Childminder in Bolton

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY372290 Inspection date 18/11/2009 Inspector Ann Bamford

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Type of setting Childminder to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It rates council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 08456 404040, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may copy all or parts of this document for non-commercial educational purposes, as long as you give details of the source and date of publication and do not alter the information in any way.

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Royal Exchange Buildings St Ann's Square Manchester M2 7LA

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T: 08456 404040 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk 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.

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Introduction

Please see our website for more information about each childcare provider. We publish inspection reports, conditions of registration and details of complaints we receive where we or the provider take action to meet the requirements of registration. 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 2008. She lives with her husband and two children aged two and four years old in Bolton, Lancashire. The whole of the ground floor of the childminder’s house is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register to care for a maximum of four children at any one time. No more than two children may be in the Early years age group at any one time. Care is available form 8am until 5.30pm each weekday with the exception of bank holidays, care outside these hours is in direct negotiation with the childminder. She attends local schools to take and collect children. The childminder attends the local parent/toddler group. At the time of inspection there were four children on roll.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is satisfactory.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The childminder's knowledge and understanding of each child’s individual needs and preferences ensures that children’s welfare and learning is generally promoted. Children are safe, secure and enjoy the progress they make whilst in her care. The partnerships with parents and other agencies is predominantly effective. These are significant in ensuring that the needs of all children are met, along with any additional or support needs. However, the childminder has not provided information for parents on how to complain and this compromises children's continued wellbeing in the event of concern. This also contravenes regulation. Children make progress in all areas given their age, ability and starting points. The childminder has begun to use self-evaluation as a tool to ensure that priorities for her development are identified and acted on. As a result, the provision meets all children's needs.

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further?

To fully meet the specific requirements of the EYFS, the registered person must:

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further?

 provide information on complaints for parents (Safeguarding and welfare) 04/12/2009

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further?

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

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further?

 continue to develop frameworks to ensure that all records are consistently maintained with regard to risk assessments  further develop children's knowledge and understanding of the wider world This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

Children are safe during the time that care is offered. The childminder uses her knowledge and understanding of local safeguarding procedures to ensure children's continued safety. Her provision of information to parents about her responsibilities in protecting their children ensure that, for example, parents advise the childminder about injury sustained whilst not in the care of the childminder. This protects children in an open and sensitive way. Children learn about keeping safe as they discuss what to do in the event of a fire. The involvement of parents in these discussions enhances children's understanding of how to keep themselves safe. The childminder uses risk assessments to consider how the home and outings can be maintained safely; however, the record of these is not consistently maintained in that the record of risk assessments for outings is not recorded each time an update is made. Partnerships with parents and other professionals are

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the early years provision

developed as a supportive network to care for each child. Effective use is made of partnerships with local schools in order to support children's development in specific areas, such as reading or problem solving, reasoning and numeracy. As a result, children make good progress in these areas of early development. The childminder makes extensive use of discussions with parents and in addition provides written information in the form of policies and procedures. This is supported by using the National Childminding Association recording pro formas. However, there is no information on how to make a complaint initially, though there is a record format should one be made.

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the early years provision

The childminder seeks extensive information on children's needs and likes before care is offered. She makes detailed enquiries about children's health, culture, family structure, preferences and what they can already do. She uses a recording format to support this and encourages parents to write anything else they may wish her to know about their child and his or her care. Children are developing an awareness of the world around them, but this is limited as the childminder provides positive images in toys, books and equipment but does not yet plan for children to develop an active awareness of difference in the world in which they live. This impedes children's development in knowledge and understanding of the world.

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the early years provision

The childminder has recently begun to care for children, though she undertook training before the present Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum was released. Although she has not yet managed to gain a place on a formal course for this, she has made effective use of the documentation within the curriculum document and has developed frameworks for ensuring that all ages of children make progress in all areas of early learning. In addition, she has begun to identify areas of strength and weakness and has developed her own targets to increase children's knowledge, for example, of how to act in the event of a fire. This demonstrates a commitment to ensuring she develops her service effectively to meet children's needs. Her instigation of meetings with staff from the local authority to look at her practice and agree specific targets for the future are effective. They demonstrate a drive for improvements and a commitment to providing continuously improving

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the early years provision

childcare and education. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 Resources and equipment in the setting are planned with attention to the individual needs of children. For example, toys and equipment are all stored in age and stage-related boxes and the home is organised in order to allow different ages of children to play safely. As a result, children are allowed to play freely both indoors and out in an area that balances the need for safety and independence. The childminder keeps the necessary records for safe care of children. However, there are some inconsistencies in the completion of these records which may affect outcomes for children in the event of a concern or a query around risk assessment.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder supports children’s learning effectively. She has an understanding of the different stages of children's development and learning and, as a result, children's individual learning needs are promoted in an imaginative way. The environment is planned carefully to allow children balance in selecting activities and focused activities, such as painting or having opportunities to pull themselves up to a standing position once they can crawl. Children have regular choice in what they do in the time spent there. The childminder creatively involves them in every aspect of living as they prepare imaginary meals or make their own rules together. Children develop and adopt healthy lifestyles as they are involved in shopping for and cooking the food they eat. They are developing very good independence skills as the childminder focuses on their individual ability. They indicate need for the toilet or dress themselves appropriately for the weather in an empowering way.

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and outcomes for children

Observation, assessment and planning are used to create an environment where children can be active learners with the challenge provided by the childminder to think independently and critically. Her discussion and planning of the next steps with parents enhances children's speed of development. All children are encouraged to do as much as they can for themselves as a very small child reaches her own drink skilfully laid there without prompting.

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and outcomes for children

Children's welfare is promoted in a generally effective way. Children learn how to maintain their own health and well-being from a very early age, as they are encouraged to indicate their needs for food and drink, sleep and cuddles. The childminder's confident use of strategies, such as observation and talking to parents, means that children with individual needs are cared for in line with parents' wishes. Children develop an awareness of preventing cross-infection as they talk about what happens if they do not wash their hands before eating or a baby is involved in hand washing after nappy change. Children develop a strong awareness of safety as they learn, for example, to put one toy away before they get another large toy out. Children in the setting have an awareness of the needs of others as they consider where to put toys out of reach of the baby. However, their awareness of their own culture is limited as the childminder provides

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and outcomes for children

equipment and toys which present positive images of difference, but does not yet plan a focus on similarities and differences. This means children miss opportunities to develop an awareness of life in different countries. Children develop independence skills as they are involved in planning how they will walk or get the bus to go shopping. Children develop robust skills for the future as the childminder This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 helps them to recognise different types of coins and notes and enlists their help in paying for items when shopping. 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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children in the Early Years Foundation Stage?

The capacity of the provision to maintain continuous improvement

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and managed?

The effectiveness of leadership and management in embedding ambition and driving improvement The effectiveness with which the setting deploys resources 3 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 3 The effectiveness of the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement The effectiveness of partnerships 3 The effectiveness of the setting’s engagement with parents and carers

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Stage

The quality of the provision in the Early Years Foundation Stage 3

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 3 The extent to which children feel safe 3 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 2 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 3 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 3

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Stage

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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