Childminder, Out-of school day care in Essex

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY368481 Inspection date 02/11/2011 Inspector Patricia Champion

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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 2008. She lives with her husband and child aged 13 years. They live in a house in a residential area in Basildon, Essex. All areas of the ground and first floors of the childminder's house are registered for childminding. Access is via one small step into the front door. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The family has no pets.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of three children at any one time and is currently minding one child in the early years age group. The childminder also offers care to children aged over five years to 11 years. The provision is registered by Ofsted on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. 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 satisfactory.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children are happy and content and have access to suitable activities that enable them to make steady progress in their learning. The needs of all children are routinely met as there are helpful and effective relationships with parents and other early years professionals. The childminder implements policies and procedures which effectively safeguard children and suitably promote inclusion. The required paperwork is in place and is reasonably well-maintained. The childminder is beginning to use self-evaluation to promote continuous developments.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop the two-way flow of information with parents by ensuring that they sign all the relevant consent agreements  extend self-evaluation to include specific areas for further development to widen the scope for improvements  expand the programme for children's personal, social and emotional development by giving them more opportunities to interact with others so that they can develop positive ideas about themselves and others  review the assessment system to include more sensitive observations and track children's progress to ensure that there are no gaps in learning. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

The childminder carefully considers the welfare and safety of the children and her procedures support her caring and inclusive practice. She ensures that children are closely supervised at all times. The childminder is well aware of her responsibilities to safeguard children's welfare and knows the reporting procedures to follow if she has concerns about their well-being. Specific safeguarding training and a course regarding integrated working with other agencies to protect children has been undertaken. The members of the household that come into contact with the children have been checked and cleared as suitable. The essential documentation that promotes the welfare and safety of children is in place and is mainly well maintained. Risk assessments are completed in relation to the premises, outings to the nearby school and also trips into the town centre. The childminder keeps an accurate register and has the means to record any accidents or medication.

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the early years provision

The childminder shows an acceptable commitment to developing her practice to improve outcomes for children. She acts on advice from her development worker and attends workshops and short training courses to develop her knowledge and understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage. The recommendations from the last inspection have been addressed reasonably well. The childminder has evaluated her practice so that she is clear about the strengths of her provision. However, her evaluation does not yet include specific areas for further development to widen the scope for improvements.

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the early years provision

The childminder appropriately ensures that all children feel included and can participate in the activities. Children access a range of play materials stored in transparent boxes so that they can make some choices and select the toys and games that interest them. The childminder provides books with images that are representative of diversity. There are also some play resources available to encourage children to show respect for each others' similarities and differences.

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the early years provision

A very positive partnership with parents is established. Important notices and certificates are displayed where they can be easily viewed. The policies and procedures are shared with parents so that they are fully informed about the provision. Daily diaries regarding care routines for very young children are shared and newsletters are distributed so that parents have plenty of notice about important events. Clear contracts are signed by the parents and the childminder gathers personal information about each child to ensure that she knows the children's interests, likes and dislikes. However, there is potential for misunderstanding because not all parents have signed the necessary consent agreements. Parents are asked share their views on the childminding service through questionnaires and children send greetings cards to thank the childminder for her care and support. The childminder has links with local pre-schools to enable

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the early years provision

her to share information about children's care and learning when the need arises. She also liaises with the local school and has taken part in the Flying Start programme to help settle children into full-time education. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

Children feel comfortable and secure. The childminder readily offers cuddles and reassurance so that they develop a sense of belonging. She spends time looking at books and talking to children to develop their language skills. Children are starting to speak clearly and point to items on picture cards and say the name. They enjoy looking out of the window and are particularly fascinated by vehicles, such as the buses and ambulances, they see and hear on the road outside. The childminder provides puzzles and games to encourage problem solving, counting and number recognition. Outdoor play in the garden and daily walks to and from school help develop the children's knowledge and understanding of the world. Although young children have the company of older children before and after school, they have limited opportunities to interact with groups of children of a similar age so that they can develop further their social skills and gain positive ideas about themselves

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and outcomes for children

Children are making steady progress towards the early learning goals. Their individual interests and needs are known to the childminder and she ensures that she uses this information so that her practice is inclusive. The childminder values what parents share about the way their children behave and learn at home. Each child has a development record where the childminder has started keeping photographs of their achievements and is beginning to identify their next steps in learning. However, children may not be achieving as much as they can as the childminder has not yet developed a systematic method of using her observations to track progress to ensure that there are no gaps in learning.

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and outcomes for children

Children develop a sense of how to stay safe through practising evacuation procedures or learning about road safety. They behave generally well and are keen to help the childminder tidy away their toys. The childminder has house rules so that children learn right from wrong. For example, young children start to understand that they should not climb on the furniture. Important hygiene routines are followed and healthy lifestyles are promoted. Children enjoy eating their nutritious snacks, and drinks are freely available so that they do not become thirsty. They are learning about the food that is good for them and enjoy pointing out the different fruit they recognise when they go shopping with the childminder. The childminder respects children's individual routines and recognises when young children feel tired and makes sure that they can sleep undisturbed and in comfort. 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 3 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 3

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 3 The extent to which children feel safe 2 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 3 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 3 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 3

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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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