Childminder in Manchester

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY232669 Inspection date 26/11/2009 Inspector Anne Drinkwater

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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 2002. She lives in the Heaton Mersey area of Stockport with her husband and two children aged seven and 13 years. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding with bathroom facilities on the first floor. There is a secure rear garden for outside play. The family have a cat.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children under eight years at any one time, of whom no more than three may be in the early year’s age range. She is currently minding one child in this age group. She also offers care to children aged over eight years to 11 years. In total there is one child on roll. This provision is registered by Ofsted on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She 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 good.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children are happy and secure in a warm, friendly and inclusive environment where they enjoy their play and experience a range of activities. The childminder treats each child with care and concern and meets their individual needs well. The childminder's partnership with parents works well in practice. She is developing her knowledge and understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and has started to consider areas for improvement. She is committed to improving her practice and the service she offers children and families.

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further?

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

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further?

 continue to implement and develop planning, observations and assessment systems and develop opportunities for parents to share children’s initial starting points on entry and to contribute to children's progress records  continue to develop systems for self-evaluation to ensure strengths and areas for improvement are clearly identified and consider ways to seek parents and children’s views in order for them to contribute to the settings self-evaluation.

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the early years provision

Children are protected because the childminder is secure in her understanding of child protection issues and procedures. She provides a safe and secure home where attention is given to identifying and minimising any hazards. This allows children to move around confidently and feel safe as they play. Risk assessments are in place for the home and garden, and for the outings the children go on. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 The childminder is committed to providing a quality experience for children, where they have fun and feel happy and secure. She has a positive approach towards making improvements to her provision and has ensured she has appropriately addressed the recommendations raised during her previous inspection. In addition, the childminder has completed the required training courses and plans to undertake additional training to extend her knowledge in specific areas. She

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the early years provision

demonstrates a commitment to identifying strengths and weaknesses in her practice and setting targets for the coming year. However, parents have not had the opportunity to contribute to the self-evaluation. The childminder is developing her knowledge of the EYFS and the children benefit from her knowledge of the individual stages of development. That said, her systems for recording their starting points at the beginning of their placement to assess their initial progress are yet to be formalised.

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the early years provision

Children's health and welfare are promoted well, by means of the childminders policies and procedures, these include her procedures for safeguarding and a complaints procedure. However, the complaints procedure lacks some of the required information. There is a daily informal exchange of information, which is supplemented by an informative daily diary. This gives parents a valuable insight into how children spend their day and includes some reference to their learning. The childminder is aware of the need to develop links with other providers delivering the EYFS, to any of the children in her care. She is knowledgeable about the local community and includes daily outings to playgroups and parks.

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the early years provision

The childminder recognises the individuality of each child, for example babies' feeding and sleeping requirements are sensitively met and accommodated, in partnership with parents. Children are developing a positive sense of identity as the childminder gets to know the individual families well, taking time to gain knowledge of their backgrounds. This also promotes their sense of belonging at the setting. They are regularly provided with opportunities to learn about other cultures and religions as they celebrate a range of festivals at playgroup.

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and outcomes for children

Children are happy and at ease in the company of the childminder who has built warm, friendly relationships with them. Young children show that they feel safe and content as they communicate their needs and feelings with confidence through sounds, gurgles and chuckles; responding positively to the childminder when they cuddle into her or put their arms up for support as they try to walk. A happy and relaxed atmosphere is evident and children respond positively to this environment.

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and outcomes for children

Resources are clean, well maintained and carefully arranged and organised, to create an enabling environment for children to play and learn within. In addition, the childminder is dedicated to the children in her care and provides stimulating and interesting activities and experiences. They are developing an understanding of the natural world as they are given opportunities to spend time outdoors on the local common exploring nature trails. Children have regular opportunities to This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 enhance their early communication skills as they attempt counting and number recognition through a variety of activities, such as counting, looking at numerals, songs and rhymes. They learn to problem solve as they use a selection of working activity toys. Children use their imaginations with music, singing, role play and in some creative activities. Treasure baskets give opportunities to explore different

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and outcomes for children

textures and develop children's senses. The childminder sits alongside the children and shows interest in what they are doing. She encourages early conversation through constant communication. She provides a varied curriculum both indoors and out to help children make progress in the six areas of learning.

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and outcomes for children

Children benefit from the childminder's developing knowledge of the EYFS framework, she has started to make observations of children at play. She is learning how to use these effectively to identify the next steps in children's learning and in order to inform her planning to ensure children receive a challenging range of activities to help them make good progress towards the early learning goals. 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 2 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 2 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 2

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Stage

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

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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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