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 EY299675 Inspection date 21/01/2009 Inspector Cynthia Walker

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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 2004. She lives in a bungalow in Earby, near Colne, which is close to the local park, schools and shops. The childminder uses the lounge, conservatory, hallway, kitchen, bathroom and small bedroom which are all on the ground floor for childminding. There is a secure outdoor play area.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children under eight years who are on the Early Years Register and both the compulsory and voluntary part of the Childcare Register. Currently there are four children on roll, of which two are on the Early Years Register. She is an accredited childminder and holds a level 3 qualification in childcare. The childminder is registered to provide funded nursery education for those children of eligible age.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The childminder is committed to helping children progress in their learning and development and promotes their welfare. Children enjoy their time with the childminder and make good progress. The childminder efficiently works with parents and carers to ensure that the needs of the children are met by valuing each child as a unique individual. She is sufficiently evaluating her provision for children's welfare, learning and development and has identified some areas of improvement.

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further?

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

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further?

 continue to develop methods of using information from children's assessments to directly inform future planned activities

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provision

The childminder is effectively maintaining the documentation which is required for the safe and efficient management of her provision and actively promotes all aspects of children's needs. A comprehensive range of policies and procedures are clearly displayed in a well presented professional file which reflects the welfare requirements. Detailed risk assessments ensure effective actions are taken to manage and eliminate risks to children both in the home and on outings. The childminder has a reasonable understanding of her strengths and weaknesses which she is beginning to record. She has responded positively to a previous recommendation by obtaining a good range of resources and attended an interesting range of training to support children's understanding of diversity. Visits from the local authority advisor enable the childminder to review her practice and maintain the quality of her provision. She is committed to her own professional

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provision

development and has achieved a level 3 qualification and attended a wide range of This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 short courses. The childminder has attended child protection training and has a sound understanding of child protection issues which enables her to appropriately safeguard the children in her care.

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provision

Parents and carers receive effective information about the care and learning the childminder provides through an interesting booklet which includes an overview of her policies and procedures and access to her detailed professional file. Information about their children's progress is shared in a daily sheet and parents and carers receive a summary sheet of their achievements as children leave their care which includes a section for parent's comments. Recent letters from parents state that their children are receiving the best possible pre-school care and benefit from her dedication and the care and love she gives. The childminder has developed systems to share information with other providers to ensure children receive continuity of care and learning.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder has a sound knowledge of the learning and development requirements and competently enables children to become active learners. Children's assessment records include regular observations and photographs and the children's next steps for learning are clearly identified. Planning is not led by the information identified in observations, although it identifies which areas the children have been involved in on a daily basis. However, the childminder incorporates her detailed knowledge of the individual children's future learning needs into the daily routine and activities she provides, for example, to improve children's hand-eye co-ordination she introduced threading. The organisation of the home encourages purposeful play and exploration which enables children to make individual choices about their play and learning. There is a good balance of adult and child-led activities within the home which is supported by a variety of

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder actively supports the children's learning as she constantly responds to their chatter by introducing simple words and responding verbally during all activities. Younger children relish the sensory experience of using a brush to paint a picture as they spread it on their fingers and discover what it tastes like. The childminder reinforces the colours of the paints and encourages the children to make hand prints and to make marks on the paper, actively praising the children for their finished artwork. Younger children respond with enjoyment to music as they sway and move to the rhythm of the songs. They enjoy exploring and investigating the wide range of resources and the childminder encourages the children to pull a cord to make the toy lion roar. Cards reflecting the wide range of toys and resources available at the childminders are clearly displayed within the playroom for children to make selections if they wish. Observations highlight

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

opportunities to increase children's sensory experience as the childminder introduces activities with jelly and cooked pasta and goes for walks to collect pine cones and leaves for sticking. Photographs highlight the children's involvement in planting tomatoes, playing in the snow, dressing up and playing in the ball pool.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder is committed to providing good quality care for children and has This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 an effective understanding of the welfare requirements. The implementation of efficient procedures ensures that the home is safe and secure and provides a supportive environment for children to thrive. Children relish their cooked lunch which includes a good range of vegetables and enjoy the taste of a red pepper at snack which encourages children to make healthy choices about what they eat. The childminder gives a high priority to reinforcing simple road safety on outings to reinforce the children's understanding of dangers and how to keep themselves safe. During discussion the childminder described a strategy she uses when children are getting over excited and she shouts 'Hug' and all the children stop what they are doing and hug each other. The childminder has established positive

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

and caring relationships with the children who are confident within the routines and expectations of the setting. 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? 2 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

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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