Childminder in Oldham

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 301310 Inspection date 05/02/2010 Inspector Cathleen Howarth

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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 0300 123 1231, 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: 0300 123 1231 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 re-registered in 1998. She lives with her husband in Royton, Oldham. The childminder's parents-in-law live in a self-contained granny flat at the same address. The whole of the ground floor of the childminder's house is used for childminding in addition to the bathroom on the first floor. There is provision for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. She attends the local toddler group and playgroup. Public transport is used for trips and outings. There is provision for outside play in the back garden and local park. The family has a pet cat, which has access to the house.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder's house is built into the hillside and there are steep steps to the front door, which parents use to access the house.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to provide care for no more than six children under eight years; of these, not more than three may be in the early years age group, and of these, not more than one may be under one year at any one time. Currently there are three children on roll on the Early Years Register. There is one child on roll on the compulsory part of the Childcare register and one child on roll on the voluntary part of the Childcare Register.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder usually provides care throughout the year on weekdays from 7am to 6.30pm. Other times may be considered depending on the childminder's availability. The childminder is registered with the local hospital to provide day care for children of parents who work shifts.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is appropriately qualified and has links with other Early Years Foundation Stage providers. She is a member of the National Childminding Association and Oldham Early Years Childminding Network.

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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 overall knowledge and understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is not yet fully secure. An action and three recommendations are raised to ensure practice is fully compliant. However, the childminder has sufficient knowledge of each child’s needs to enable her to appropriately promote children’s learning. There are some systems in place that demonstrate reflective practice and which supports continuous improvement. This results in a service that usually meets most of the children's individual needs.

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further?

To fully meet the specific requirements of the EYFS, the registered person must: This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006  ensure a current first aid certificate is maintained (Suitable People) (also applies to both parts of the Childcare Register). 19/02/2010

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further?

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

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further?

 obtain information from parents about how the additional needs of some children will be met  provide more pictorial evidence in children's development files, to show parents how they are progressing towards the early learning goals in the six areas of learning  use training made available by the local authority and other sources to develop systems for self-evaluation.

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the early years provision

Children are appropriately safeguarded. The childminder has sufficient awareness of safeguarding issues and clearly understands her role in child protection and the procedures to follow should a concern arise.

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the early years provision

The effectiveness of leadership and management in embedding ambition and driving improvement is satisfactory. The childminder has completed training through the local authority and has successfully transferred most knowledge and understanding into appropriate childcare practice. The childminder is taking well considered steps to ensure resources and the environment is fully sustainable. For example, the back garden has been landscaped after taking this issue into consideration, in addition to children's safety. The effective deployment of resources, in addition to the physical layout of the setting, including the back garden, clearly enhances children's experience at the setting.

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the early years provision

The childminder places the promotion of equality of opportunity at the heart of all her work. She usually obtains relevant information from parents to provide for the individual needs of all children. However, on occasions, the childminder obtains insufficient information to provide fully for the individual needs of all children, such as some personal care routines and outside play. Children are learning about human differences in the wider community through activities that appropriately promote gender, disability, ethnicity and culture. Some relevant examples include food tasting, art and crafts, music and movement.

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the early years provision

Systems for self-evaluation are limited and an analysis of what the childminder does well and what she needs to do to improve had not been undertaken in a consistent way. As a result, a current first aid certificate had not been maintained, which is a breach of a welfare requirement. However, the three recommendations raised at the last inspection have been addressed to improve children's health, safety and development.

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the early years provision

There are sufficient levels of engagement at the setting. Relationships and working This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 in partnership with parents is sound. Parents are generally involved in decision- making on key matters affecting their children, who are usually fully included and involved. Activities are appropriately evaluated with children, taking into account their level of maturity and understanding.

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the early years provision

The childminder is clearly committed to working in partnership with others. The childminder works with other EYFS providers to promote a seamless approach to delivering the framework.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder has sufficient knowledge and understanding of the learning and development requirements of the EYFS. She has a sound knowledge of each child’s needs to enable her to promote children’s overall learning and development.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder routinely records observations of children at play to determine their natural interests, capabilities and preferred learning styles. She uses the Practice Guidance for the Early Years Foundation Stage as an assessment tool. Children’s activity plans are linked to these procedures. Activities are appropriately evaluated with children and next steps are recorded. However, children's individual development books contain very limited pictorial evidence of what children have achieved. This makes it difficult for parents to see the progress children have made towards the early learning goals in the six areas of learning. The childminder’s questioning methods usually challenge and support children to achieve as much as they can. She scaffolds children's learning, which means she supports children to use what they know and to learn more. She maintains children's attention for sufficient periods and usually all children are encouraged to have a go. As a result,

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and outcomes for children

children are becoming confident learners who are developing a positive attitude towards learning.

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and outcomes for children

Children show a sense of security and feel safe within the setting. They like to cuddle up to the childminder when she reads to them on the settee. They are beginning to understand what standards of behaviour are expected and apply these in order to keep themselves and others safe. For example, children know not to climb on the furniture, in order to minimise the risk of accidental injury. Children practise the emergency evacuation plan, which teaches them to act responsibly in times of uncertainty. Healthy eating is sufficiently promoted and children are beginning to make healthy choices, such as choosing fresh fruit for snack. There are good opportunities for children to engage in a range of physical activities, both indoors and outdoors. Children enjoy playing outside in the back garden, where they use quality resources and equipment to support their play. There are sufficient natural resources for children to use during heuristic play, to help

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and outcomes for children

Children are treated with equal concern. They work well on their own and with others and they usually behave well. They engage in meaningful activities that help them value diversity. Visual reminders of ethnicity and disability are an integral part of the provision. In relation to culture they are learning about different This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 festivals and traditions through picture books and relevant activities like art and crafts.

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and outcomes for children

Children’s appropriate development in communication, numeracy and literacy, in addition to the use of information communication technology, is sufficiently demonstrated through their natural curiosity. They show a real desire to explore and examine their environment and different resources. They are inquisitive learners. Children have fun learning to use crayons to make patterns and to make their mark. They like to take their drawings home to show parents what they have achieved. A children’s favourite activity is dressing up like a princess. There are many other costumes to dress up in, such as the Santa outfit, which clearly enhances the quality of children's role play experience. The above measures provide firm foundations for children to develop knowledge, understanding and skills that are required for later life. 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 3 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: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The registered provider does not meet the requirements of the compulsory and or voluntary part/s of the Childcare Register.

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 take action as specified in the early years section of the report (Qualifications and training) 19/02/2010

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 take action as specified in the early years section of the report (Qualifications and training) 19/02/2010

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