Progress Schools - Wirral

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 144856 Inspection date 04/02/2009 Inspector Rachel Edwards

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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 has been registered since 1989. She lives in a bungalow with her husband and three children, aged 11, 13 and 19 years, in the village of Market Lavington, in Wiltshire. The whole house is used for childminding and there is an enclosed back garden. The family have a rabbit and a cat.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register to provide care for no more than six children under eight years. She is also registered to provide overnight care for two children. She currently cares for five children, of whom three are in the early years age range.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder has a National Vocational Qualification at level 3 in childcare and development and is a member of the National Childminding Association and the Market Lavington Childminding group. She uses her car for childminding and can take and collect children from surrounding schools and pre-schools.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The overall effectiveness of the childminder is outstanding. Every child is fully included regardless of age or ability and each makes excellent progress within the Early Years Foundation Stage. The childminder pays the highest attention, not only to keeping children safe and healthy but also to teaching them how to make the right choices for themselves. The childminder is energetic and dynamic as she looks critically at all she does and seeks out new ideas, which she embraces to further improve what she provides for the children.

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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 develop effective partnerships with other settings that children attend by sharing relevant information with each other and parents

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provision

The childminder is well qualified, very experienced and extremely well organised. She has detailed policies and procedures which she shares with parents so that they fully understand how she cares for their children. She uses email to rapidly update parents of their children's progress and involve them in their children's learning. Her extensive use of photography and well documented developmental records help reassure parents that children are happy and engaged in very worthwhile activities and this helps build trusting relationships and continuity of This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 care that benefits children. She is continuing to develop links with other settings that children attend. The childminder regularly attends training and incorporates new ideas into her practice. She seeks the views of parents and children when assessing her provision and planning activities for the future.

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provision

Children are kept safe. The childminder has thoroughly assessed all the hazards that children may encounter and taken steps to minimise them. This allows children freedom to safely explore their surroundings. She is very clear about her responsibility to safeguard children and has attended additional training so that she is confident about what to do should she have concerns for a child's welfare.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Individual children's needs, their interests and enjoyment are central to everything this childminder does. She has an excellent understanding of children's development and how they learn through practical, meaningful experiences. Children are confident, happy and obviously feel part of the household, for example, as they welcome a visitor and suggest where they should hang their coat. The childminder shows children a great deal of warmth as they climb onto her lap for a cuddle or ask for help with a new toy. She is fun and enthusiastic and this makes children eager to join in and ready to learn. She constantly encourages them and praises their achievements so they are confident to play and explore independently. Children's welfare is exceptionally well promoted. They learn how to keep safe in many ways, for example, as they practise fire evacuations, discussing important issues such as how to keep the pets safe or whether it is

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

alright to go outside in your socks. Road safety is practised on outings and ideas reinforced through role play. They learn the importance of good hygiene from a very early age and the cloakroom is made child friendly to help them manage independently. Children play outdoors and have time to run and play boisterously every day but they also recognise the need to rest and thoroughly enjoy snuggling up in separate beds for a sleep or quiet time in the afternoon.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder's excellent knowledge of the needs of each child in her care, allow her to plan a range of interesting and worthwhile activities that help children make very good progress. She takes account of children's interests and then builds on what they already know. For example, having noted a child could recognise the shape of written names on food packets, she used these to create an individual shopping list, which they could then proudly use to help with the shopping. Writing materials are always easy accessible to children so they can practise making marks and attempting familiar words. This effectively develops early literacy skills whilst increasing the children's confidence and self-esteem. The childminder uses baby signing with very young children to help them communicate more effectively, for example, she is able to respond immediately when they need a drink.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder constantly seeks imaginative ways to engage children. For example, she has displayed a very large ordnance survey map of the area. They have stuck on photographs of each child's house so that it immediately has interest for them. They intend to plot and time the walks they do. They learn about contour lines as they climb the hills and take photographs of the views to add to This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 the map. They have many opportunities to learn about their own locality, for example, visiting Stonehenge, when everyone had a go at drawing the landscape. They also become aware of the wider world and beyond, always through meaningful activities, for example, after children had shown interest in the size of the moon, they made models of all the planets. Children develop mathematical understanding, for example, as they have fun sharing and sorting matching cards,

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

made by the childminder, with photographs of all the children. Cooking activities provide plenty of opportunities to weigh and count. The childminder is very skilled at asking questions that make children think and develop their ideas so they constantly learn.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children enjoy outdoor play each day. They have fun and develop excellent coordination as they pedal around the circular track made around the garden. The childminder was inspired by a recent training event on outdoor play and is busy incorporating several good ideas into her practice. For example, children now enjoy large scale water play even in cold weather, using tyres covered with sheeting and warm water to create large inviting puddles. She plans to build an outdoor covered area so the garden can be comfortably used whether it is sunny or wet. Children benefit from outings that broaden their experiences, for example, trips to the beach, bike rides, a day camping, visits to Legoland and Monkey World and many others.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder observes what children can do and what interests them so that she effectively monitors their progress and can provide activities and experiences that help them progress very well with their learning and development. Children are invited to complete a wall chart with ideas for outings and activities they would like in the near future and they do this, confident that their ideas will be accommodated wherever possible. For example, the childminder has arranged to meet with one child's special friend to go swimming in the school holidays. 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? 2 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

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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