Childminder in LancashireOfsted inspection, 28 Apr 2010

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY311474 Inspection date 28/04/2010 Inspector Lisa Patterson

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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. She lives with her husband, also a childminder, daughter, aged 16, and baby grandson in Fleetwood. The home is close to shops, parks, schools and the promenade. Minded children have access to the whole of the ground floor, inclusive of front and rear lounge, kitchen/dining room and downstairs toilet. Additional bathroom facilities and two bedrooms for sleeping purposes are available on the first floor. There is an enclosed garden to the front and rear of the premises for outdoor play. Family pets include a 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. When working with another childminder at this address this number increases to eight, no more than three of the children may be in the early years age group. There are currently two children in the early years age range on roll. She also offers care to children aged from five to 11 years, and is registered by Ofsted on both 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

Children's needs are suitably met because the childminder has an adequate understanding of their individual requirements, gained through reasonable partnerships with parents. Adequate systems are in place to support children's progress towards the early learning goals, though tracking and planning for progression is weak. As a result, children make adequate progress in their learning and development. Risk assessments and daily checks identify most areas of risk, and sound safeguarding procedures are in place to maintain the welfare of the children. The childminder is committed to developing her provision further and has completed the Ofsted self-evaluation form to monitor her provision.

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further?

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

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further?

 update the risk assessment when renovation work is completed upstairs and review the assessment of risk regarding children sleeping in the front garden  provide a greater selection of flexible resources that can be used in many different ways to facilitate children's play and exploration  develop systems for tracking children through using sensitive observational assessment, in order to plan and provide experiences which are appropriate to each child's stage of development as they progress towards the early learning goals, sharing information more readily with parents. 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 safeguarded because the childminder has a clear understanding of child protection, underpinned through recent training. There is a clear policy outlining her responsibilities and highlighting contact details to ensure these are close at hand. Risk assessments are updated regularly, including where there are changes to the premises, and risks are minimised through additional daily checks. Renovation work is currently being carried out on the first floor and poses several risks to the children. They are, however, prevented from accessing this area until the work is completed. Sleeping arrangements in the front garden are not fully effective in maintaining children's safety. All required documentation is in place, shared with parents and completed in full. As a result, all required information is available should the need arise.

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the early years provision

The childminder is committed to improving her provision and has completed the Ofsted self-evaluation form adequately. She has made a good start in implementing the learning and development requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage, and reasonable monitoring systems for every child are now in place. She has attended training on safeguarding and special education needs to update her knowledge and skills in these areas.

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the early years provision

There is a good selection of age-appropriate resources available to the children. Resources are currently stored in the front lounge and rotated to maintain interest. Children self-select from the resources available, though the childminder does offer alternatives where she feels this would promote their individual development. Children who are developing their spatial awareness and coordination skills are offered jigsaws of differing levels of difficulty.

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the early years provision

Parents enjoy supportive relationships with the childminder. They receive information about the setting prior to their child attending and daily verbal exchanges of information take place. Some photographs are sent home with parents, however, parents are not fully encouraged to take part in their child's learning journey. Close liaisons with other settings providing the Early Years Foundation Stage have been used to good effect in supporting the individual needs of children; this means all children are fully included.

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and outcomes for children

Children feel safe, secure and happy in the setting because the childminder is close at hand at all times. They enjoy cuddles and look to her for reassurance when a stranger arrives. There are clear, consistently applied boundaries in place, which help children to stay safe and learn right from wrong. The home is clean and well maintained, and hygiene standards are good: the childminder uses antibacterial gel to wash her hands, and cleans down the changing mat following nappy changes. Children are encouraged to take on plenty of fluid from individual cups and enjoy home cooked meals and snacks, for example, home-made carrot soup. Individual This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 dietary requirements are fully understood and catered for.

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and outcomes for children

Each child has an individual record of achievement showing photographs of activities in which they have been involved with comments below. This gives a picture of what the children have been doing and what they like. It does not, however, fully track their progress towards the early learning goals, because starting points are not clearly identified and next steps are not always linked to where children are up to now. This means that individual needs are not always clearly identified or strategies put in place for extending their learning, with reference to the Early Years Foundation Stage framework as guidance.

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and outcomes for children

Effective strategies, such as, distraction and praise are in place to help children to learn to share and take turns. Babies are beginning to feed themselves. They are developing an understanding of their own needs, such as, when they are thirsty they point to their cup. The childminder talks to them all the time and mimics their babbles. They sing action rhymes together; this develops their conversational skills and understanding of language. They place stacking cups inside one another and older children enjoy jigsaws and making pictures using shapes. They learn to look after the world through incidental conversations about where paper comes from, and recycling, through which they learn not to be wasteful. Babies enjoy a wide variety of push button toys and equipment and this provides the basis for an understanding of programmable toys. Many of the toys and resources are commercially produced and children have little experience of natural resources or

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and outcomes for children

flexible resources; this limits the possibility to explore textures, shapes, temperatures and weights. They enjoy regular fresh air and exercise, walks along the promenade and going to the park. Planned creative activities give children the opportunity to explore a range of different media and express themselves individually. 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 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 2 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 2 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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