Childminder in Buckinghamshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY443100 Inspection date 30/08/2012 Inspector Aileen Finan

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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 registered in 2012. She lives with her husband and three children, who are aged 18 months, five and 10 years old. The family live in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. Children use the whole of the ground floor, with sleeping facilities for young children on the first floor. There is an enclosed and secure area of the garden for outside play. The childminder makes use of local facilities, such as parks, the library and toddler groups.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She is registered to provide care for a maximum of four children under eight years at any one time, of which no more than two may be in the early years age group. Currently there is one child on roll within the early years age group.

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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 care. Robust policies, procedures and risk assessments help to keep children safe and protect their well- being. The childminder has a good knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage framework and has excellent systems in place to observe children's play and plan for their future progress. The highly effective use of resources and activities ensures that, overall, children's needs are met well across all aspects of learning. Positive relationships with parents and partners who share care of the children support children's development further. The childminder has evaluated her practice well and demonstrates a strong capacity for her continuous improvement.

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further?

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

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further?

 extend the opportunities for children to explore and play and be curious about why things happen in their wider world  build upon the systems already in place to support children's transitions further and complement children's learning with other agencies and those sharing care of children.

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the early years provision

The childminder has clear policies and procedures which support children's welfare and meet the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Parents This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 understand these policies. All reasonable steps are taken to ensure that children are kept safe in the home or when out and about through the robust risk assessments which the childminder has conducted. Since registration, the childminder has also further assessed her garden as a priority and renovated it to provide areas for children to play and learn safely. She clearly understands her responsibilities to identify any child at risk of harm and to liaise with the appropriate child agencies. The childminder has completed training in safeguarding, food hygiene and first aid. Arrangements for documenting attendance, accidents, incidents and medication are appropriately in place and

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the early years provision

maintained confidentially. Children's records are clearly completed. The childminder has a warm and caring manner. She is highly motivated and enthusiastic in her approach and has set herself clear targets for her future practice. These targets include further training. The childminder has effectively evaluated her provision, taking the views of children and their parents into account. As a consequence she can easily identity her strengths and plan her priorities for her future improvement and in enhancing the outcomes for children. She demonstrates a strong capacity for her continuous improvement. Partnerships with parents are highly positive. Parents understand their children's progress. The childminder provides them with up-to-date and timely information through daily feedback, daily diaries, weekly progress emails and sharing children's development records. The childminder is aware of the importance of working in

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the early years provision

partnership with others to support children's continuity of care. She has already been proactive in establishing systems to support children's transitions into nursery and in reinforcing her knowledge of how children learn at these settings to secure their achievements. Although these partnerships are still in early stages, the systems to date have been successful. The childminder actively promotes equality and diversity. She has a good understanding of children's backgrounds, their likes/dislikes, interests and routines. Children are happy and settled because they feel valued. Children's resources and toys are of a very high quality. All resources meet children's needs extremely well across all areas of learning and are appropriate to their age and stage of development. The childminder carefully considers the activities she plans and the accessibility of free-flow play. She successfully deploys her own time and has an

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the early years provision

extremely good awareness of providing a stimulating play area with a well managed mix of child-led and adult-initiated play. Children clearly thrive as a result of their environment.

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and outcomes for children

Children are happy and settled. They have fun and are making very good progress in their learning. Children have warm relationships with the childminder, who cares for them and her family. The childminder is very successful at enhancing children's chosen play. She interacts appropriately in children's role play and story time is a highly positive experience. Children thrill at reading the story 'ten in a bed' and hunt out chosen soft toys, such as a crocodile, a mouse and teddy, to use as props for their story. They thoroughly enjoy, reinvent and understand the story. The childminder plans excellent opportunities for children to choose action songs and This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 be confident to take part. These support their self-esteem, words and sounds, numbers and colours. Language is further enhanced as the childminder discusses that one book they are reading is a rhyming book. Children demonstrate the skill of

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and outcomes for children

recognising these rhyming words. Children are extremely capable at working independently and using their own initiative, which again enhances the important skills they will use and develop in the future. In all, children are making significant gains in their learning in relation to their starting points. They are active learners who are interested in a broad range of play activities. Children take part in outings away from the home, which include visits to the park, to the library, a local children centre and toddler group, and special outings to places in the nearby community. The childminder successfully takes children's learning to the outdoors as well. The childminder has a purpose-built area, laid to grass and decking, which provides an extension to the indoor learning environment. All areas of learning are successfully planned for and promoted. However, opportunities for children to explore more curiously using the outdoor

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and outcomes for children

environment are, as yet, less well developed, although this does not impact negatively on the extremely good planning in place to suit children's interests. The childminder has a thorough understanding of children's development and the learning requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage framework. She has compiled a delightful photo album which children enjoy looking at and recalling their play experiences. Children have a development book to track their progress. High quality observations linked to areas of learning and demonstrating children's achievements inform the childminder of future planning. The childminder effectively follows these through with next steps to enable an even more valuable insight into children's progress. Children are safe and secure and clearly demonstrate a sense of belonging. They understand the routines of the day. Children are supervised well at all times. They are confident and happy to decide on and choose their own toys. Children's

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and outcomes for children

behaviour is very good. Children independently carry out their responsibilities, such as laying the table for lunch. The childminder has established very good routines in partnership with parents which support children's welfare. Children learn about their own hygiene routines. They are confident in knowing when to wash their hands and explain whose towel is whose. Children enjoy home-cooked meals and snacks. They are happy to try new tastes and understand that some of the foods they eat come from the allotment which the childminder's father owns. Children receive daily opportunities for fresh air and exercise; and therefore learn the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. 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 1 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 1 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 1

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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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