Childminder in LancashireOfsted inspection, 15 Oct 2009

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 308514 Inspection date 15/10/2009 Inspector Mary Wignall

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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 1996. She lives in the Parbold area of Lancashire with her husband. She collects children from Parbold Douglas School. The downstairs of the premises is used for childminding purposes as well as a bedroom being available for sleep purposes. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children at any one time; of these not more than three may be in the early years group. There are currently three children attending who are within the Early Years Foundation Stage. The provision is also registered on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. There are two children on roll in relation to this register. The childminder holds a relevant Level 3 qualification and is a member of the National Childminding Association. The family have a pet cat.

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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

Children’s individual needs are met by the childminder’s planning and organisation. She has sufficient toys and resources for the children to help themselves to that they find interesting and engaging. They make steady progress in their learning due to the childminder’s organisation and planning. Some self-evaluation has involved the parents. The childminder has a sound understanding of her strengths and is beginning to think about areas for improvement, although has not made targeted plans for further improvements. She has a commitment to professional development having attended relevant training courses in the recent past

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further?

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

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further?

 put in place a written procedure for dealing with complaints, keep a written record of complaints, investigate all written complaints and notify complainants of the outcome of the investigation within 28 days of having received the complaint (Safeguarding and welfare) 16/11/2009

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further?

 implement an effective policy on administering medicines both prescribed and bought, inform parents of all medicines administered to their children and ensure parents always sign the prior written permission before any medication is given (Promoting good health) 16/11/2009

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further?

 make a record of risk assessments clearly stating when it was carried out, by whom, date of review and any action taken following a review or incident and include any assessments of risks for outings and trips. 16/11/2009 This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 (Suitable premises, environment and equipment)

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further?

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

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further?

 use observations and assessments of each child's achievements to identify learning priorities and match observations to the expectations of the early learning goals.

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the early years provision

Recent training and up to date knowledge of the local children’s safeguarding board procedures means the childminder has a sound understanding of safeguarding children. Her understanding of the possible signs of abuse and appropriate referral procedures means she is able to implement her safeguarding policy adequately. Most records required for the safe and efficient organisation of the childminding are in place though not all. A procedure to administer medicine to children is in place, although not effectively implemented. Written parental consent is obtained to administer emergency medicine to children. This may be obtained some time before any medicine is given to children with no procedures in place to check if it is still suitable for the children to have. Occasionally the prior consent is not fully completed by the parents. The childminder makes sure the children feel safe with good use of safety equipment. She has completed a written risk

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the early years provision

assessment of the premises, although does not maintain an appropriate record of checks or include outings in her risk assessments as required.

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the early years provision

The childminder shares policies and procedures with the parents at the beginning of their child’s placement and in settling in visits. The childminder has a limited knowledge of the legal requirements regarding complaints and does not have a complaint procedures to share with parents. Children are valued as individuals. Positive relationships with parents providing useful information about each child’s needs and background. This helps the childminder understand and begin to plan for each child’s individual needs. Regular daily verbal feedback keeps parents involved and informed of their children's achievements. Collecting or dropping off children at local groups means the childminder has some knowledge of other groups the children attend. Information from partnerships is used to help settle children, although is not strongly linked to planning of personalised learning for the children.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder uses her sound knowledge of how children learn to provide sufficiently challenging activities the children enjoy. She encourages their thinking by asking open ended questions and gives clear explanations to their queries. For instance, when sticking the prickles for a model hedgehog the children query why they are not sticking. The childminder explains how the glue needs to touch all the This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 pieces to hold them in place developing the children's understanding. The childminder has general plans of activities and experiences to promote the children’s learning and development. Through partnership with parents and her general observations the childminder has a sound knowledge of the children’s individual needs. Observations are sufficient to plan appropriate activities, although are not sufficiently linked to the early learning goals to monitor their progress

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and outcomes for children

consistently. The children see their art work displayed and remember the fun they had doing them.

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and outcomes for children

The children show a good understanding of safety as they play with the new pet cat. The children enjoy looking at and playing with it. The childminder encourages their interest and extends their understanding as she explains the cat has a mind of its own and may not want to play or be looked at. As a result they are respectfully cautious and enjoy the cat’s presence. The children feel secure as the childminder puts on walking reigns and prepares the children for a walk to the local playgroup. The childminder talks about road safety as the children confidently get ready looking forward to the walk in the fresh air. The low level storage of toys helps the children make some choices in their play. For instance, they choose books from a wide range of stories from different cultures or about different emotions, such as bullying or greed.

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and outcomes for children

The secure relationships and positive interaction means the children enjoy chatting and counting in their play. For instance, they count as they put prickles on the model hedgehog or hold fingers up to show how many they have counted. They are curious about the model prickles noticing the twigs break but the painted straw ones do not. The childminder's use of natural resources develops the children’s understanding of the natural world. They make prints of leaves they have collected on walks and notice the patterns the veins make. The childminder encourages the children’s experimentation with the paint as they blow it with straws or hold the paper upside down to see the paint run. The childminder praises them as they independently practice drawing around their fingers with a magnetic drawing board. The children follow appropriate hygiene routines supported by the childminder. They enjoy their lunch after deciding what they want happily settling

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and outcomes for children

The children play cooperatively when they choose different jigsaws. They manage to share their favourite ones with the help of the childminder's calm and consistency explanations of the benefits of doing so. The children learn about shapes, size and colour as they talk about matching different pieces to make up the jigsaw picture. 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 eary years section of the report. 16/11/2009

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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 eary years section of the report. 16/11/2009

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