Childminder in Wigan

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 322673 Inspection date 03/11/2009 Inspector Angela Rowley

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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 has been registered since 1994. She lives in the Winstanley area of Wigan with her teenage daughter. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding purposes and the first floor is accessed for bathroom purposes. There is an enclosed rear garden available for outdoor play. The family has a pet dog.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children under eight years at any one time, no more than three of which may be in the early years age range. She is currently minding three children in this age group. She also offers care to children aged over five years to 11 years and has 11 children on roll in total.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered by Ofsted on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register.

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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 has a suitable understanding of the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Generally effective implementation of required records, policies and procedures mean that outcomes for children, their welfare and their learning are satisfactorily promoted. Children are settled and content in her care and are broadly engaged with suitable activities, although planning and provision to develop children's skills in problem solving, reasoning and numeracy, and physical development is less effective. Close relationships and communication with parents and other providers helps to provide continuity for children's care and is beginning focus on learning. The childminder is sufficiently motivated to develop the provision. She suitably tackles areas in need of improvement, although she has not yet developed systems to help her more accurately evaluate quality.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop quality improvement and self-evaluation systems to help identify gaps in provision for children's learning and address priorities for further development that will improve the quality of the provision  develop a more systematic and routine approach to using observation and assessment to plan a challenging range of activities to help each individual child reach the next steps in their development accross all areas of learning, particulalry problem solving, reasoning and numeracy, and physical development  develop further methods of working in partnership with parents and other providers to share information about children's learning and development in order to support transition between settings This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006  improve the record of risk assessment to include an assessment of each type of outing undertaken and maintain records of when identified hazards and

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the early years provision

Children's welfare is prioritised and consequently they are suitably safeguarded. Regulations are met and procedures for child protection are in line with requirements. The childminder is vigilant about keeping children safe. She has clear outings procedures and conducts suitable risk assessments. As a result she takes appropriate action to minimise potential hazards to children. However, her records do not extend to detailing specific outings and dates that potential hazards and safety measures have been checked to securely manage safety within her provision. She maintains records of visitors to the premises and keeps all required records which safeguard and promote children's welfare, including attendance records, parental consents, medicines and accidents.

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the early years provision

Equality and diversity is adequately promoted. The childminder strives to provide a service that meets the needs of every individual child and family, recognising their uniqueness. Positive images in permanently accessible toys as well as others on loan helps raise all children's awareness of diversity and gives all children a sense of being valued. She works closely with parents to ensure both parties are well informed about her service and children's needs. Through ongoing dialogue together they plan for children's learning priorities, although as yet this is not yet formalised to focus on and optimise learning opportunities for each child. The views of parents are sought in relation to the quality of the provision, although they are not involved in any self-evaluation process to inform future improvements. The childminder works adequately in partnership with other providers to promote continuity in terms of children's activities and opportunities

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the early years provision

The childminder is keen to ensure her provision meets requirements and is motivated to take necessary steps to secure improvement. She has accessed training and has linked with other providers who have given support to improve the childminder's policies and procedures and her understanding of the use of systems to observe and plan for children's learning. The childminder provides sufficient resources to help children learn through play and loans others to extend children's experiences. Her home is very clean and well maintained throughout. She uses her space suitably to provide a welcoming feel though does not make continuous use of her inviting outside play area to extend children's physical development.

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the early years provision

Through the childminder's effort to improve and to keep up to date with changes in early years, outcomes for children are satisfactory and are improving. She has appropriate plans to continue to develop her understanding of planning for children's progress. However, she has no clear systems to monitor her provision for children's learning or to recognise and evaluate good practice in order to accurately inform her self-evaluation and area's for further development. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

Children are settled and content in the childminder's care. They demonstrate how safe they feel with her as they snuggle in for a cuddle. They are cared for in a secure home where sufficient safety equipment is used to promote their sense of being safe. Children learn about keeping safe through explanations, secure routines and when they practise fire drills with the childminder.

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and outcomes for children

The suitably organised environment provides a sufficient range of toys and equipment which children enjoy and from which they learn. Children develop some independence as they are allowed to make toy selections from accessible storage boxes and know what else is available to them in the under stairs cupboard. The childminder provides an outside play area. Children are able to access a range of equipment, such as sit 'n' rides, rockers and scooters. They have previously planted sunflower seeds and watched them grow. However, the childminder does not use this area to its best effect to support children's exploratory impulses and provide opportunities to extend aspects of children's physical development, such as large motor skills. Children do learn to adopt healthy lifestyles through consistent hygiene routines and daily exercise as they walk to and from school and in the local community.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder demonstrates how she helps children develop basic skills for the future. She prioritises their language development talking to children, asking questions and encouraging word acquisition, and as a result they communicate confidently from an early stage. She sings with them and encourages a love of books and stories. She provides activities to promote mark making, such as chalking and drawing on wipe boards. She encourages their awareness of the wider world through the provision of some positive images in play resources. She makes good use of the local community as she attends toddler groups where children develop their social skills and takes children, for example, to collect leaves to stick them on pictures. The childminder instinctively promotes children's understanding of number, shape and size through her natural play and interactions with them. However, she lacks confidence in planning for other aspects of this area

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and outcomes for children

of learning and as a result opportunities for children to develop skills in, for example, calculating and measuring are limited. Children learn to be independent and with support they undress from their uniform after nursery. They learn about the behaviours associated with good learners through explanations, for example, about turn taking and sharing and they generally behave well.

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and outcomes for children

Overall, children make good progress in their learning. The childminder is beginning to use suitable systems to ensure children's learning and progress. She observes what children can do, records and evaluates what she knows, using the guidance available to her. As a result she can identify children's learning priorities, and in practice she provides appropriately to meet their individual needs. For example, in response to a child's recent interest and early recognition of basic shapes she provides shape pictures in the environment to extend his learning and experience. However, the childminder is not yet systematically planning a This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 programme of activities to ensure all areas of learning are provided for in a broad and balanced way, and to ensure all identified next steps for individuals are followed up to provide continuous challenge and optimise opportunities for each

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and outcomes for children

child to progress further. 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: 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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