Childminder in Doncaster

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY250648 Inspection date 12/07/2012 Inspector June Rice

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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 2003. She lives with her husband and two children aged 12 and 11 years in Doncaster. The whole of the ground floor property is used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The childminder is able to take and collect children from local schools and pre-schools. The family has goldfish.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children under eight years at any one time, of whom no more than three may be in the early years age range. There are currently three children attending who are within the Early Years Foundation Stage, all of whom attend on a part-time basis. The childminder also offers care to children aged over five years to 11 years. She is registered on the Early Years Register and on both the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register. She 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

The childminder demonstrates a positive attitude towards continued improvement. She has effectively evaluated her provision and is aware of areas that require improvement. Space is used very effectively and she is committed to working in partnership with parents, and other early years providers, and the techniques used to help children learn are mostly good. This ensures children continue to make good progress in an environment in which they feel safe and secure. All children are included well and their individual needs met.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop further the use of activities and play opportunities that challenge children's thinking and help them to embrace differences in gender, ethnicity, language, religion, culture and special educational needs and/or disabilities  develop further the use of open ended questions in order to ensure children continue to be supported to extend their thinking to help them make connections in learning.

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the early years provision

The childminder works in partnership with parents and others to safeguard children. She demonstrates a good understanding of child protection and is very confident in her ability to implement procedures effectively in order to protect children. A record of visitors is maintained, and written procedures are in place in This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 the event of lost, uncollected children and safeguarding. All required documentation is in place and robust risk assessments clearly identify possible hazards and the action taken to reduce any risks. The childminder has developed very effective working relationships with parents and others, and this ensures that she continues to meet children's individual needs very effectively. For example, information shared between other early years providers, parents and the childminder ensure that their learning is fully supported and complements what

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the early years provision

they are learning in other settings. For example, she includes in her planning what they are learning at school to ensure their learning is extended.

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the early years provision

The childminder has successfully evaluated her provision and its impact on children's learning and well-being. She is fully aware of her strengths and has developed an action plan to ensure continued improvement. The childminder demonstrates that she knows her children very well. She supports their learning through a good range of activities and play opportunities, and the systems for planning, observation and assessment are well developed as well as a learning journal. The daily record includes a well-detailed daily record of what children have been doing and how they have been, and children's progress is well recorded in the learning journals with the use of photographs and written observations that are clearly linked to the six areas of learning. Next steps are also clearly identified and this ensures that she plans for children's individual learning needs very effectively.

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and outcomes for children

Good health and well-being is very well promoted by the childminder. For example, children who are infectious are excluded to protect others, and well-established systems are in place to administer and record medication, and record accidents and existing injuries. Children learn about healthy eating through a well-balanced and nutritious diet which is agreed with parents who also receive a record of what their children are eating and drinking on a daily basis. Children are provided with fresh fruit and vegetables. They understand these count towards their five a day and makes them 'big and strong', and they are observed to enjoy their meals. Children are encouraged to be active through a range of activities that promote physical exercise. For example, they enjoy lots of physical activities, such as using a trampoline, riding bikes, and going on lots of walks. Children behave in ways that are safe for themselves and others, and are learning to develop a good

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and outcomes for children

understanding of dangers and how to stay safe through their daily routine and activities. For example, children talk about how they keep safe on the trampoline, how they cross the road, explain they do not to run indoors and they learn how to stay safe from strangers. Children show they feel safe as they move around the environment independently, and in the way they interact with the childminder and visitors.

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and outcomes for children

Inclusive practice is well promoted by the childminder who treats children as individuals and effectively promotes equality for all through resources and activities that are not gender based. Resources are well displayed around the play area within easy reach of children and are clearly identified by printed labels and This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 pictures, further promoting children's independence and choice. Children play with resources that reflect some positive images of cultural differences, however, activities and resources that promote children's awareness of diversity are limited. The children are friendly, courteous and very well behaved. They have developed very strong and close relationships with their carer and other children who attend. They demonstrate they have the confidence to make decisions about what they want to do and show a sense of pride as they take responsibility for helping to tidy

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and outcomes for children

resources away when they have finished an activity, and before leaving for school. The childminder interacts very well with the children, she shows a lot of interest in what they are doing, and uses a generally good combination of open and closed questions that on the whole help children to think and talk about what they are doing. Children make good progress in all areas of learning, they are active and very interested in the play opportunities and activities offered. They are observed to be very happy on arriving but are quick to seek reassurance from the childminder about the visitor confidently asking 'why is she here?'

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and outcomes for children

Children learn their colours as they mix paints, and are encouraged to name colours in general conversations. For example, when they are eating strawberries they talk about them being big, red and juicy. Their communication skills are very well supported as younger children learn how to sound different letters, and other children are included in extended conversations about their friends, families and what they like doing best. Children independently choose to play a range of musical instruments, they select a drum and symbols and as they play the childminder asks if she can join in. Children welcome her and select an instrument for her to play. They play along and when children stop at the end of the music they are praised for the good music they made. Children use tools skilfully, they are competent in cutting with scissors and use a brush to spread glue to decorate the wind charm they are making for the garden, and use an electric whisk under

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and outcomes for children

careful supervision when they are baking.

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and outcomes for children

Children choose to play on the trampoline and invite others to watch their skills. They enjoy bouncing and jumping and are careful not to fall into each other. They initiate a ball game, confidently throw and roll the ball to the childminder demonstrating good co-ordination skills. Children enjoy activities that encourage their problem solving, reasoning and numeracy skills. For example, they weigh and measure looking at numbers on scales and count in units, and when mixing icing for decoration, they talk about how they can solve the problem of icing that is too runny or too hard. Children's communication skills are very well supported. For example, younger children are taught how to sound the different letters of the alphabet, and others are included in extended conversations about things they are interested in, such as their friends, families and what they like doing best. Children's interest in their wider environment is well supported through the

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and outcomes for children

opportunities provided to go out into their local community, and through their outings to parks, farms, adventure play areas and local children centres where they also benefit from the opportunity to mix and make new friends, and use different resources and equipment. 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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