Childminder in Leicester

Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated. Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 226524 Inspection date 02/12/2008 Inspector Alison Edwards

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Type of setting Childminder 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. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Description of the childminding

This childminder registered in 1992. She lives with her adult son and a friend in a two-storey terraced house near the centre of Leicester. There is level access to the ground floor. Minded children use the ground floor of the premises, with access to the first floor bathroom as needed. There is an enclosed rear courtyard for outdoor play. There are currently four children on roll, of whom three are within the early years age range. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register to care for a maximum of five children under the age of eight years at any one time.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

There are appropriate arrangements in place to meet the needs of the children who attend, so helping them to feel settled and at ease in the childminder's care. The childminder has a sound awareness of the importance of taking account of parental preferences to help ensure that children's cultures and lifestyles are respected. She has taken a number of appropriate steps to address previous weaknesses within the provision. She shows a commitment to ongoing development by evaluating her current care arrangements and by participating in relevant local training.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop further the arrangements to observe children to find out about their needs, interests and abilities, and to involve parents in this, in order to identify the next steps in children's learning  further develop planning of experiences and activities that are challenging but achievable to fully support each child's learning

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further?

To fully meet the specific requirements of the EYFS, the registered person must:

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further?

 ensure that the daily register includes details of children's hours of attendance (also applies to the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register) 09/01/2009  conduct and keep a record of a risk assessment and review it regularly (also applies to the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register) 09/01/2009 This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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provision

Suitable arrangements are generally in place to safeguard children's welfare. Most relevant records are readily accessible and contain required personal and contact details to underpin children's care, for example, in the event of illness or accident. The childminder is aware of what abuse and neglect mean, and recognises her responsibility to act in accordance with agreed national and local procedures in the event of any child protection concerns. However, daily registers are not fully effective in showing when the childminder is responsible for specific children because they do not clearly show the times when minded children are taken to, or collected from, school.

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provision

The childminder uses initial discussion and simple written agreements to help establish a shared understanding with parents of the arrangements for children's care. She has established informal arrangements with parents and teachers to share relevant information about school-aged children's experiences and activities as appropriate. She currently talks informally with parents on a daily basis about her observations of children's interests and achievements. She is developing the use of individual scrap books of photographs and observations of children's progress, but has not yet fully implemented systematic ways of sharing progress information with parents.

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provision

The childminder takes active steps to review and develop her childcare practice through self-evaluation and through attendance at relevant local training, so showing a commitment to continuing improvement.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children follow sensible hygiene practices within their daily routines, such as washing their hands before eating, so helping to maintain their health. The childminder obtains appropriate information from parents about children's individual health and dietary needs to enable her to meet these. Children are offered generally balanced meals, such as pasta, cheese sauce and broccoli, so helping to ensure they are appropriately nourished. They develop their hand-eye coordination as they build towers of plastic bricks, and enjoy active play in the fresh air as they visit local parks and gardens.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

There are sound practical arrangements to maintain children's safety. For example, the entrance to the property is kept secure and monitored by CCTV, so helping to ensure that no unauthorised adults can access the premises. The childminder ensures that children are within her sight or hearing at all times, so offering consistent levels of supervision. Play resources are in sound and clean condition and are readily accessible to children, so enabling them to make safe choices within their play. However, the childminder does not currently maintain the required written risk assessments to document potential hazards and the ways in which these are addressed.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder is aware of her responsibilities to support children's learning This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 across all developmental areas within the Early Years Foundation Stage. Children experience a varied range of opportunities indoors and outside to enable them to build their skills and knowledge across most aspects of learning. For example, children find mini-beasts, or sow and care for vegetables in her nearby garden, so beginning to learn about aspects of the natural world. They talk about shape, size and number as they build with plastic bricks. They show interest and enjoyment in familiar books and rhymes, and begin to use spoken language to express their own ideas, for example when talking on a toy mobile phone, or talking about the pretend castle which they have built. However, activities and experiences are not yet planned to best effect to ensure children make consistently good progress

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

across all areas. The childminder has a fair awareness of individual children's interests and abilities and is beginning to develop records of her observations and assessments of their progress, although these are not yet fully established.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children settle readily with the childminder, who spends time talking and playing with them, so helping them to feel valued. This helps them to build secure relationships with her and to enjoy their play. There is a fair selection of readily accessible play materials, so enabling children to make some simple choices and decisions about their activities. The childminder helps children treat other people and their surroundings with respect, for example by encouraging them to share and take turns. The childminder is careful to respect families' cultural and lifestyle preferences, for example with regard to how adults are addressed, so helping children recognise and respect diversity. Consequently, children are helped to establish a sound basis for their future social skills and learning. 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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of children in the Early Years Foundation Stage?

How well does the provision promote inclusive practice? 3 The capacity of the provision to maintain continuous improvement.

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Foundation Stage led and managed?

How effective is the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement? How well does the setting work in partnership with parents and others? How well are children safeguarded? 3

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Years Foundation Stage promoted?

How well are children helped to stay safe? 3 How well are children helped to be healthy? 3 How well are children helped to enjoy and achieve? 3 How well are children helped to make a positive contribution? How well are children helped develop skills that will contribute to their future economic well-being?

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Years Foundation Stage promoted?

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: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The registered provider does not meet the requirements of the compulsory and or voluntary part/s of the Childcare Register.

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 take action as specified in the early years section of the report (Records to be kept) 09/01/2009  take action as specified in the early years section of the report (Suitability and safety of premises and equipment) 09/01/2009

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 take action as specified in the early years section of the report (Records to be kept) 09/12/2008  take action as specified in the early years section of the report (Suitability and safety of premises and equipment) 09/01/2009

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