Childminder in Trafford

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 318580 Inspection date 28/01/2009 Inspector Mary Kilroy

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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 2001. She lives with her husband and four children aged under 16 in Urmston, Trafford, Greater Manchester. The whole of the ground floor, including the downstairs toilet, is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to provide care for a maximum of four children at any one time and there are currently 11 children aged from one year to 10 years on roll, who attend for a variety of sessions. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder has established links with other early years settings which minded children attend and that also provide the Early Years Foundation Stage framework. She walks to a local school to take and collect children and attends carer and toddler groups and local amenities, such as the library, on a regular basis.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association and the childminding network and has a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) level 3 qualification in childcare.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The childminder has developed effective systems to help her monitor and evaluate the service she provides and identify key strengths and an area for development. She promotes children’s welfare and learning in an inspiring and challenging way that provides a safe and inclusive environment and gives children autonomy in their play and excellent opportunities and strategies for making decisions, experimenting, exploring and taking responsibility in safe surroundings. Exemplary systems are in place in relation to planning and assessment. The childminder is highly skilled in meeting the individual needs of boys and girls and adapting and extending some activities, to sustain their different interests and ways of learning. There are excellent working relationships with parents and they are consulted, involved and kept well informed of their children’s care and learning. Children thrive in the highly inclusive surroundings and parents praise the relaxed family

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

atmosphere and the childminder's natural affinity for children. They feel excellently supported and at ease and are confident about the high quality of the provision that the children enjoy.

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further?

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

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further?

 continuing to use good self evaluation effectively to monitor all aspects of provision and as a tool for continuing improvement. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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provision

The childminder’s home is well organised, giving children exceptional opportunities to become independent and enjoy vibrant learning and good first hand experiences, superbly supported by the childminder. All documentation is in place and there are written policies and procedures that positively promote children’s health, safety, achievement, enjoyment and ability to make a positive contribution. The childminder constantly evaluates and improves her setting, making changes where she considers it will have most impact on the children.

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provision

The childminder is committed and enthusiastic and strives to improve the service she provides. Parents describe the environment as a caring extension of home and praise the consistent, exemplary care and high expectations and standards of the childminder. Sound written policies and procedures are shared with parents and help to develop exceptional working relationships with them and a strong shared understanding from an early stage. Parents are provided with a wealth of information about their children’s care, learning and development. Older children enjoy helping younger children without prompting as they share the computer and help them to print, or remind them to stop running at dangerous places during walks to school. Parents contribute to children's learning and share comprehensive daily information on their progress.

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provision

The childminder has developed excellent resources to help children to explore and investigate. She implements an effective self-evaluation process which involves parents, to help her monitor her service. To maintain her high standards and ensure continuous improvement, the childminder will continue to develop her good self evaluation. The childminder attends training to improve her knowledge, develop her childcare practice and enable her to meet requirements. She promotes excellent outcomes for children.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder has an excellent understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage and each activity successfully links to it. She skilfully observes children enjoying play activities, using this information to plan for individual progress and next steps in learning. The childminder establishes children's starting points with parents and successfully uses and extends school themes and celebrations to provide consistency and opportunities for children to practise their skills. She has established sound working relationships with her local school and other providers of the Early Years Foundation Stage, ensuring that she complements what they are offering.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder provides a vibrant child-centred environment which challenges and inspires creativity. There is a good balance of adult-introduced and child- initiated activities and children confidently add to and extend their play. She successfully meets children's preferred learning styles, resulting in happy, eager learners. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 Children enjoy excellent first-hand experiences to help them learn about the natural and wider worlds. They grow plants of their choice, such as peas, beans and sunflowers, and learn about what living things need to grow. The childminder knows that the boys she cares for require plants that grow quickly to sustain their interest, they requested tomatoes, whilst girls prefer flowers. Children learn about what they need to remain healthy as they choose from a balanced variety of foods and self-select fresh drinking water, to increase their independence. They enjoy

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

fruit and vegetables and learn about five-a-day and strategies to remain healthy through simple rules and rhymes, such as 'Let's keep those germs away, by washing our hands before we play'. They learn about volume, quantity and time as they cook. Children have control over sizes of portions and when they choose to enjoy snacks and drinks. The childminder and young child watch as the toast browns in the toaster and young children listen to 'Hear it pop, is it done?' Children can choose to have it browned more and are learning about how to minimise the spread of infection as they identify their own utensils. They learn about shape as the toast is cut into their requested shape. Children investigate and problem solve and are learning well about the world around them. The childminder uses every opportunity to enhance children's experiences in a spontaneous and creative way, such as continuing a royal wedding theme by introducing role play, icing a wedding

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

cake and looking at wedding albums with the children. A passing funeral stimulates children's curiosity and is used to discuss separation and loss. The childminder uses rhymes and music and movement games that incorporate number and a young child counts, 'One, two, now it's 3'. Number is made fun as children enjoy singing 'Three cheeky monkeys' and enthusiastically use large movements as they 'swing' through the jungle and calculate how many monkeys are left. Children learn about technology using tape recorders, a talking clock, a mini letters computer that changes from small to large case letters, calculators and an adult computer, which has children's access only. They queue for items, such as ice cream, which they pay for themselves, thus learning about good manners, taking turns and budgeting. They learn about their bodies, developing control and coordination as they walk, skip and run. Children benefit from fresh air and

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

exercise daily as they enjoy activities in the garden and local parks and the childminder uses a variety to meet children's differing needs.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder successfully promotes children’s social, physical and economic well-being. Her home is a secure environment where children learn good strategies to remain safe and healthy. The childminder has a highly effective understanding of safeguarding children procedures, which ensures their welfare is safeguarded. She fosters good social skills to enable children to be accepted and welcomed in society. 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 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

Since the last inspection there have been no complaints made to Ofsted that required the provider or Ofsted to take any action.

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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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