Childminder in Trafford

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY312116 Inspection date 08/10/2009 Inspector Krystina Chitryn

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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 2005. She lives with her husband, two adult children and two children aged 13 years and nine months in the Brooklands area of Sale. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding, apart from the front room, and there is a fully enclosed garden for outdoor play. The family has a rabbit.

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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 two may be in the early years age group. The provision is also registered on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder is currently caring for two children in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). The childminder takes and collects children from local schools and pre-schools and provides out of school care. She attends various toddler groups and childminder groups and also visits the local library and parks on a regular basis.

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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 respected and valued as individuals and they make good progress in their learning and development. They feel safe in the care of the childminder as her efficient procedures ensure their welfare and well-being are effectively safeguarded. Children’s skills for the future are developed as they have access to a variety of activities that provide an exciting, age-related and supportive development. However, the childminder has not provided sufficient access to information and communication technology for children. The childminder has developed an excellent relationship with parents and others and recognises the importance of working together to promote high quality education and care. The childminder is enthusiastic and demonstrates a strong commitment to continuous improvement and her extensive self-evaluation is informative and useful.

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further?

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

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further?

 support children’s understanding of information and communication technology by ensuring that they have access to suitable and sufficient equipment and that adults plan to support their learning in this area  ensure that children's record of achievements is dated so the children's progress can be monitored  ensure the safeguarding policy includes what she would do if an allegation was made against the family. 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 is enthusiastic and strongly committed to continually improving the quality of care and education she provides for children and their families. She has a very professional approach and commitment to improvements. The childminder regularly looks at the quality of her provision and evaluates her setting's strengths and areas for improvement; she consults with children, parents and other professionals as part of her self-evaluation process. She ensures best practice is shared with other childminders and early years providers on a regular basis. Improvements are well targeted for further development and the promotion of positive outcomes for children.

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the early years provision

The childminder organises her home to meet the children's individual needs. She organises the areas and resources to promote children's independence to enable active learning. An open-door policy ensures that children are able to extend their play into the garden where the childminder provides a further range of challenging and exciting activities. For example, the children have outdoor clothes and independently put on their wellington boots when they decide to go outside to play. The childminder promotes an enabling and inclusive environment where children are learning to value different aspects of their own and other people's lives. Diversity is valued and children learn about different cultures and how others celebrate their religions. She has developed her awareness and resources to ensure children are provided with a greater knowledge and understanding of the wider world. For example, she has attended training and teaches the children

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the early years provision

about diversity and provides a large range of resources that celebrate others. Children's safety and well-being are effectively protected through the childminder's understanding and care of appropriate safeguarding policies and procedures. However, she has omitted to say how she would deal with allegations made against her family. Clear documentation ensures the welfare of the children is met and this is stored confidentiality. Effective risk assessments are recorded and reviewed for the home, activities and outings.

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the early years provision

Parents' comments from cards and letters state that they are very happy with the quality of care and feel confident that the children are safe and secure and make good progress in their learning and development. They are provided with clear information about their child's progress towards the early learning goals and are actively involved in their child's learning journey. The childminder works very effectively with other practitioners and parents to support children's transition into school and pre-school. She shares information successfully with other providers on children’s progress. Additional information regarding her service and childcare practices is also available for parents' information.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder demonstrates her knowledge and understanding of the learning and development requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage through This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 curriculum planning, assessments and interactions with the children. She provides plans which include a balance of adult- and child-led activities. Assessments are of good quality and clearly demonstrate the progress that children are making towards the early learning goals. However, not all assessments have been dated so progress is not clearly identified. Starting points are clearly identified when children join the setting, along with the childminder's observations, which form the baseline to identify the next steps in learning for individual children. Children are very happy and confident in the childminder's home; she knows the children very well and has a good understanding of children's abilities, likes and interests.

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and outcomes for children

Children’s language and communication are skilfully developed as the childminder asks open-ended questions encouraging them to become independent thinkers. As a result, children are offered appropriate challenges throughout the day to extend their knowledge and learning. For example, children are able to choose their activities independently and they dance and sing nursery rhymes, moving freely and exercising their muscles. They sit together and read a story and the childminder takes the opportunity to further develop children’s awareness of colours as they identify colours in the books and in everyday objects. The children are encouraged to develop their independence as they make their own choices and decisions in the enabling environment. However, there is little use of machines or technology, which does not help the children’s confidence with mechanical objects. A warm caring relationship is developed between the childminder and children and,

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and outcomes for children

as a result, they are well behaved. The children follow clear boundaries and understand the ground rules which are reinforced by the childminder’s calm, consistent and respectful manner. Children's knowledge and understanding of the world is enhanced as they learn to recycle items, to consider the environment and how things grow whilst planting seeds in the garden. They enjoy many interesting outings in the immediate and surrounding area.

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and outcomes for children

Children benefit from being cared for in a warm, clean and well maintained environment. Their individual routines are recognised and respected and information is shared with parents to enable good continuity of care. Clear hygiene routines are in place to ensure children's good health and children are reminded of the importance of washing their hands before they eat their snack. Children learn the importance of outdoor play and play outside in all weathers and are provided with appropriate clothing. The outdoor play area is accessible from the conservatory and children can make independent choices about the area they want to play in. There is a variety of resources for children to use, such as sand trays, sit and ride toys and home corner equipment to support children's learning.

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and outcomes for children

Children enjoy healthy nutritious meals, which are homemade using fresh ingredients. Parents are consulted about menus and children’s likes, dislikes and dietary needs are taken into account. Drinking water is freely available to ensure that children remain hydrated throughout the day. Children are taught about personal safety and are learning to take responsibility for their own actions. They practise emergency evacuation procedures on a regular basis and learn about the potential dangers of the road. Children are encouraged to tidy up after activities, learning that this prevents accidents. 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 2 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 2

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 1 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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