk assessments are effective, being regularly reviewed and updated as necessary. The childminder provides children with a stimulating environment that contains a good range of play materials, activities and resources that promote children's natural curiosity. The resources are rotated regularly and are easily accessible in low-level boxes.

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the early years provision

The childminder is familiar with the benefits of reflective practice and she has begun to implement procedures that acknowledge her areas of strong practice and her well-targeted plans for the future. She is keen to expand on this by involving the children's parents in the process through seeking their views about her provision as a whole. She has also devised systems to seek older children's views about her care. The childminder has made adjustments to her processes for monitoring the children's developmental progress and she has considered how she may have to alter her plans and practice if she takes on other minded children. The childminder demonstrates a strong capacity for continuous improvement because she has attended further training and she is identifying her priorities for the development of her provision.

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the early years provision

Children benefit from the effective partnerships the childminder has built with their parents. She seeks information about their routines and individual needs before they start attending and provides detailed verbal and written feedback each day. This written information is shared through a diary that records details about children's food, sleep times and about the activities they have enjoyed. The children's needs are met well because the childminder works very closely with their parents to seek thorough information about any specific needs or practices. For example, she works closely with them on baby-led weaning. Parents provide family photographs that are displayed for their children to see during the day and the childminder regularly encourages them to look at their child's observation file. Parents are invited to add their own comments about their child's progress and to contribute information about their child's interests that the childminder

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the early years provision

incorporates into the planning for their child. The childminder is aware of the importance of working in partnership with other providers of the Early Years Foundation Stage in order to ensure a consistent approach and a smooth transition for the children.

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and outcomes for children

Children demonstrate that they are happy and that they feel safe in the childminder's home. For example, babies enjoy crawling around and selecting their own play materials to explore from the boxes. They seek reassurance and comfort from the childminder as they need it, they snuggle into her when being bottle fed and readily settle to sleep at rest time. The childminder maintains close supervision and gives lots of positive interaction during their play through her language and facial expressions which helps children to feel safe and secure. Children are protected from the risk of cross infection because the childminder has high standards of hygiene in her home, she follows effective procedures for changing nappies and when preparing bottles and food. Children's dietary needs are met This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 because the childminder works well with their parents and through carrying out

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and outcomes for children

her own research about particular theories and practices to meet their specific requirements.

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and outcomes for children

Children are encouraged to explore and to try out new experiences. The childminder uses her creative skills when planning activities for the children. For example, she has made a unique 'lift the flap' book for the children to look at. She has put together 'treasure boxes' that contain a variety of natural items, such as sponges, woollen balls and feathers as well as laminated cards that display familiar images that are interesting to the children attending. The childminder ably supports children to make their own choices of the play materials and to explore their environment. For example, a baby selects a hand drum from the box, they turn it over in their hands and wave it around. Children are encouraged to explore a variety of textures, they touch the wicker boxes and enjoy the sensation of the tassels on a throw on their hands. The childminder extends these experiences through offering dry rice for the children to explore, they tip the rice from the box,

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and outcomes for children

take handfuls and watch how it cascades to the floor. The play provision shows images that celebrate diversity, such as dolls and characters in books. The childminder involves the children in activities that begin to develop an awareness of the wider world and current celebrations, such as the jubilee. Children are treated as individuals and with respect.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder takes account of children's interests when planning activities for them. She is skilled in extending the activities through providing new resources. Children's progress in their leaning and development is displayed in well-presented files that contain spontaneous snippet observations and periodic longer observations, often linked to photographs of the children engaged in their activities. The childminder links the observations to the relevant areas of learning and she has devised a system to ensure that a balance of evidence is gathered across the six areas of learning. She uses relevant documents to assist her in identifying appropriate next steps for the children. However, she has not yet re- visited the identified next steps in order to help her focus the future planning. The longer observations are general and do not have a specific focus to make sure they are meaningful and contribute to demonstrating children's progress. The

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and outcomes for children

childminder has developed a welcoming environment where children are provided with a stimulating and fun environment. They respond positively to her gentle and positive approach and this promotes their feelings of well-being and belonging. 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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