Childminder in Trafford

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 EY331812 Inspection date 05/08/2009 Inspector Mary Kilroy

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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 2006. She lives with her child aged eight and an adult son, in Stretford, South Manchester. The whole of the ground floor, the upstairs bathroom and the middle bedroom of the childminder's house are used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to provide care for a maximum of six children at any one time and there are currently five children, two aged two, two aged six and a nine year old on roll, who attend for a variety of sessions. The childminder is also registered to provide care for a maximum of one child aged under eight, overnight. She is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder has established links with other early years settings which minded children attend that also provide the Early Years Foundation Stage framework. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. She attends local carer and toddler groups.

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Description of the childminding

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. The childminder effectively promotes children’s welfare and learning and provides a safe and inclusive environment, with good systems in place in relation to planning, observing and monitoring the service she provides. Children are happily engaged and occupied in a range of highly stimulating play activities and experiences and there are excellent working relationship with parents, who are kept well informed of their children’s daily routines, care and learning. The childminder is skilled in meeting children's individual needs and building on their interests and starting points, so that all children make very good progress. The childminder has created effective links with other professionals who are involved with the children in her care and is building links with other providers of the Early Years Foundation Stage framework. She encourages children to problem solve at every opportunity, consequently children

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

are inventive and imaginative and this is a real strength of the provision.

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further?

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

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further?

 continue to develop and use her written self evaluation effectively to monitor all aspects of provision and as a tool for continuing improvement  continue to develop the good systems for reviewing children's progress and link these and play activities to the Early Years Foundation Stage framework. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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provision

The childminder has infectious enthusiasm and children respond well to it. She improves the service she provides through effective daily evaluation and a wide and comprehensive range of training. A structured daily routine promotes children's welfare and ongoing assessments ensure progression throughout all areas of learning.

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provision

The childminder’s home is well organised and offers children good opportunities to become independent in safety. All written policies and procedures work well in practice to positively promote children’s health, safety, enjoyment, achievement and ability to make a positive contribution.

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provision

The childminder ensures her provision is inclusive and welcoming. Her written policies and procedures are shared with, and given to, parents and discussed at introduction meetings, helping to promote good working relationships and shared understanding from an early stage. Parents are provided with good verbal and written information about their children’s care and progress and their comments and views are used to inform planning and help the childminder to monitor the service provided. Observation and assessment for all children is good. To maintain her high standards and ensure continuous improvement, the childminder will continue to develop her written self-evaluation and refine the good systems for reviewing children's progress.

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provision

The childminder has secure understanding and has effective procedures in place to protect children and ensure their welfare is safeguarded. Children know and understand the house rules around safety and receive reminders at appropriate times, for example, to take great care and play with hammer beads well away from mobile babies. The childminder talks to the children before outings and they are included in planning and risk assessments. Older children are learning to take risks in safety and recognise agreed boundaries, for example, on a trip to a country park, children helped to put up a tent and learned that if you can't easily see the tent and hear the whistle, then you are too far away. The recommendations from the last inspection were met, ensuring children have increased awareness and understanding of diversity and also remain safe and healthy. The childminder recognises the importance of continuous improvement and is secure in her

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provision

assessment of the strengths and minor weaknesses of her setting.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder demonstrates good understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage and plans and provides stimulating activities to build on children's interests. She works well with parents to gather information about children’s starting points. She closely observes children at play, using this information to chart progress and plan their next steps. She takes photographs to illustrate progress and development and to let children compare what they could do as babies, to the present day. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 The childminder has good settling in procedures and provides a secure and loving environment for families. Children are able to freely access toys and add to their play, helping them to initiate ideas and develop choice and independence. Toys, books and equipment give children a positive awareness of diversity. The childminder dedicates all her time to playing and talking to children and develops

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

warm relationships with them and their parents. As a result, children are secure in their relationships. They have fun and play extremely well together.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children develop good self-help skills and confidence as they willingly tidy up and spread toppings on pancakes. Young children can recognise their own cups and older children know who owns each one, when they help to give them out. Consequently, children are beginning to understand that using their own things helps to prevent the spread of infection. The childminder knows their likes and interests very well and builds on them very effectively to plan for progress.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children have access to some programmable toys and the childminder has requested exciting additional ones recently. Children enjoy looking through catalogues to choose items with her. They help to budget, write the reference numbers down, order and pay for the items. They access self check-outs in supermarkets and libraries and thoroughly enjoy helping the childminder to shop, make purchases and count out money. Children use a computer with suitable educational programmes to help to develop their information, communication and technology skills and enhance their knowledge and understanding. They develop excellent awareness of problem solving and reasoning as the childminder constantly introduces concepts of number, shape and size into their play. She makes constructive suggestions when they are stuck, such as when children printed off instructions from the computer for something they were making and

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

needed corrugated paper, the childminder encouraged them to think and problem solve and they fanned and pleated thick paper successfully. A wide range of craft materials are always accessible to stimulate creativity and provide good tactile experiences for children.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children see examples of everyday print and are learning that everyday print has meaning. The childminder is adding lower-case letters to the picture labels on toy boxes to further increase their understanding. They use language very well from an early age, to explain what they are doing and to question and enjoy conversations, taking turns to listen carefully and respond. The childminder introduces interesting new words, such as kneed and squash and asks open-ended questions. Children have fun playing outside and develop control and coordination as they walk, skip and run. They confidently add to their play, such as when painting designs on glasses, they change to marbling and bubble painting as desired and enjoy sharing a joke with the inspector about what happens if you suck, instead of blow. Marbles are a new addition to the play and children are really creative in finding innovative new uses for them.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are learning well about the natural and wider worlds. The childminder provides a range of pets for the children to observe and help to care for. Children who live in flats, or do not have pets at home, particularly enjoy them. They use good, rich language, as the large land snails do acrobatic movements on the side of the tank and describe the rippling movements underneath the snails, as they This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 climb. Children are enthusiastic about the snails and know that they enjoy cucumber best and eat mainly the centre. They avidly discuss seeing four butterflies in the park and some bees and look on the internet and access children's reference books, to increase their understanding. Children discuss coloured 'glass' (plastic) gemstones that they find ,when panning for gold and treasure in the garden. They are absorbed in the play, which was created following

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

visits to Red house farm, to see the 'maize maize' and try gold mining, which was a favourite activity. They enjoy Halloween activities there, too, and children relish describing the haunted house, big, spooky skeleton man and ' bats came out!' On their return, the children made their own gazebo 'cave,' with spooky music and a skeleton. The children recently grew potatoes and are now trying out pumpkins, for their Halloween lanterns. There are good opportunities to observe garden birds and the changing seasons, or to visit Pennington flash and the hides, to feed birds. 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? 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

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