Childminder in Birmingham

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY422170 Inspection date 18/06/2012 Inspector Carol Johnson

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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 Birmingham with her husband and their two children aged 11-months-old and two-years-old. They live close to shops, parks, schools and public transport links. The whole of the childminder's home is used for childminding purposes except for one small bedroom. There are a few steps leading to the property and within the garden. The family has a dog and three cats.

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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. The childminder is currently caring for one child in the early years age range.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association and has a recognised early years qualification. She is a member of the Birmingham City Council First Steps Childminding Network.

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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 make good progress as they take part in interesting and rewarding activities that cover all aspects of their learning and development. The childminder provides an inclusive service where each child is valued and their individual needs are known and met. Friendly relationships are in place with parents and good links have been formed with other professionals to support partnership working. Current methods used for observation and assessment and exchanging information with parents are not fully established. ,The childminder demonstrates a strong capacity for continuous improvement.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop records of learning and development and devise strategies for regularly sharing these records with children's parents and encouraging their contribution to the ongoing observation and assessment process.

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the early years provision

Children are effectively safeguarded. The childminder affords a high priority to safety and her home is safe and secure. Risk assessment records include required detail and a variety of safety precautions are in place. For example, the childminder carries out emergency evacuation drills and has installed smoke alarms This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 and carbon-monoxide detectors. The childminder demonstrates a good knowledge of safeguarding issues and has attended relevant training. She knows who to contact should she have concerns and has a clear safeguarding policy. All adults in her home have been suitably vetted and children are only released into the care of authorised individuals. Documentation to ensure the safe and efficient management of her setting is maintained well.

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the early years provision

Children benefit from the childminder's enthusiasm and experience. She is keen to develop her service and has attended a variety of relevant training courses. For example, she has attended training in relation to autism and completed the first year of a Foundation degree. The childminder is a member of the Birmingham 'First Steps Childminding Network' and regularly meets with other childcare practitioners to share information and exchange ideas. She effectively uses a range of methods to evaluate her practice and reflective practice is on-going. She demonstrates a good awareness of her strengths and the things she would like to improve. She has completed the Ofsted self-evaluation form and has sent out questionnaires to parents to obtain their views about her service. Comments recorded on recent questionnaires are complimentary and praise the childminder's friendly and professional manner.

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the early years provision

The childminder treats all children as individuals. Friendly relationships exist with parents and the childminder maintains regular communication with them. For example, she sends parents text messages and shares some information about their children's welfare and learning. Children's freedom of choice is effectively supported because resources are plentiful and a good selection is easily accessible to them. Children have plenty of room to play and rest and the childminder effectively utilises available space. The childminder is not caring for any children with special educational needs and/or disabilities or who speak English as an additional language but demonstrates a very positive attitude towards doing so. She shows a good knowledge of local and national support mechanisms and understands the value of working in partnership with parents and others to meet children's individual needs.

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and outcomes for children

Children are happy and progressing well. They eagerly participate in a wide range of experiences that successfully promote their learning and skills. For example, children are learning about the wider community through everyday discussion and play with resources that include positive images of diversity. They are using their imagination as they sit in toy boxes and pretend they are driving cars. The childminder regularly observes children during play and uses this information to help plan experiences, assess children's progress and identify children's next steps. She records some of what she observes in individual learning and development records known as 'Learning Journeys'. These also contain her assessments of children's progress, examples of their artwork and some photographs of them engaged in play. However, the childminder is still developing these records and does not include some of the spontaneous things that she notices about children.

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and outcomes for children

This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 'Learning Journeys' are not regularly shared with parents and they are not involved in the on-going observation and assessment process. Consequently, there is the potential for children not to be fully supported or challenged to reach their full potential.

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and outcomes for children

Children are content and settled in the setting and this shows that they feel safe and secure. Warmth and affection is freely given by the childminder and children are at ease to go to her for comfort, reassurance and support. Children's health is effectively assured because they follow good hygiene procedures and enjoy healthy and nutritious meals and snacks. Drinks are easily accessible and this prevents children from becoming dehydrated. Children are successfully learning about the benefits of a healthy diet through discussion at mealtimes and during everyday activities. They sometimes help to prepare food, and through doing so are developing independence, and learning about health, hygiene and safety. They learn about why and when it is important to wash hands, where some food comes from and how to use cutlery appropriately.

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and outcomes for children

Children enjoy lots of physical exercise and fresh air and regularly go on outings to local parks and community groups. These experiences help to promote positive attitudes to exercise and increase children's social skills, confidence, balance and coordination. Through play children are gaining many of the skills they will need in later life. For example, they learn to count and recognise colours as they build with construction toys. Children are learning to problem solve as they play with jigsaw puzzles and their language is developing as they respond to questions posed by the childminder. Children display very good behaviour and this is actively encouraged through lots of praise and encouragement. The childminder provides children with a positive role model to follow and is calm and consistent. She encourages children to share and show respect for people and property and children show good levels of self-esteem.

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and outcomes for children

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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