Bradshaw, Julia

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 503174 Inspection date 10/12/2009 Inspector Gillian Sutherland

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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 2001. She lives with her husband in Bromborough, which is an area on the Wirral peninsular. The areas of the house which are registered and used for childminding are on the ground floor and there is a playroom on the first floor. The gardens at the back and front of the house may be used for outdoor play activities. The childminder has three dogs as the family pets.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She is registered to care for a maximum of six children under eight years old and there are currently nine children on roll, some of whom attend on a part time basis. She walks or drives to collect children from school or to take them to the local library, toddler groups and also to places of interest.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is outstanding.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children are safeguarded and their welfare needs fully met in the care of this extremely conscientious childminder, who provides high quality care and learning opportunities for children. Her home is a stimulating and interesting environment where children make very good progress and development as they play and learn each day. Resources are plentiful and the childminder recognises the needs of each child attending, and plans the extremely inclusive environment and activity programme accordingly to ensure each child’s needs are fully met. This highly committed childminder continues to attend relevant training opportunities, developing her childcare skills and knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage requirements, effectively incorporating these into her daily routine. The childminder maintains effective and excellent relationships with parents and is trying to develop a similar working partnership with other Early Years Foundation

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further?

To further improve the high quality early years provision the registered person should consider:

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further?

 develop further the working in partnership with other Early Years Foundation Stage providers. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

The childminder enjoys supporting children’s development as they play and learn. Excellent settling in procedures enables all children to settle quickly and form a good relationship with the childminder. The childminder has completed a comprehensive self-evaluation of her setting, identifying not only the areas she succeeds in, but also highlights where she feels she can improve. For example, she is keen to add more resources to the extensive range already available, which will help children develop a greater understanding of the differing needs of people in not only their local community, but also those in the wider world.

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the early years provision

The children's welfare and safety is paramount to the childminder. She fully implements her extensive policies and procedures, ensuring the children's safety at all times. Children play in safety through the extensive risk assessments for indoors, outdoors and all outings undertaken by the childminder. She ensures the premises are suitable and safe for the children on arrival each day, as she minimises all potential hazards, preventing unnecessary accidents. For example, she keeps the main door locked with the keys inaccessible to the children, preventing them leaving the premises unnoticed. The childminder uses her expert knowledge to ensure the venues are suitable for the age group and interests of children, and always takes a travel first aid pack and a small notebook containing all the emergency contact numbers for the children who are with her. The children have excellent safety awareness as they talk to the school patrol crossing person

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the early years provision

about crossing the road safely and know they must wait for the green man before crossing at the pedestrian crossing. At such crossings, they are also taught how people with little or no sight or hearing use the rotating button to cross the road safely. Children participate in regular fire drills, thus ensuring they are familiar with the procedures that would be implemented in the event of a fire or other emergency situation. The childminder is exceptionally well organised, and all documentation is well maintained and available for inspection. Children's files contain all relevant information and parental consents. Parents are made fully aware of her comprehensive policies and procedures at the start of their child's placement and copies of any of those policies can be made available on request. Parent and children’s questionnaires are circulated and the responses received help assess her current practice and if necessary review and revise her practices and

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the early years provision

procedures. For example, on one of the children’s questionnaires the response was that they did not like the television being on all the time. The childminder immediately talked about this with the children and reviewed her practice of leaving the children’s network on, even though it was on a low level.

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the early years provision

Parents are very happy with the care provided and say that their children enjoy attending. The childminder has developed highly effective systems to ensure they are informed and involved in the day-to-day care of their child. Daily discussions, text messages and written feedback, including the use of a daily diary, keep parents fully informed about the activities they have participated in, whilst the exceptionally well organised learning journey files ensures they are kept up to date with their child’s development and progress. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

Children feel safe and secure as they spend their day in a well organised, bright and welcoming environment. The spacious play areas both indoors and outside ensure they can move around freely and safely. Children are developing excellent independence skills as they self-select the toys and resources of their choice from the superb range available. The highly skilled childminder effectively promotes all areas of development through the implementation of the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum. She knows the children well, regularly observing them as they play, and identifies the next steps in their learning, thus ensuring children are able to make further progress. Children share well, learn to take turns with the toys and equipment and play cooperatively together. Regular praise and encouragement from the childminder enables them to develop good self-esteem and confidence. Children enjoy regular opportunities to explore water, paint, sand, glue and dough

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and outcomes for children

at the childminder's and they particularly enjoy exploring the world outdoors. For example, they go on walks through the woods, they visit the zoo where they look at and learn about the different animals, including their natural habitats. The childminder supports the children's learning and development well, incorporating appropriate opportunities to discuss activities and develop individual learning. For example, children were painting pictures in the conservatory when they observed two squirrels racing across the patio and lawns and the childminder explained that the painting stopped as this led to an unplanned spontaneous activity and discussion about squirrels, where they live, why they hibernate and what they have to feed on. Children enjoy regular opportunities to enjoy outdoor play in all weathers. For example, they enjoy going to the local woods and collecting different shaped leaves for their collage work and when the weather is wet they enjoy their

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and outcomes for children

‘welly walks’ and splashing through the puddles. Children have spacious outdoor play areas and an extensive range of outdoor toys and resources, all of which promote their physical development. Laminated posters and discussions with the childminder help them to understand the benefits of healthy eating and physical play.

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and outcomes for children

Children have an excellent awareness of the importance of developing healthy lifestyles. The childminder plans and prepares the range of home cooked meals for all the children, taking into account their individual dietary needs. Parents are notified in advance of the menu for the coming week, ensuring fresh fruit and vegetables are always included. Children have, with the help of the childminder, grown some of their own vegetables this year and the childminder talks to them and uses pictorial evidence to illustrate the benefits of eating fresh fruits and vegetables. All children and the childminder follow good hygiene routines, washing their hands at appropriate times throughout the day and children learn about the importance of getting rid of the germs on their hands before eating their snacks or lunches or participating in a baking activity. Children love to bake and develop their mathematical skills as the weigh and measure their ingredients; watching how

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and outcomes for children

textures change from the dry ingredients mixed together to a different texture and consistency when liquid is added. They wait anxiously then to see if the cakes have risen after being baked in the oven, prompting further discussion from the childminder. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 The children are extremely confident in the setting. They have lots of board games and activities to participate in and they love to take their own photographs and go with the childminder to her printer where they learn how to print out the finished result. A child previously cared for by the childminder was in this country from Africa, and here the children gained a greater insight into the differences in life in Africa to those in England. Discussions included food, plus the weather and the children still talk about her as they gained a real insight into her cultural

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and outcomes for children

background for the short period she spent with them. They look at the photographs they took with her and intend to keep in touch via email on the internet, a supervised activity that will be undertaken by the childminder and children together. Children enjoy regular opportunities to explore water, paint, sand, glue and dough at the childminder's and they particularly enjoy exploring the world outdoors. For example, they go on walks through the woods, they visit the zoo where they look at and learn about the different animals, including their natural habitats. Children enjoy regular visits to the local library selecting their own books and reading stories together. 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 1 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 1 The effectiveness of the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement The effectiveness of partnerships 1 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 1

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 1 The extent to which children feel safe 1 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 1 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 1 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 1

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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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