Inspection report for early years provision
Unique reference number	202430
Inspection date	05/02/2009
Inspector	Justine Leong
Type of setting	Childminder

 

 

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.

 

The report includes information on any complaints about the childcare provision which Ofsted has received since the last inspection or registration whichever is the later, which require Ofsted or the provider to take action in Annex C.

 

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).

 

 

Children only attend this setting before and/or after the school day and/or during the school holidays. The judgements in this report reflect the quality of early years provision offered to children during those periods.   

 

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.   

 

Description of the     childminding 

 

The childminder was registered in 1999. She lives with her partner and one child aged ten in Alresford, Essex. A purpose built building in the garden of the childminder's home is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play.

The childminder is registered to care for three children at any one time and is currently minding  eight children on a part-time basis and one child on a full-time basis. The childminder offer places for children on the Early Years Foundation Stage Register and the Childcare Register.

 

Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

 

Overall, the quality of the provision is outstanding. Children are expertly cared for in a calm and productive environment and the childminder uses her extensive knowledge of each child to provide an individual approach. The childminder has developed highly effective relationships with parents and carers, ensuring continuity of care. Children's achievements and progress are regularly monitored and children make excellent progress in their learning. The childminder demonstrates a very positive attitude towards continuous improvement, further enhancing outcomes for children.

 

  

  

 

What steps need to be taken to improve provision further?

 

To further improve the high quality early years provision the registered person should consider:     develop links with other providers to ensure continuity of care  develop self-evaluation to consistently identify and record areas for improvement.

  

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

The leadership and management of the early years provision

 

The childminder has undertaken an extensive range of training to support and underpin her outstanding practice. All required policies and procedures are in place and these are implemented effectively and shared with parents. The childminder has obtained written parental permissions, ensuring children are consistently cared for in line with their parents' wishes. Frequent questionnaires provide valuable opportunities for parents to share their views and feedback is used effectively to improve practice. Parents are highly complimentary about the care and education their children receive.

The childminder demonstrates a secure understanding of her role in protecting children's welfare and has undertaken safeguarding training. A clear safeguarding policy is in place and the childminder is confident of the correct procedure to be followed if she has concerns about a child in her care, according to the Local Safeguarding Children Board.

Risk assessments have been completed and the childminder actively teaches children how to keep themselves safe. For instance, children practise road safety when outside the home and remind each other to sit when using scissors to avoid accidents. Children benefit significantly as the childminder constantly strives for outstanding practice and is beginning to use self-evaluation effectively to identify potential areas for improvement.

 

The quality and standards of the early years provision

 

Children are extremely well cared for in a warm, safe and nurturing environment. They have ample space to play, both inside and in the garden, under the vigilant childminder's constant supervision. Children are developing a secure understanding of appropriate hygiene procedures as they access suitable hand washing facilities and the childminder explains that thorough washing will help to stop germs from spreading. Children benefit from superb opportunities to learn about healthy eating as they participate in exciting food tasting sessions and grow a variety of fruit and vegetables to share at snack time. They have constant access to drinks of water or juice, helping to ensure they do not become dehydrated.

Children rest and sleep according to their own routines, in the warm and comfortable book corner. They have excellent opportunities for physical activity as they access the safe and secure garden on a daily basis. Children develop good balance, coordination and climbing skills as they play with a very broad range of outside toys such as balls, bats, bicycles, a slide and climbing equipment. The childminder uses the outside area very effectively as a learning environment and plans treasure hunts, bug hunts and nature walks. Children also relish the opportunity to explore mud and splash in puddles on rainy days.

The childminder uses her extensive knowledge and understanding of how children learn to plan a superb range of learning opportunities. Children develop excellent communication skills as they play with role-play resources, dressing-up clothes and small world toys. They enjoy sitting with the childminder to share fiction and non-fiction books, and also enjoy regular singing sessions. The childminder encourages children to use information and communication technology to support their learning and children have independent access to a computer and programmable toys. Children are actively encouraged to investigate their environment and the childminder plans exciting activities to increase their understanding of the world around them. For instance, children investigate a range of materials using a microscope and discuss what they observe, they create miniature garden from resources they have gathered and they use real tools to hammer nails and cut wood. Activities are expertly adapted to individual children's stages of development through effective questioning and levels of support and the childminder completes regular assessment to ensure all children make excellent progress towards the early learning goals.

Children are exceptionally secure in the childminder's care and chat happily with her as they play. A very strong sense of belonging is fostered as, for example, the childminder creates innovative play resources using photographs of the children. This is further enhanced as the childminder displays some examples of the children's work around the setting. Children have opportunities to learn about different cultures and beliefs as the participate in planned activities and access a range of toys and resources that are representative of diversity. The childminder is calm, consistent and attentive, acting as a positive role model for behaviour and ensuring children understand that their ideas and responses are highly valued.  

 

Annex A: record of inspection judgements

 

The key inspection judgements and what they mean   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

 

Overall effectiveness

 

How effective is the provision in meeting the needs of children in the Early Years Foundation Stage?	1
How well does the provision promote inclusive practice?	2
The capacity of the provision to maintain continuous improvement.	1

 

Leadership and management

 

How effectively is provision in the Early Years Foundation Stage led and managed?	1
How effective is the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement?	2
How well does the setting work in partnership with parents and others?	1
How well are children safeguarded?	2

 

Quality and standards

 

How effectively are children in the Early Years Foundation Stage helped to learn and develop?	1
How effectively is the welfare of children in the Early Years Foundation Stage promoted?	1
How well are children helped to stay safe?	1
How well are children helped to be healthy?	1
How well are children helped to enjoy and achieve?	1
How well are children helped to make a positive contribution?	1
How well are children helped develop skills that will contribute to their future economic well-being?	1

 

Any complaints about the inspection or report should be made following the procedures set out in the guidance available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

  Annex B: the Childcare Register

 

The provider confirms that the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register are:

Met

 

 

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are:

Met

 

 

 

Annex C: complaint/s made to Ofsted

 

This section of the report includes details of any complaint/s made to Ofsted when:

·         we took action for the provider to meet the requirements of the Early Years Register; or

·         we asked the provider to take action in order to meet the requirements of the Early Years Register; or

·         the provider had already taken any necessary action to meet the requirements of the Early Years Register.

 

We will not report on any complaint where the provider met the requirements of the Early Years Register or did not require any action by Ofsted or the registered provider.

 

Detail of the complaint/s

 

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted since the last inspection.

 

The provider is required to keep a record of complaints made by parents, which they can see on request. The complaints record may contain complaints other than those made to Ofsted.