Childminder in South TynesideOfsted inspection, 3 Jul 2013

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 03/07/2013 28/02/2012

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early years provision

This inspection: 3 Previous inspection: Met How well the early years provision meets the needs of the range of children who attend The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children 3 The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision 3

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This provision is satisfactory

 Children take part in a satisfactory range of indoor and outdoor activities and experiences that are suitable for their age and stage of development. They make steady progress in their learning overall.  Children are happy and settled. They confidently follow familiar routines and the childminder provides lots of praise and encouragement to promote their good behaviour.  The home is a safe, clean and stimulating learning environment that meets children's individual needs.  The childminder has good relationships with parents and they are kept well informed. This helps ensure she knows children well and effectively meets their individual needs.

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It is not yet good because

 The childminder has not sought written permission for all medications that parents ask to be administered to their children, to make sure all the appropriate details are understood prior to administration. This may compromise children's safety.  The childminder is yet to make sure that children benefit from full continuity in their learning and development through a partnership working approach. This is because there is room to develop the information shared with other providers.

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Information about this inspection

Inspections of registered early years provision are:  scheduled at least once in every inspection cycle – the current cycle ends on 31 July

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Information about this inspection

 scheduled more frequently where Ofsted identifies a need to do so, for example where provision was previously judged inadequate  brought forward in the inspection cycle where Ofsted has received information that suggests the provision may not be meeting the legal requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage or where assessment of the provision identifies a need for early inspection  prioritised where we have received information that the provision is not meeting the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage and which suggests children may not be safe  scheduled at the completion of an investigation into failure to comply with the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Information about this inspection

The provision is also registered on the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register. This report includes a judgment about compliance with the requirements of that register.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke with the childminder at appropriate times throughout the inspection.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities and how the home is used for the care of the children.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the childminder.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector looked at children's development records and a selection of records, policies and procedures.

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Information about the setting

The childminder was registered in 2007 on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She lives with her two children aged seven and 13 years in a terraced house in South Shields. The whole of the ground floor, the bathroom and the back bedroom on the first floor are used for childminding. The family has a dog.

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Information about the setting

The childminder attends a toddler group and visits the library, shops and various parks on a regular basis. She collects children from the local schools and pre-schools.

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Information about the setting

There are currently two children on roll, of whom one is in the early years age group and attends for a variety of sessions. The childminder operates all year round from 7am to 7pm, all week, except bank holidays and family holidays. She is a member of the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years.

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must:

 ensure that written permission is obtained for any short-term prescribed medicine that is provided by parents to be administered to a child, in order to promote their safety

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must:

 develop partnership working with other providers to obtain a fuller picture of children's next steps, so that continuity in their learning and development is established.

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who attend

Children are making suitable progress in their learning and development. They are developing a sound range of skills, overall, to prepare them for their future learning as they benefit from a range of activities each week. These include time to explore freely, as well as offering some adult-led activities linked to children's interests. The childminder completes a written assessment of what children can do when they start and links it to the areas of learning. This helps her to plan appropriate next steps from the beginning. She records photographs and observations of children's activities in a development record that shows the progress that children make. Periodically she writes a summary of what they can do, which feeds into future planning to ensure that children's individual needs are being met.

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who attend

The childminder is attentive to the needs of children. She interacts warmly with them by sitting with them so that she is at eye level, participating in their chosen activities, praising them and offering encouragement as they try new things. Children develop an awareness of the world around them through practical activities. They are involved in observing how sunflower and strawberry plants are growing from seed and develop an understanding that they need water to grow. They show that they understand the language of size, commenting that the sunflower plant is growing higher. The childminder talks to children about what they have been doing and helps them to reflect on things they have done in the past. She asks open-ended questions that encourage children to think about their responses. For example, children are encouraged to recall where they have been on holiday and where they stayed.

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who attend

Children's interest in books is stimulated by the childminder as they visit the local library, where children make their own choices about the books to bring home. The childminder provides fact and fiction books to gain children's interest. She uses reading schemes in interesting ways for children. For example, she accesses a programme on the computer, which shows children how simple words can be segmented into sounds and blended together to make words. She also uses these techniques in every day play, taking the opportunity to ask children what certain words begin with, such as Queen. A wide variety of craft materials are provided by the childminder that encourages children to join things together. Children spend concentrated effort due to these stimulating resources over a period of time, showing their excitement as they use the different materials and glitter.

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who attend

The childminder works closely with parents on their children's educational needs and shares the record of their child's learning and development with them. She keeps them updated daily, through verbal discussions, text messages and through sending photographs of children's activities. This ensures parents are fully involved in what their children have been doing and can continue their children's learning at home. As a result children are beginning to obtain the skills, attitudes and dispositions they need to be ready for their next stage of learning.

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The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children

The childminder has effective procedures to help new children settle and adjust to being cared for in her home. She arranges times when they can meet either in the local environment or in her home before they start, so that they can get to know her and she can get to know them. Parents also complete an 'all about me' sheet, which helps the childminder to understand and meet children's needs and supports transitions well. The childminder provides a welcoming environment with a stimulating selection of resources. These are set out in the front room, which enables children to make their own choices. As a result they become independent in selecting what they would like to do. The childminder has a calm and consistent manner with the children. She has effective methods for managing any unwanted behaviour and children respond really well to her guidelines. The childminder gives children lots of positive praise when they are doing well, which

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The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children

recognises their success and helps them to feel confident. This helps children feel secure and grow in confidence so they are well prepared for transitions to nursery and school. Children learn about how to keep themselves safe. For example, the childminder talks to them in a gentle manner, giving advice about how to use the scissors safely, which helps children to understand ways to avoid harming or hurting others.

