Childminder in Liverpool

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

p.1

Unique reference number EY377461 Inspection date 18/03/2009 Inspector Margaret Patricia Mellor

p.1

Type of setting Childminder This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

p.1

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.

p.2

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.

p.2

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).

p.2

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

p.2

Description of the childminding

The childminder was registered in 2008, and occasionally works with an assistant. She lives with her husband, mother and child aged three years in Liverpool. Children use the whole of the ground floor of the childminder's home for their care, learning and play. There is a secure, fully enclosed garden for children's outdoor activities. The family have two cats.

p.3

Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children under eight years, of whom no more than two may be in the early years age range, at any one time. She is currently minding two children in this age group. She also provides care for one child aged over five years. This provision is registered by Ofsted on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register.

p.3

Description of the childminding

The childminder either walks or uses her car to collect children from school, or take them places. She attends the local childminder drop in sessions and toddler group on a regular basis. She has a level 2 qualification in child care, learning and development. She receives support from the local authority, and is a member of the local childminder network.

p.3

Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall, the quality of the provision is good. Children are cared for in a very warm and welcoming family home, and happily play in a well resourced environment. They enjoy learning about their local area, and the world around them, and well planned activities help children make good progress in their learning and development. They are safe and secure at all times, and the childminder has a well developed knowledge of each child's individual needs. Good partnerships with parents helps the childminder to promote children's welfare and create an inclusive and supportive atmosphere. The childminder demonstrates a genuine commitment to improving her own skills and continuous quality improvement. She has fully enclosed the garden successfully meeting the action raised at registration, and is beginning to identify strengths of her provision and areas for future development.

p.3

further?

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

p.3

further?

 continue to develop the way information obtained through observations is used to inform assessment and planning learning activities for each child  continue to develop opportunites that help to extend children's awareness of healthy eating  improve the provision's self-evaluation to include the views and thoughts of parents. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

p.3

provision

The childminder manages her provision well and is very caring, providing plenty of individual support, which is reflected in children's happiness, confidence and strong sense of belonging. She works closely with parents to promote children's welfare, learning and development. Becoming familiar with each child's needs, and their starting points is part of the settling in procedures. This helps the childminder to recognise and support each child’s individual needs and unique qualities. Ongoing sharing of information is good, for instance, the childminder writes a day diary slip for every child that they may take home, and involves parents in their child's development. This significantly contributes to the quality of children's care and learning offered.

p.4

provision

The childminder takes all necessary steps to ensure that children's welfare is promoted and safeguarded. She has accessed safeguarding training and is secure in her knowledge of the procedures to follow for reporting concerns. Risk assessments of the premises, toys and outings, and procedures for checking the suitability of adults having contact with children are sufficiently robust. Very good hygiene practices, the provision of children's individual towels and effective procedures for looking after the family cats, helps to minimise the risk of cross infection. Children are well nourished, and good information sharing about dietary requirements ensures that they remain healthy. Well written policies and good organisation of daily documentation also contribute toward the safe, effective management of the provision, and children's well-being.

p.4

provision

Good thought is given to the organisation of toys, and low level storage boxes enables children to choose for themselves, promoting confidence and independence. Activities are planned around children’s needs and interests, and provide a good balance of child initiated and adult led activities. The childminder demonstrates a genuine commitment to promoting better outcomes for children. For example, since registration has she has attended several workshops relating to the Early Years Foundation Stage, completed food safety training and greatly improved toys reflecting diversity. Future developments include a vegetable garden to support children's awareness of healthy eating, and recognises that parents views in the provisions self-evaluation are not yet being considered.

p.4

The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children happily engage in their play and the many toys stimulate their enjoyment and conversation. They are achieving well in their learning and development because the childminder enthusiastically encourages and supports their play. She constantly talks and listens to the children, which motivates their learning. Activities are challenging and are flexible and based on the children's interests, for example, they eagerly choose whether to role play or do puzzles, and daily plans show opportunities to go out or join in creative play. The childminder uses starting points, and ongoing observation and discussions with parents to monitor children’s progress. She has devised a system from the EYFS practice guidance to record their development toward the early learning goals. Each child has an 'All about me This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 and achieving' file were information is recorded, but this is not clearly used to

p.4

The quality and standards of the early years provision

identify future activities linked to their next steps in learning and achieving.

p.5

The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are very happy in the childminder's care, and bringing toys from home fosters their sense of belonging. They are afforded plenty of space for rest and active play, and the garden provides a variety of safe challenges for them. They behave very well, responding warmly to the childminders kind words of praise and encouragement. Children share the toys, are kind to one another and follow simple instructions, such as brushing up the sand. Regular visits to the childminder drop in sessions provide worthwhile occasions for children to socialise with others. The childminder helps children to become aware of keeping themselves safe, such as road safety on walks, and planned activities when practicing fire evacuation. Children develop their awareness of healthy eating when buying fruit, and learn to listen to their bodies helping themselves to drinks when thirsty. Climbing in the garden, peddling wheeled toys and learning to pass balls at active play or gym tots

p.5

The quality and standards of the early years provision

promotes children's coordination and physical development.

p.5

The quality and standards of the early years provision

Each child's unique qualities are highly valued because the childminder makes allowances for their different personalities, reflected in children's happiness and warm interactions with her. Children learn to care for living things when feeding the goats, and about their local area with visits to the park, library, museum or local football club, which are enjoyed by all. They become aware of differences in the wider community and learn respect for others. They play with different ethnic dolls, push dolls in wheelchairs, and learn simple signs such as, 'hello'. They look at books and puzzles with positive images of race, gender and disability, and celebrate their own and other cultures. Children also become aware of helping others, for instance, joining in activities at the art gallery in support of 'Red nose day'.

p.5

The quality and standards of the early years provision

Good opportunities are provided by the childminder for children to freely express themselves through a range of creative media, and re-enacting their own experiences through role-play helps them make sense of the world. Children develop their awareness of technology and begin to make connections through experiences when playing simple computer games. For example, they learn to link sounds to letters and recognise and write simple words, such as their name. The childminder supports children's obvious interest in books particularly well. She uses puppets and masks as props to explore feelings when listening to 'Grumpy Gertie', for instance. Children consistently count to 10 or more, and confidently talk about shape, colour and pattern when drawing or joining in play dough activities. Singing rhymes, such as 'One, two buckle my shoe', print as labelling and free access to a camera also contributes to children's future skills.

p.5

The quality and standards of the early years provision

This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

p.6

Annex A: record of inspection judgements

The key inspection judgements and what they mean

p.6

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

p.6

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.

p.6

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

p.6

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?

p.6

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

p.6

Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register are: Met

p.7

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

p.7

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.

p.8

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.

p.8

Detail of the complaint/s

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted since registration.

p.8

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.

p.8