Childminder in Bolton

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 315498 Inspection date 18/12/2008 Inspector Angela Rowley

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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 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.

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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 1998. She lives with her husband and two sons aged 12 and 21 years in the Harwood area of Bolton. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding which includes a lounge, playroom, conservatory, and kitchen. Bathroom facilities are located on the first floor and are accessible via the stairs. There is access to an enclosed rear garden for outdoor play and children attend some local activities and groups with the childminder. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association (NCMA) and has achieved their Quality First accreditation. She holds an NVQ level 3 in Childcare, Learning and Development.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children at any one time, of whom three may be in the early years age range. She is available to provide care each weekday, on a full-time basis. There are currently three children on roll all of whom are within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). The setting is registered on the Early Years Register and also the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The childminder provides effectively for children in the EYFS with some excellent provision for promoting children's health and safety. Children are loved and valued as individuals and the childminder promotes children's awareness of diversity well. They make good continual progress in their learning because of the rich and varied experiences they receive, planned in response to some developing evaluation of what they can do. The childminder strives to provide a high quality service by continually training, completing a quality assurance programme and by beginning to formalise her self-evaluation process.

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further?

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

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further?

 refine the evaluation of observations of what children can do so that they are more accurately matched to the Early Learning Goals to better focus planning for children's learning  review written policies, such as risk assessments to ensure that they reflect the specific details of the EYFS.

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provision

A wide range of well organised records, policies and procedures are used very effectively to promote positive outcomes for children in both their care and their learning. In practice children are excellently safeguarded and the childminder has a good awareness of the requirements, although a small number of policy This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 documents, such as that relating to the premises risk assessment, have not been reviewed and amended to reflect some of the specific details in the EYFS framework. All outings and associated hazards are comprehensively documented and assessed. She has a thorough understanding of the issues around child protection and of her role in safeguarding children's welfare.

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provision

The childminder strives to continually develop her provision. She attends an extensive range of short courses, is completing a level three qualification in childcare, learning and development and keeps herself well informed by making links with other providers. Children benefit from the improvements she makes following training, for example, after learning about the benefits of sensory provision children have increased opportunities to explore and investigate through the provision of treasure baskets. Through discussions with parents she is aware that planning for children's learning is working well, although she has rightly assessed that she would benefit from continuing training to refine her understanding of making links to the Early Learning Goals.

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provision

An inclusive and welcoming service is provided for all children. Effective partnerships with parents ensure that the childminder has a very good awareness of each child's background and she is mindful of this when planning activities and routines. Clear communication ensures that information regarding children's unique needs and their developmental progress is routinely shared and therefore they receive excellent continuity of care. Open dialogue with parents also ensures that they are involved in children's learning and development, for example, the childminder and parents share observations of what children can do and what current interests are which enables the childminder to extend this through planning and providing related resources. Developing partnerships with other settings ensures that the childminder is aware of other experiences provided for children so that she can effectively plan for and provide activities which

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder has a secure knowledge of the EYFS learning and development requirements and uses the guidance in practice. Every child's progress is carefully monitored and some meticulous recording enables the childminder to very effectively show what some children can do, although on occasion the evaluation of what the childminder has observed is not accurately linked to the relevant Early Learning Goal, which hinders the otherwise good planning for the assessment of children's next steps. Comprehensive activity planning across the areas of learning results in children being provided with an extensive range of planned and purposeful play and exploration. For example, children when complete 'all about me' activities, they use a mirror to look at the colour of their eyes and hair and then find matching materials to complete a face collage. They make hand and foot prints with paint and then compare the big and small ones .They go on to measure

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

each other using a height chart. The childminder's secure knowledge of how children learn provides key opportunities during natural routines. Children's communication is well developed as she asks frequent questions which make them think and remember. As a result children are inquisitive and ask questions to find This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 out more, this gives them a very good foundation for future learning. Children enjoy experiences that are based on their individual interests and sometimes follow on from discussions with their parents. For example, play hand bags and contents were provided for a child who's parent noticed that her child enjoyed taking things in and out of her own bag, but that it was not safe to do so.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The very clean, well maintained and stimulating learning environment is effective in supporting independence. Children's strong sense of belonging in the childminder's home, their sense of security and well-being enables them to make and follow through their own decisions about their needs and play, and begin to take responsibility for themselves. For example, when children arrive home from nursery, they access their bag which is hung on their own peg, take out their clothes and change from their uniform into their play clothes. Displays of children's artwork help children feel valued along with posters and displays of different cultural celebrations which also help to promote children's awareness of the wider world. Children show great care and concern for each other because the childminder is attentive, loving and affectionate with them. They behave impeccably because of her positive approach and because she is very skilful at

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

dividing her attention and differentiating to ensure each child's needs are continually met.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

A healthy and safe lifestyle is promoted excellently. Children benefit from energetic play on the range of large apparatus in the garden and enjoy dance in the house. Healthy menu planning is comprehensive and as a result children enjoy the daily vegetables they eat with their meals. They know what foods are good for them and what is not. Hygiene procedures are rigorous and consequently even the youngest children adopt good hygiene practices as a natural part of their routines and know that they wash the germs off their hands before eating lunch. An excellent range of activities and experiences are provided to help raise children's awareness of staying safe. For example, children practise fire drills in the childminder's home and have visited the local fire station and listened to the fire- fighter and his mascot who reinforce fire safety messages. Additionally, children know to 'stop, look, listen and think' as they cross roads with the childminder when

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

out in the community. They discuss road safety routinely and follow this up with activities. 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? 2 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? 2

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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? 2 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: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The registered provider does not meet the requirements of the compulsory and or voluntary part/s of the Childcare Register.

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 ensure the complaints procedure identifies the requirement to inform the parent who made the complaint of the outcome within 20 days of the date the complaint being made (CR7) 08/01/2009

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 ensure the complaints procedure identifies the requirement to inform the parent who made the complaint of the outcome within 20 days of the date the complaint being made (CR7) 08/01/2009 This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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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.

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Annex C: complaint/s made to Ofsted

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.

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Detail of the complaint/s

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

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Detail of the complaint/s

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.

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