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The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children

Children enjoy healthy and nutritious snacks as the childminder introduces the concept of healthy eating from an early age. She provides home cooked meals for them and checks regularly if they need a drink. Activities, such as planting and growing, help children to understand where some foods come from, such as strawberries. The childminder helps children to manage their own personal self-care needs. This results in children that are confident to identify when they need to use the bathroom and to do so independently. Children access physical activity on a daily basis. This results in children experimenting with different ways of moving. For example, they use the back garden and go on the swing and slide. They visit various parks in the local area where children describe how they go high on the swing.

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The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children

Some children attend other early years provision, such as school nursery. However, the childminder has not developed partnerships with these settings so that learning and development can be shared between the two. This results in the childminder not having a full picture of children's learning so that she can plan and offer continuity in their development. This means a requirement is not met.

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provision

The childminder has a satisfactory knowledge of how to provide a suitable environment in line with the welfare, safeguarding and learning and development requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Most of the required records, policies and procedures are in place. She seeks written consent from parents when their children first start for her to administer long term medication, such as when children develop a temperature while in her care. However, she has not obtained written consent to give a short course of prescribed medication when parents have verbally requested that she do so. This means she cannot ensure that she has all the correct details for giving the medication and may compromise children's safety. This means a requirement is not met.

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provision

Children are appropriately safeguarded as the childminder has a satisfactory understanding of the procedures to follow should she have a concern about their welfare. She recognises that children might be at risk of harm and knows how to liaise with appropriate agencies should she have a child protection concern. Written risk assessments are completed for the home, outdoors and any outings children take part in. These successfully identify dangers and the appropriate steps to take to eliminate risk and keep children safe and secure. The childminder understands, delivers and monitors the learning and development requirements, which help children to make satisfactory progress. Self- evaluation is becoming established due to the childminder reviewing her strengths and identifying areas that she would like to improve. For example, she has completed a level 2 qualification in childcare and now plans to study for a level 3 qualification.

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provision

The childminder understands the importance of working in partnership with parents and external agencies involved in children's care and learning. She has experience of working with children with more specific needs and knows to liaise with parents and other professionals to ensure children receive appropriate interventions and support. Parents are encouraged to share what they know about their children, which results in activities and resources based on children's current interests.

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The Childcare Register

The requirements for the compulsory part of the Childcare Register are

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actions)

The requirements for the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are

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To meet the requirements of the Childcare Register the provider must:

 keep and implement a written statement of procedures to be followed for the protection of children, intended to safeguard the children being cared for from abuse or neglect (compulsory part of the Childcare Register)  keep and implement a written statement of procedures to be followed for the protection of children, intended to safeguard the children being cared for from abuse or neglect (voluntary part of the Childcare Register).

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Grade Judgement Description

Grade 1 Outstanding Outstanding provision is highly effective in meeting the needs of all children exceptionally well. This ensures that children are very well prepared for the next stage of their learning. Grade 2 Good Good provision is effective in delivering provision that meets the needs of all children well. This ensures children are ready for the next stage of their learning. Grade 3 Satisfactory Satisfactory provision is performing less well than expectations in one or more of the key areas. It requires improvement in order to be good. Grade 4 Inadequate Provision that is inadequate requires significant improvement and/or enforcement action. The provision is failing to give children an acceptable standard of early years education and/or is not meeting the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. It will be inspected again within 12 months of the date of this inspection.

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Grade Judgement Description

Met The provision has no children on roll. The inspection judgement is that the provider continues to meet the requirements for registration. Not met The provision has no children on roll. The inspection judgement is that the provider does not meet the requirements for registration.

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Inspection

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children’s learning, development and care, known as the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY362809 Local authority South Tyneside Inspection number 817706 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 5 Number of children on roll 2

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Telephone number

set out in the guidance ‘Complaints procedure: raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk.

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Type of provision

For the purposes of this inspection the following definitions apply:

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Type of provision

Full-time provision is that which operates for more than three hours. These are usually known as nurseries, nursery schools and pre-schools and must deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage. They are registered on the Early Years Register and pay the higher fee for registration.

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Type of provision

Sessional provision operates for more than two hours but does not exceed three hours in any one day. These are usually known as pre-schools, kindergartens or nursery schools and must deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage. They are registered on the Early Years Register and pay the lower fee for registration.

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Type of provision

Childminders care for one or more children where individual children attend for a period of more than two hours in any one day. They operate from domestic premises, which are usually the childminder’s own home. They are registered on the Early Years Register and must deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Type of provision

Out of school provision may be sessional or full-time provision and is delivered before or after school and/or in the summer holidays. They are registered on the Early Years Register and must deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage. Where children receive their Early Years Foundation Stage in school these providers do not have to deliver the learning and development requirements in full but should complement the experiences children receive in school. 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,

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Type of provision

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, 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. To receive regular email alerts about new publications, including survey reports and school inspection reports, please visit our website and go to ‘Subscribe’.

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Type of provision

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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