Barlow, Shirley

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 EY376028 Inspection date 28/11/2008 Inspector Joan, Patricia Flowers

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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 2008. She lives with her husband and two children, aged 21 months and five years old, in Leyland in Lancashire. The whole of the downstairs area of the house is available for childminding and two rooms on the first floor. The childminder walks or drives to local schools to take and collect children. The family has a cat as a pet. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. Currently there are three children on roll, who attend on different days. An out of school service is offered. Support and training is accessed from the local authority.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Inclusive practice is embedded in the overall ethos and the policies of the setting for all children and their families. Children learn about the world around them, during planned and free play opportunities and visits to local community areas. The childminder is developing her knowledge and understanding of how to implement the Early Years Foundation Stage effectively, so that children's welfare and learning needs are promoted well. A willingness to acquire further knowledge of child development is testimony to continuous improvement, supported by emerging self-evaluation. The partnerships with parents are strong, so that every child's needs are met very well. Children's safety features in the childminder's everyday practice, ensures that children are protected, as they take advantage of the range of activities and the experiences she provides for them.

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further?

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

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further?

 ensure that the risk assessments undertaken for outings are reviewed before each separate event  devise robust observation and assessment records for each child so that planning can be effective and children are helped to make as much progress as they can do towards achieving the early learning goals.

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provision

There are comprehensive policies and procedures in place, which enhances the welfare and safety of all children, but aspects of risk assessments for outings are not formally recorded. The childminder is keen to develop her child development knowledge, so she can provide good quality care and learning for all children. The childminder is beginning to use self assessment as a tool for improvement, so that outcomes for children are promoted and they are as good as they can be and children's welfare and learning requirements can be met. The knowledge gained from recent training, is being used to inform the introduction of a formal assessment tool, so that children's progress can be monitored and their next steps This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 in learning can be planned. This is not in place yet.

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provision

The partnerships with parents are effective in ensuring that children's welfare needs can be fully met. The childminder encourages new parents to share information about their child during the settling in period, so that she is fully informed about children's individual routines, likes and dislikes. A daily diary is used to record information on the child's day and this is actively shared with parents, who can also use this record to communicate relevant information. The childminder fully understands her responsibility to safeguard children. She has updated her awareness through recent training, shares her responsibilities with parents through her clearly written safeguarding policy and feels confident to implement required procedures appropriately. Children are always fully supervised in their play, both in the home and when being taken out to groups or to the park, with children being encouraged to learn about developing safe levels of

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are supported well in their play and they are encouraged to learn how to share and to play with one another harmoniously, when undertaking activities together in the home or when attending toddler groups, so enabling their growing social skills to be fostered. Children enjoy games and activities that they can access easily, from low-level storage and small indoor equipment in the home, like the role play resources. This gives children the opportunity to make choices for themselves, to become independent and to contribute, as they help to put toys away.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children have good opportunities to develop their communication skills, which are constantly reinforced by the childminder, as she talks and explains things during activities and free play. Babies are encouraged to join in, as she explains what she is doing and gives children time to prepare for routine changes, like snack time or school pick up times. Babies start to develop their problem solving skills, as they concentrate on selecting the toy they want from the selection in the box. Children's all round development is fostered well, because they have opportunities to experience a range of different learning environments. Because the childminder has placed bird feeders in strategic places in the garden, children can observe different birds, as they come to feed and they can help look up the birds in the reference book, that is close at hand. Children are learning about the local community, when they visit the local library where they have become members

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

and regularly enjoy the story time there, before choosing their books to take home.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children's physical development is encouraged effectively, as they use large equipment at the toddler group. They walk to look at the horses, down the lane and develop their fine muscle skills during activities, using paint and play dough. Children are creative, as they dress up to express themselves and enjoy listening to classical music in the afternoon on the radio, whilst enjoying a painting activity, exploring how paint reacts when brushed onto silver foil paper. A child was interested in the patterns the toy tractor wheels made, as he ran it through the This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 paint and watched as the colours mixed together, to create a different colour. They enjoy exploring the play dough and they gain good coordination skills, when using the tools to cut, roll and press patterns in the dough. Older babies learn with support how to move their bodies, so they can sit on the rubber rocker, as their

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

coordination and balance improves. Their growing skills all lead towards promoting children's future economic well-being effectively.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children of all ages are provided with experiences and support, which helps them to develop a positive sense of themselves and of others, as they learn to manage their behaviour and to develop social skills. Children feel happy and secure, because the childminder maintains and supports their emotional well-being, helping them to know themselves and to develop self confidence. This is reflected in their behaviour, which is managed in a caring and sensitive way, ensuring children's concerns and needs are fully supported. Formal assessment of children is in the early stages of implementation, but the childminder is using her observations of what children like and can do, to influence how she plans for their learning and enjoyment. Children learn how to keep safe because the childminder gives them opportunities, such as practising the emergency evacuation drill and learning about road safety, so that their better awareness and understanding leads

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

to improved personal safety. Children are becoming aware of the wider world through some play resources that reflect equality and diversity, such as dolls, role play resources and books and when mixing with a range of different people at community groups. 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? 3 How well are children helped to be healthy? 2 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: 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 registration 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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