Childminder, Out-of school day care in Manchester

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 EY365242 Inspection date 27/04/2009 Inspector Lynda, Margaret Ronan

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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 has been registered since 2007. She lives with her husband and their four children who are aged two, five, six and eight years. The family live in the Chorlton-cum-Hardy area of Manchester, close to shops, parks and the library. Children have access to the whole of the ground floor and the bathroom and rear bedroom on the first floor. The rear garden is available for outdoor play. The premises are not suitable for wheelchair access, however, the setting could support children with other disabilities.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to provide care for a maximum of two children at any one time (Early Years Register) and a maximum of three children at any one time (Compulsory Childcare Register). She is also registered on the Voluntary Childcare Register. There are currently two children attending the setting who are on the voluntary part of the Childcare Register and one child attending who is on the Early Years Register.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association and she gains support from the local authority.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The overall judgement of the setting is good. Children are active learners who enjoy a wealth of activities inside and outside of the home and make good progress in their learning. The promotion of their welfare is outstanding. The childminder and her family provide a warm and welcoming environment in which children flourish. The childminder has effective systems in place to identify and meet children's individual needs and recognise their uniqueness. She is beginning to put systems into place for monitoring and evaluating her practice and to develop her planning and assessment.

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further?

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

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further?

 match systematic observations and assessments of children's achievements with the expectations of the early learning goals to support children's optimum development

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provision

The childminder has a positive attitude to developing and improving her service and demonstrates a clear capacity to improve through reading related articles and research and applying them to her practice; setting up an assessment procedure and by making effective use of other professionals' skills, such as a children's librarian. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 All required policies, procedures and documentation for the safe and efficient management of the setting are in place. Children's records of achievement are well kept, they include photographs and artwork. Parents confirm good access to children's records and they receive questionnaires about their child's development and what areas they would like the childminder to focus on. Planning is not written but is seen to meet the needs of children and provide them with challenge. However, as observations are not cross referenced to the Early Years Foundation

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provision

Stage guidance they do not demonstrate that all areas of the curriculum are covered nor ensure children are making optimum progress in all areas.

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provision

The environment is clean, warm and very well cared for. Resources, toys and equipment are all in good condition and of very high quality and offer relevant challenge. They are easily accessible to children as they are stored at their level. This enables them to initiate their own learning and develop independence skills. They have plenty of space to move around freely. Children's artwork and posters are displayed in the kitchen which gives them a sense of pride and belonging in a warm and welcoming environment.

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provision

Children are kept safe and secure because the childminder is vigilant, takes appropriate precautions and has a good understanding of how to protect children. She has very comprehensive and well thought out risk assessments in place. Children of all ages are taught about road safety fire evacuation procedures and how to keep themselves safe.

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provision

Parents are given good information about most areas of the childminding service and children's learning and development, however, the childminder has not provided a written complaints procedure which is a breach of regulation. The childminder spends time with parents at the beginning of the placement recording the likes and dislikes of the children, daily routines, parents' views and tries to ensure that these are mirrored in the setting. At the end of each week the childminder, parents and children review the week and discuss ideas for development. Parents describe the setting as very welcoming and inclusive.

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provision

Children thrive in the care of the childminder who provides all home cooked foods and encourages children to become involved in food preparation and choice of menus. Their physical well being is exceptionally well supported through playing daily in the fresh air, visiting toddler gym sessions the park and indoor play centres. Children and the childminder thoroughly enjoy a session of jumping on a trampoline singing 'hop little bunnies hop, hop, hop' in the rain. The garden is well equipped to support daily outside play.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are making good progress towards the early learning goals in all six areas of learning. Children have a very firm foundation for learning as the childminder supports their emotional wellbeing exceptionally well through, for example, regular praise and hugs as well as planned activities such as using facial expression cards to promote understanding of and empathy with others. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 The childminder recognises and promotes the uniqueness of each child by considering children's different learning styles and providing an extensive variety of activities. Children are cared for in a safe, clean environment where they learn to take care of themselves. The childminder sets tasks that allow children to achieve and build self confidence. A toddler is asked to put on their own Wellingtons which they do successfully on return from the wet garden the childminder helps the

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

toddler to put on their shoes but encourages them to complete the task by fastening the Velcro.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Planning is effective in meeting children's needs. It is age appropriate, challenging and learning is through fun and practical experience. The childminder is skilled at encouraging and extending children's interests.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Interaction with and between children is excellent, lively, informative and involved. The childminder constantly draws toddlers attention to things in books and their environment. For example, toddlers play in puddles on the patio and the childminder extends this play by providing them all with sponges. What will happen when they put the sponge in the puddle? Can they use the wet sponge to write with and make large circles or to wash the bikes?

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Toddlers are given choices in a curriculum that is very well balanced between adult led and child led activity. Children sit on the floor cuddled up to the childminder reading books, a favourite. One toddler decides to tap the rhythm of the story on a tambourine, the childminder is quick to adapt and take the children's lead soon all are engrossed with musical instruments exploring sounds, loud and quiet and fast and slow. Exploration is actively encouraged using all of the children's senses, be it building fine motor skills exploring spaghetti in a large bowl, tasting different foods or mark making in snow.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder has a very good understanding of how children learn, she joins in reasoned thinking with them, prompts them to recall and reinforce their learning and challenges them to discover for themselves.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder plans her routine to ensure that children have experiences of purposeful play, for example, by attending toddler craft and music sessions at a city art gallery on a monthly basis or supporting them to complete the toddler book crawl at the local library. Children are beginning to learn about problem solving, reasoning and numeracy in their day to day play. This is promoted through regular counting, weighing and measuring activities and stacking and sizing in sequence.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Currently children are attending for whom English is an additional language and their needs are well met. Children are happy, stimulated and are successfully gaining the skills for economic wellbeing. 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

 provide a written statement of procedures to be followed in relation to complaints that relate to the requirements of the Childcare Register and which a parent makes in writing or by email 28/05/2009

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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

 provide a written statement of procedures to be followed in relation to complaints that relate to the requirements of the Childcare Register and which a parent makes in writing or by email 28/05/2009

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