Childminder in Bolton

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY341661 Inspection date 14/01/2010 Inspector Susan Janet Lee

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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 2006. She lives with her husband and two children aged three and seven. The childminder may provide care in her own home and also in her mother's home, when working with her mother, who is also a registered childminder.

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Description of the childminding

When caring for children in her own home, the whole of the ground floor and the bathroom and one bedroom on the first floor are used for childminding purposes. Access is gained to the property at the front of the house on the ground floor level.

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Description of the childminding

When working at her mother's home, the lounge, kitchen, bathroom and bedroom in the annexe of the property are used for childminding purposes. There is a rear garden available for outdoor play. Access is gained to the property at the front of the house on the ground floor level.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to provide care for a maximum of three children at any one time. When working with another childminder, together, they are registered to provide care for a maximum of nine children. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. There are currently two children in the early years age group on roll. The childminder is able to take and collect children from the local primary school and 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

The children are kept safe and their welfare is promoted in a secure and inclusive environment. The childminder knows the children well and meets their needs effectively. The children make good progress in their learning and development. The childminder shares positive working relationships with parents and good arrangements are in place to keep them informed about their children's daily activities and developmental progress. Successful procedures regarding self- evaluation are in place and enable the childminder to identify her strengths and areas for future development.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop written observations of the children at play so that they link to all related aspects of the six areas of learning. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

Children's welfare is effectively safeguarded. The childminder makes documentation available to parents so that they may be assured that members of the family over the age of 16 have been vetted and are deemed suitable. The childminder has attended training in relation to safeguarding children and she has a secure understanding of her duty to protect children from potential harm. The childminder takes positive steps to ensure that the environment and resources are sustainable. The premises are well organised and conducive to children's learning. There is a wide range of resources available which are well used to support children's learning and development.

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the early years provision

The childminder is an enthusiastic childcare practitioner who demonstrates ambition and who has a good commitment to further improve the service she provides. The childminder attends training to further develop her childcare practice and she is currently studying for a childcare qualification. The childminder's procedures for self-evaluation are detailed and comprehensive and give an accurate analysis of her strengths and areas for development. Parents and children are meaningfully involved in the evaluation process. Recommendations from the last inspection have been successfully met. There is now a system in place to record complaints. The childminder ensures that good hygiene practices are in place in relation to hand washing and effective systems are in place regarding planning and assessment. Future plans are well targeted to bring about further improvement to the setting and outcomes for children.

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the early years provision

The childminder ensures that the environment is welcoming and accepting of everyone. She demonstrates a positive attitude towards children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who speak English as an additional language. Parents are provided with a wealth of information about the setting. The childminder has developed a portfolio which includes information about herself and her family, the previous inspection report and a full range of written policies and procedures. These documents are shown and discussed with parents at the first meeting. Parents are given copies of the policies, helping to build good working associations and a mutual understanding from an early stage. The childminder works closely with parents to meet their children's individual needs. Parents are kept well informed of their children's daily activities and developmental progress. The childminder has a good understanding of establishing links with other agencies

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the early years provision

and settings to ensure children's needs are met and to provide continuity of care.

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and outcomes for children

The children are cared for in a welcoming and homely environment. The childminder has developed a questionnaire which parents complete to help gather information about the children's starting points. The childminder observes the children at play and uses this information to chart their development and to plan their next steps in learning. However, written observations are not always linked to This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 all related areas of learning. The children have development files and scrap books which include written observations, photographs and examples of their artwork, showing their enjoyment and developmental progress. The childminder provides good support to ensure children’s personal and learning needs are met. She spends time with the children and follows their interests and their direction of play. The childminder has a good understanding of children's individual needs and she

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and outcomes for children

values children's uniqueness. She shares warm relationships with the children. This positive sense of well-being gives the children a secure foundation on which to play, explore and develop.

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and outcomes for children

The children enjoy joining in everyday activities and they develop good self-help skills as they choose what to play with, help to tidy toys away, wash their hands, feed themselves and drink from a cup. The children develop good language skills because the childminder engages them as partners in conversation. The children begin to think about past, present and future. They talk about significant events in their lives and about their families. The children are able to recall past experiences. For example, a child talks about visiting a farm with the childminder and holding a little chick.

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and outcomes for children

The children enjoy being creative. They make collage pictures of snowflakes. The childminder introduces words such as 'lots', 'little', 'more', 'big' and 'small'. The children then enjoy making people out of wooden spoons. They add facial features, hair and clothes. The children develop a sense of their own identity as the childminder talks to them about their own individual features. The children stand their wooden spoon people up and move them about and use their voices to make their models speak. The childminder talks to the children about their pictures and models and admires their creations. The children find out about and use everyday objects and information and communication technology. They have fun playing with a remote controlled car and are able to use the controls to make the car travel in different directions.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder reads the children a story. They listen intently and are able to participate as they turn the pages, look and talk about the pictures and anticipate what will happen next. The children then look at a book about animals. They are able to name each animal and make the correct animal sounds. The children explore how sounds can be changed as they make quiet and loud animal noises. The children develop hand eye coordination and their fine manipulative skills as they thread shaped discs onto a lace. The children are able to match by colour and recognise simple shapes.

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and outcomes for children

The children have opportunities to learn about themselves, each other and the world around them. They also benefit from activities outside the home and this widens their experiences and helps them to develop an awareness of their local community. The children have lots of opportunities to take part in exercise and physical activities in the fresh air. They play in the garden and go on trips to the park, country parks, a farm and the seaside. Photographical documentation shows the children visiting a country park where they climb, slide, swing, play parachute games, balance on a rope bridge and ride on a donkey. All such activities contribute to the children's good health and physical development. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 Children's safety and well-being is promoted through effective health and safety procedures and practices. Children learn the importance of good personal hygiene

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and outcomes for children

through the well planned daily routines. For example, they wash their hands and brush their teeth at appropriate times of the day. The children develop an understanding of healthy eating because the childminder provides a menu which includes home cooked meals and fruit and vegetables to aid their growth and development. The children grow strawberries and tomatoes and make fruit kebabs and salads. The childminder helps the children to learn to keep themselves safe through daily routines and planned activities. The children are engaged and stimulated and this helps to prevent boredom. The childminder acts as a positive role model to the children. She reminds them to use 'please' and 'thank you' and encourages them to share and take turns. As a result, the children develop an understanding of acceptable behaviour from a very early age. The childminder acknowledges children's achievements and contributions. Consequently, the

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and outcomes for children

children grow in self-assurance and they feel valued and special. 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 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 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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