Myles, Wendy

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 318218 Inspection date 11/08/2009 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 was registered in 1984. She lives with partner the Gorse-Hill area of Stretford, her adult daughter is a frequent visitor to the home. The family have two dogs and a cat. The house is convenient to local schools, parks and shops and on all main bus routes. It is not suitable for wheel chair access.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children under eight years at any one time, of whom no more than three may be in the early years age group. The provision is registered by Ofsted on the Early Years Register and the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register. There are currently five children on roll, three of whom are in the early years age group.

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Description of the childminding

The rear room of the property which is a dedicated playroom, the kitchen and lounge as well as an upstairs bedroom and bathroom are used for childminding purposes. There is a fully enclosed space available for outside play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder attends local under fives groups. She is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is good. All children make good progress in their learning and development as their individual needs are met. The childminder has effective policies and procedures in place to ensure that children remain safe and are safeguarded. The childminder has some awareness of the strengths and the areas for development with in her setting and takes effective steps to implement recommendations made by the regulatory body and her local authority support worker to improve her provision.

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further?

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

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further?

 ensure recorded assessments of children are systematic so that they fully cover all six areas of learning and development and that next steps are consistently focussed on what the child is to learn  further develop strategies for reflective practice in order to maximise improvements to children's learning opportunities.

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provision

Children are safe within the setting as the childminder has conducted thorough risk assessments and as a result implemented safety measures, such as stair gates, to prevent access to stairs and five point harnesses to ensure young children are safe in seats. She encourages children to become appropriately responsible in their own This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 safety through, for example, discussion of the correct way to use scissors and to cross roads and by practising evacuation procedures.

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provision

Children are safeguarded whilst in the childminder's care as she implements procedures to ensure all persons living within the home and who have regular contact with the children have appropriate checks conducted. She has completed training in safeguarding and has a good understanding of the procedures to follow to protect children from harm and or abuse.

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provision

Children's health is well promoted as the childminder maintains a current paediatric first aid qualification, collects detailed information about each child's health and shares a sick child policy with parents to help stop the spread of infection. Children learn about germs through discussion and by following good hygiene routines which they follow without need of prompts from the childminder. Children benefit from a balanced diet of home cooked foods and learn what is good for them through discussion and planned activities such as baking. Children are encouraged to make choices about what they eat which promotes their understanding of a healthy diet. Each day children participate in robust play either in the enclosed rear garden or at local parks, they are able to describe the advantages of regular exercise.

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provision

The childminder makes some improvements to her provision prompted by observation of children's needs and interests, for example, she is aware that children are currently interested in money so has extended her resources to include a till. She does not have a systematic way of reflecting on her practise to identify areas for development and consequently is not aware of all areas, for example, the weaknesses in some of the set learning objectives for children.

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provision

Parents and others are consulted by the childminder to ensure continuity of care. She, for example, ensures she knows children's starting points by completing health forms, contracts and permission slips. She also implements a gradual admissions process which significantly contributes to her understanding of the child and their family. She has formed links with schools and nurseries that children attend to ensure she knows what the children are doing and achieving, so that she can augment their learning.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are happy, well settled and confident in the childminder's home. They are extremely well behaved which fully supports their ability to learn and make progress. Their self esteem and confidence are very well supported by the constant positive encouragement the childminder gives to them and by the secure routine she offers. Children know what is expected of them and respond positively.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

All children's learning is effectively supported by individual observations and identification of each child's next steps in learning which are clearly linked to the expectations of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Most learning intentions are clear and well targeted; a minority are too broad and not sufficiently clear as to what the child is to gain. The process of assessment for each child is not fully This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 developed resulting in some areas of learning being under represented in written records though not in practise nor the childminder's knowledge of the child. Incomplete written assessments impact on the quality of communication between settings delivering education to the same child.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are active learners who are purposefully busy throughout their time with the childminder. Children make decisions as to what they would like to play or do and the childminder is skilled in bringing learning to where ever they are. Children, for example, play imaginatively in the well resourced home area and the childminder extends their play by providing hangers for the ironed clothes and helps them to master using skirt hangers thus improving their dexterity and knowledge and understanding. Children learn about letter sounds as they talk about a picture of chickens, they think of other words beginning with 'ch' and count competently all twelve chickens. They use mirrors to draw pictures of themselves and label their features on the pictures with labels pre-prepared by the childminder. They use their imaginations to construct dinosaurs from building materials and learn two legged ones fall over. Children learn through play and

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

exploration competently supported by the childminder who joins in their thinking, supplies additional resources and ideas and plans activities to extend their interests.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children enjoy their time with the childminder who provides a wide range of activities in the home and outside. Parents' state children are happy and safe in 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

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