Childminder in Cheshire West and Chester

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY308431 Inspection date 14/01/2010 Inspector Sylvia Cornock

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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 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.

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

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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

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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. He lives with his wife 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.

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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.

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Description of the childminding

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

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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 childminder and his co-childminder provide a happy, welcoming environment for children in which children's welfare is successfully promoted. All children make good progress in their learning and development, as the childminder has a good understanding of how children learn through play and everyday experiences. Effective partnerships with parents ensures the needs of all children are well met. The childminder has addressed the two actions and one recommendation in part from the last inspection which supports children's safety and development. He and his co-childminder have reviewed the policies and procedures and developed a system for recording risk assessments for outings. He has made some improvements in the development of the observations and has identified that these can be further developed. Also, areas identified for future improvements are to develop working with other provisions who provide the EYFS and further develop

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

the system for the recording of risk assessments for outings.

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further?

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

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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

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the early years provision

Children are well safeguarded because the childminder is well organised and prioritises safety. The policies and procedures for child protection are shared with parents and he has a good understanding of the procedure to follow if he has concerns that a child is being abused. The childminder is vigilant in ensuring children are safe both within and outside the home. The childminder involves children in regular evacuations of the premises to enhance their understanding of staying safe in an emergency. The childminder completes risk assessments for each area of the home and garden. However the risk assessments completed for outings contains limited information. Safe practices, such as using safety gates, keeping entrance doors locked and the use of CCTV further support children's safety. He maintains necessary first aid training and deals with accidents and illness appropriately, keeping required records. Parents sign consent to the seeking

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the early years provision

of any necessary emergency medical treatment.

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the early years provision

The childminder has organised his 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 planned on a regular basis. The childminder cares for children of varying ages at any one time. He promotes an enabling, inclusive environment where children are helped to value different aspects of their own and other people's lives. For example, children are currently engaged in the festival 'Chinese New Year' and they have engaged in art and craft activities and they view the calendar displayed which is in Chinese writing. This helps them understand cultural diversity and differences.

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the early years provision

The childminder is committed towards continually improving the overall quality of care and education he provides for children and their families. For example, his vision to build a wooden play house in the courtyard enabling children to engage in outdoor play in all weathers has been achieved. This supports children's physical and role play skills. Along with his co-minder he has completed a self-evaluation to highlight the settings strengths and weaknesses to ensure they are ongoing. Priorities for improvement are well targeted to bring about further improvement and promote positive outcomes for children.

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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 through letters and cards received. The childminder encourages parents to play an important role in their children's learning. The childminder takes children to, and meets children from, the local nursery and schools. However, the sharing of relevant information for children attending both settings 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

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and outcomes for children

The provision for children's learning, development and welfare is very good. The childminder plays with children purposefully. For example, helping the younger aged children to build the wooden train track, at the same time offering them sufficient challenge to develop confidence and problem solving in linking the pieces together themselves. They listen and follow instruction showing an expression of delight as they achieve their goal. 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 and three, when talking about their age. Older children 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 and use the selection of diaries in the writing area in their role play. The children use good language as they communicate with one another in

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and outcomes for children

their play. Resources are of excellent quality and quantity giving children ample choice from the accessible toys, games and materials around the room. They confidently play with the small world figures, cars, construction bricks and engage in independent role play.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder is vigilant and uses many safety features to keep young children safe. He 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. 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. They love to dance and move to the music and rhymes they view on the television monitor. The childminder shows excellent personal hygiene when nappy changing through regular hand washing and using anti-bacterial spray to support children's health and well-being from cross infections. 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

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and outcomes for children

by the childminder overseeing this practice or by supplying individual hand wipes. The older children show their independence as they put on their coats and access their bags ready for the walk to nursery.

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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. He and his 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 his 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

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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 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 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 1 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 1 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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