Childminder in Cheshire West and Chester

Inspection report for early years provision

p.1

Unique reference number 501289 Inspection date 14/01/2010 Inspector Sylvia Cornock

p.1

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 0300 123 1231, 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.

p.1

Royal Exchange Buildings St Ann's Square Manchester M2 7LA

p.2

T: 0300 123 1231 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

p.2

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.

p.3

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).

p.3

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.

p.3

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

p.3

Description of the childminding

The childminder was registered in 2001. She lives with her husband and one grown-up child in Winsford, Cheshire. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding purposes. There is a secure garden available for outdoor play.

p.4

Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children at any one time, of whom, three may be within the early years age group. When working with another childminder at the above premises, they may care for a total of no more than 12 children, of whom, no more than six may be within the early years age group. The two childminders are currently caring for 10 children in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), all on a part-time basis. They also care for older school aged children. This provision is registered by Ofsted on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. The family has two dogs.

p.4

Description of the childminding

The childminder takes and meets children to the local nursery and schools.

p.4

The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is good.

p.4

The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The childminder and her co-childminder provide a stimulating, caring and educational environment for children. They are well supported and make good progress in their learning and development, as the childminder has a good understanding of how children learn through play and everyday experiences. Children are kept safe and their welfare is given high priority. Policies and procedures support the childminding provision. Partnerships with parents is good. The childminder has addressed the two actions and one recommendation in part from the last inspection which supports children's safety and development. She and her co-childminder have reviewed the policies and procedures and developed a system for recording risk assessments for outings. She has made some improvements in the development of the observations and has identified that these can be further developed. Also, areas identified for future improvement are to

p.4

The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

develop working with other provisions who provide the EYFS and further develop the system for the recording of risk assessments for outings.

p.4

further?

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

p.4

further?

 ensure effective continuity and progression for children who attend other provisions by sharing relevant information with each other and parents  extend the use of the observations and assessments to plan next steps to meet children's development and learning needs  ensure risk assessments for outings contain full details of places visited. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

p.4

the early years provision

Children are well safeguarded because the childminder is well organised and prioritises safety. She has a good understanding of the procedure to follow if she has concerns that a child is being abused. She has comprehensive policies and procedures which all parents have seen. The childminder is vigilant in ensuring children are safe both within and outside the home. Regular evacuations of the premises are completed. The childminder completes risk assessments for each area of the home and garden. However, the risk assessments completed for outings contains limited information. She adopts safe practices, such as using safety gates and keeping entrance doors locked. She maintains necessary first aid training and deals with accidents and illness appropriately, keeping required records. Parents sign consent to the seeking of any necessary emergency medical treatment. Policies and procedures support the day-to-day childminding well,

p.5

the early years provision

because they are regularly reviewed and are shared with parents.

p.5

the early years provision

The childminder has organised her home enabling children to freely access and choose from the superb range of resources available. There is regular outdoor play in the garden, with an excellent array of outdoor apparatus and equipment to support children's creative and physical development. Outings and visits to places of interest are a regular occurrence. The childminder cares for children of varying ages at any one time. She promotes an enabling, inclusive environment where children are helped to value different aspects of their own and other people's lives. Children's understanding of cultural diversity and disabilities are promoted through resources and activities which highlight differences. The childminder is enthusiastic, conscientious and strongly committed towards continually improving the overall quality of care and education she provides for children and their families. For example, her vision to change the storage area into a quiet reading

p.5

the early years provision

and writing area where children engage in activities to support their language and literacy skills has been developed. She has completed a self-evaluation form to highlight her settings strengths and weaknesses. Priorities for improvement are well targeted to bring about further improvement and promote positive outcomes for children.

p.5

the early years provision

Relationships with parents are good. They are based upon verbal communication and the completion of children's scrap books to show how they are progressing. Parents' opinions are highly valued and they all praise the childminder in written comments and cards received. The childminder ensures that parents play an important role in their children's learning. However, the sharing of relevant information for children attending more than one setting has not been implemented. This means that joint plans to consistently promote and complement individual children's progress are not in place. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

p.5

and outcomes for children

The provision for children's learning, development and welfare is very good. The childminder plays with children purposefully, offering them sufficient challenge and helping them to develop confidence, imagination, communication and problem solving skills. For example, she supports children as they use a variety of writing equipment in the quiet area which has recently been introduced. They have many opportunities to use their counting skills and understand number operation as they hold up the number of fingers to describe the number two or three. They show a sense of pride as they concentrate and complete the object they are building with the construction kits. They complete and create pictures using pencils and crayons with older children reciting the colours the are using. The children use good language as they communicate with one another in their play. Resources are of excellent quality and quantity giving children ample choice from the accessible

p.6

and outcomes for children

toys, games and materials around the room. They confidently play with the small world figures, cars, construction bricks and engage in independent role play.

p.6

and outcomes for children

The childminder is vigilant and uses many safety features to keep young children safe. She teaches children how to be safe through discussion and practice. Children also learn how to walk and cross roads safely and have regular trips out to the parks and places of interest. This helps them view the local environment and how to care for living things as they search for insects and observe animals at the farm. Children behave well and enjoy good levels of fresh air and exercise every day. Indoors they are able to move around the room with ease selecting their chosen activity. The childminder shows excellent personal hygiene through regular hand washing and children's health and well-being is superbly catered for. The childminder offers nutritious snacks and meals where children have a choice. Children have a good understanding of hygiene procedures as they are reminded to wash their hands at appropriate times. Younger children are helped by the

p.6

and outcomes for children

childminder overseeing this practice or by supplying individual hand wipes.

p.6

and outcomes for children

The childminder has a good knowledge of the five 'outcomes for children' and is aware of the six areas of learning. She and her co-minder record children's achievements through photographs and observations with written comments of what individual children can do. However, in recent months this system has lapsed and is not completed for every child attending, although the childminder does plan activities based on what the child initiates and what their interests are, with adult activities undertaking visits to other places of interest. The childminder provides a wide range of suitable activities and interests to promote children's learning and her personal input helps to meet each child's needs resulting in good progress. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

p.6

Annex A: record of inspection judgements

The key inspection judgements and what they mean

p.7

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

p.7

children in the Early Years Foundation Stage?

The capacity of the provision to maintain continuous improvement

p.7

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 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

p.7

Stage

The quality of the provision in the Early Years Foundation Stage 2

p.7

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 1 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 2 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 2

p.7

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

p.7

Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register are: Met

p.8

Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are: Met

p.8