Childminder in Lancashire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 307810 Inspection date 26/10/2009 Inspector Joan, Patricia Flowers

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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 continuously over a 27-year period. She has overall responsibility for the childminding service she offers, assisted by her husband who works in a supportive assistant role. Childcare is offered from the childminder's home which is located in a rural town in the north east of Lancashire.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She may care for a maximum of six children under eight years at any one time. Of these six no more than three may be in the early year’s age range, one under one year. When minding with her assistant she may care for six children in the early years age range, with two under one year at any one time. There are 10 children attending, Monday to Friday, throughout the year. Minded children have access to the lounge, rear yard and bathroom on the first floor. Membership of the National Childminding Association is held with support and training accessed from the local authority.

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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 making good progress in their learning and development because the childminder ensures they are offered a broad range of play opportunities, with ongoing observations of their individual progress used to plan for their next steps. Strong partnerships with parents and carers, the local pre-school and other settings are good, helping to ensure that the needs of all children are met and children are well prepared for the time they start school. The childminder organises her home and resources so that children's care and welfare is in the main promoted effectively. A good capacity to improve and a willingness to embrace changes in registration requirements are evident, with actions and recommendations made at the last inspection effectively implemented for the benefit of every child who attends. Self-evaluation tools are being established so that the childminder can identify and maintain continuous improvements.

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further?

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

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further?

 ensure that the emergency evacuation procedure is practiced regularly so that children become familiar with the routine and review the way the rear gate is secured to prevent unannounced entry.

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the early years provision

Children’s safety is mainly well promoted. All appropriate suitability checks have been carried out on the childminder and her husband and the childminder is This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 mindful to ensure that children do not have unsupervised contact with adults who have not been vetted. A clear understanding of child protection issues ensures the childminder understands what to do if she has a concern about a child's welfare or safety. Written risk assessments have been conducted to minimise accidents in the home, the outdoor play area and on outings. Detailed records are kept of these assessments to meet the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) requirements. The childminder has a clear plan of how to evacuate the premises, with the children, in an emergency; but the drill is not practiced enough. Furniture and play resources are of good quality and internal security of the premises protects children

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the early years provision

effectively, but the gate at the rear is not secured effectively enough to prevent admission by a stranger.

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the early years provision

The childminder has started to evaluate the service she provides and has gathered the views of parents, carers and others, both via discussion and in positive written references. She understands what she does well and is considering areas of her service that she plans to enhance. For example, to review and streamline the way observation, assessment and planning systems are implemented for each child in a sustainable way. Actions and recommendation raised at the last inspection have been fully met. Consequently, children's health and well-being are more assured and parents are better informed through revised policy documents and new progress records for each child.

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the early years provision

Positive relationships are fostered with parents and carers. The childminder provides clear information about the service she provides to foster good partnership working so that children's changing needs can be met at all times. A daily exchange of information, mainly through discussion and entries in daily diaries, ensures that parents are kept informed of their children's progress. The childminder works well with parents to provide effective support for children who have English as an additional language. Sensitive consideration is given to helping children to understand how to respect all people and this ensures that children with special educational needs and disabilities are fully included. Children are safely escorted to and from the local pre-school and primary school, where the childminder has established good systems of communication with the other practitioners that care for the children. This promotes further continuity in the care

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and outcomes for children

Children are happy, relaxed and confident in the childminder’s care. This is because of the warm and secure relationship she establishes with them and her good knowledge of their individual care routines and developmental needs. Children are confident to move around independently and to select the available toys and activities easily within the warm and homely care environment. Children enjoy helping to make the train set on the floor together and contribute together when deciding on the preferred track layout. Children are creative and develop their mark-making skills as they confidently control their movements using crayons, felt pens and scissors when making and decorating their paper kites to fly. They use colourful designs when painting paper plates, imaginatively This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 representing tropical fish, sticking paper fins and cutting a mouth shape. They

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and outcomes for children

enjoy learning about different features of the natural world as they explore and use the autumn leaves they have collected to make collage pictures.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder takes photographs of children's activities, keeps samples of their creative work and makes clear notes of her observations of children's development. Children enjoy looking through the photo album, remembering all the different activities like baking and seeing the cow in the canal having a drink. This information is collated in a developmental record for each child, providing a map of their progress. In practice, the childminder is linking her observations to the aspects of learning and development in the line with the EYFS framework. She uses her observations and records of what children can do to decide how to adapt and provide meaningful activities and play experiences so children can make good progress towards achieving the early learning goals.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder skilfully supports children to learn how their everyday practices can contribute to a healthy lifestyle. For example, they develop an understanding of how beneficial fruit and vegetables are in their diet. They enjoy eating apples mid morning and soon finish their homemade shepherd’s pie followed by fruit and yoghurt at lunchtime, thereby providing children with energy to grow and develop healthily. Outcomes for children's physical health are further encouraged as they play and run in the fresh air when going to feed the ducks or playing on the park. Painting, water play and small-wheeled toys are provided in the rear outdoor area and children have opportunities to use pedal cycles and larger climbing equipment when they go to different groups and community areas. Children feel safe in this childcare environment, frequently showing their affection towards the childminder and her assistant. They climb up onto their knees and sit up close when playing on

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and outcomes for children

the floor building the train track. Children are learning to understand some of the routines that help to keep them safe from potential danger. For example, they know they must allow their hot food to cool before they eat it, and to stay close to the childminder when outside in public places or near the road.

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and outcomes for children

Children’s behaviour is very positive. This is because they receive calm and consistent guidance as they learn right from wrong in a supportive environment. They willingly tidy away resources before moving on to new activities and happily play together learning to share and take turns. Toddlers are supported alongside older children, with them all given appropriate time to follow their own interests in their play. Children develop some awareness of similarities and differences as they access a small range of books, dolls and puzzles in the home environment that reflect diversity. They are, however, also exposed to a wider experience when they attend the play bus and nursery class sessions, where they can take part in creative activities connected to different festivals and special events, such as, Chinese New Year or Divali. Children were enthusiastic when choosing how to decorate their Halloween cards and talked about the party they were going to at

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and outcomes for children

the weekend and the costumes they were going to wear. 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 3 The effectiveness of the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement The effectiveness of partnerships 2 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 3 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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