Childminder in Lancashire

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 308273 Inspection date 23/07/2009 Inspector Janet, Elizabeth Singleton

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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

The childminder was registered in 1992. She lives with her husband and three children in the town of Clayton-Le-Moors. There is a secure garden offering opportunities for outdoor play. The majority of the home is used for childminding, however access to the first floor is limited to the older children and for sleep time. The family has two cats and three guinea pigs.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children under eight, of whom no more than three can be in the early year age range. She is currently minding four in this age group. She also offers care to children aged over five years to eleven years. This provision is registered 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 is a member of Childminder Network linked to the Fairfield Children's Centre and attends toddler groups within the area.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is outstanding. The childminder's knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is excellent and highly effective at enabling her to plan to meet children's welfare, learning and development needs with success. The provision of a very safe, secure and stimulating environment means that children make outstanding progress and can play without restriction. The childminders partnership with parents and other agencies in creating a superb two-way flow of information in order to meet the children's individual needs is outstanding. She has exemplary systems for monitoring the provision which she uses to plan for improvement, resulting in a service that is responsive to the needs of all its users.

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further?

To further improve the high quality early years provision the registered person should consider:

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further?

 continue to develop the observation and assessment procedure for children to ensure learning priorities are continually identified.

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provision

The childminders home is effectively organised to allow children to have superb opportunities to make choices and to develop their decision making skills. The excellent balance of adult and child-led activities and the flexible routine allows for them to take part in a variety of activities. For example, they make their own play dough and then cut, roll and express their imagination through the malleable material. The excellent documentation required by the EYFS is used to support and This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 maintain the safety of the children, allowing for an efficient management of the provision.

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provision

The childminder is highly effective in the continual evaluation and assessment of her own professional development and the service she provides for the children. She has an extremely successful process in place to assist in the monitoring and assessing of the children's progress. Her ability to use the information she has, regarding the children, allows for her to track their progress towards the early learning goals and to identifying this on future planning. The recommendations from the last inspection have been attended to and training undertaken to promote the overall welfare, learning and development of the children.

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provision

The childminder uses a communication sheet to create links with other agencies involved in the care of the children. This ensures that their individual needs are being identified in order to plan successfully for their learning and development. The supportive and excellent partnership with parents and the sharing of information about their child's progress provides an individual service to identify and meet the children's needs.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder supports all children in their learning and development by her exceptionally high standard for monitoring their progress towards the early learning goals. The childminder is skilled at asking open-ended questions to make children think in a fun and non-restrictive manner. All areas of learning are exceptionally promoted throughout the daily activities, as they talk about colours at snack-time, deciding what colour melon they want, yellow or red. Children learn through play in a very positive manner, they constantly chatter about what is taking place and how things work as they post the shapes in the post box. They enjoy a delightful relationship in which their needs are supported and planned for. There is a fantastic balance of adult-led and child-initiated activities as the childminder is skilled in guiding the children in their play without being directive, as she builds their self-esteem and confidence. The support is exceptional for these

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The observation and assessment of children is highly effective as the childminder uses this information to inform future planning, as a result there is planned, purposeful play for children resulting in children being active learners. However, the identification of the child's next step is not always clear as to how this is prioritised for children in terms of the actual learning priority rather than a learning area. Children are encouraged to work together and develop their social skills as they mix with other children at the toddle and childminder groups. Their behaviour is very good and is encouraged as the childminder uses lots of appropriate praise and some lovely interaction to engage and support them in their play. All children are included as the childminder adapts the play, for example, using equipment that allows for children to participate in the making of the play dough, these being a small jug and small wooden spoons.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder is committed to promoting excellent outcomes for children and This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 has planning in place to assist this. Children learn about keeping safe and engage in positive health practices, for example, washing hands, cleaning teeth and making healthy choices regarding food. They enjoy and achieve as they delight in taking part in all activities as they show respect for each other and the resources as they play. The childminder's outstanding approach to the children in her care is exemplary and as a result, children make significant progress towards the early learning goals in relation to their starting points and capabilities. 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? 1 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? 1

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Years Foundation Stage promoted?

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? 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: 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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