Childminder in KnowsleyOfsted inspection, 10 Jan 2011

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 322209 Inspection date 10/01/2011 Inspector Lindsay Dobson

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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 assesses 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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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 1991. She lives with her husband who is also a registered childminder and two grown up children in Knowsley, Liverpool. The childminder uses the whole of the ground floor of her home for childcare purposes and bathroom facilities are available on the first floor. There is a secure, fully enclosed garden for children's outdoor play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and both parts of the Childcare Register to care for a maximum of six children under eight years when working alone, and nine children under eight years when working with her husband. There are currently nine children on roll, of whom six are in the early years age range. Children attend on a full and part-time basis. The childminder walks or uses her car to take and collect children from school and she regularly attends the local toddler group and childminder drop-in sessions.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder has an NVQ 3 qualification. She receives support from the local authority and is a member of the National Childminding Association and local childminding network.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is outstanding.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The childminder demonstrates an excellent understanding of her strengths and areas for development, which effectively contributes to the ongoing improvement of the service. Children are at the heart of all that happens at the setting. Their sense of belonging is expertly fostered through the extremely warm, welcoming and homely atmosphere. Children are provided with an excellent range of exciting experiences which enrich their overall development. Their individual learning needs are met extremely well, through highly innovative personalised planning, rigorous assessments and the childminder working in effective partnership with parents and others offering the Early Years Foundation Stage. The childminder has a very clear sense of direction and gives utmost priority to self-evaluation, continuous improvement and opportunities for training and development.

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further?

To further improve the high quality early years provision the registered person should consider:

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further?

 introducing numbers as labels to create a more number rich environment for children. 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 extremely well-safeguarded. Robust policies and procedures are shared with parents and the childminder has an excellent understanding of her role and responsibilities with regards to safeguarding children's welfare. She has attended extensive training in this area to ensure that her knowledge and understanding remains up-to-date and in line with local guidance. Effective and detailed risk assessments and daily safety checks ensure that both the indoor and outdoor play areas are safe and that risks to children are minimised. Children are closely supervised by the childminder and her co-minder at all times and all visitors to the setting are required to sign the visitor's book.

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the early years provision

The childminder is very committed to her own self-development. She has completed a National Vocational Qualification to level 3 in Children's Care, Learning and Development. She has attended training sessions and workshops relating to the care and welfare of children and the learning and development requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. This has allowed her to implement the framework in a highly effective way. The childminder is part of the local childminding network and regularly attends their meetings and groups where good practice is shared; she further enhances this by working closely with the local authority development worker.

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the early years provision

The childminder has developed effective systems of self-evaluation and continually reviews practice to ensure success and improvement. She welcomes views from parents and children through questionnaires and updates written documentation as required in line with changes. Partnership working with parents is a key strength; the childminder provides a daily journal for younger children and welcomes information sharing with parents on a daily basis. Information is displayed prominently in the setting and parents are welcome to share children's achievements at home to contribute to their learning journeys. The childminder is aware of the importance of working with other key persons to share targets to support children's learning and progress. The childminder is highly committed to her role and driving improvement; she recognises that her service is continually evolving and strives to build on current practice through additional training and

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the early years provision

evaluation. She welcomes the inspection process and has addressed the previous recommendations made.

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the early years provision

Equality and diversity are of key importance to the childminder and are very effectively promoted with the children. A varied and interesting range of resources and planned and spontaneous activities ensure the children develop a positive self- image, an interest in others and the local community, and a curiosity about the wider world. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

Children make outstanding progress towards the early learning goals and in all areas of their development because the childminder has an excellent understanding of both child development and the Early Years Foundation Stage. She is skilled at planning activities that spark the children's interest and provide opportunities for them to investigate, explore and learn new skills. For example, children have the opportunity to grow their own herbs, fruits and vegetables in a designated vegetable patch in the garden and in the local childminder's allotment. The childminder has set up a designated play room for the children where they can freely choose from and access an extensive range of quality resources linking to all areas of learning. Children see their artwork and photographs displayed on the wall which raises their self-esteem and sense of belonging in the setting. Each child has a developmental profile. Observations and assessments in the profile clearly show

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and outcomes for children

how children are developing and are linked to the areas of learning. Identified next steps are effectively used to promote challenge in children's play and the childminder enhances individual profiles with a good use of photographs.

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and outcomes for children

Children's personal, social and emotional development is positively promoted by the childminder as children learn to share, take turns and show care and concern for each other. Children love role play activities and regularly stretch their imaginations as they make and design their own dens or act out from their own experiences as they dress up as the doctor, fire and police officer. The childminder has gathered extensive supporting resources for the children so as they engage in these roles they have the tools to enhance their play. For example, children spend time in the 'hairdressers' and use brushes, combs, hair slides and hair extensions to create new styles for each other. The childminder talks to the children about their home life. As she knows the children very well she is able to ask about members of their family and children enjoy talking about what they have done at the weekend. The excellent interaction between the childminder and the children

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and outcomes for children

and their ongoing conversations enables the childminder to promote children's communication, language and literacy well. She asks them open ended questions to encourage them to think for themselves. For example, when children make a shape with the play dough, the childminder asks 'what did we see when we were digging in the garden which looks like that?'. Children remember the worms they found and follow this up by looking at the photographs in their developmental profiles and talking about the pictures they see. The childminder encourages their vocabulary by introducing them to new words such as wiggly, long and thin. Children can clearly see that print carries meaning in the setting as toy boxes are labelled and written words are displayed on the walls. Children confidently count during their play and use words to describe shape and size. This is because the childminder is exceptionally skilful in including mathematical language, colours and

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and outcomes for children

counting into activities. However, numbers are not continuously displayed in the play room to create a number rich environment for the more able children.

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and outcomes for children

All children develop an excellent sense of worth through the first class interaction, care and attention they receive from the childminder. For example, children respond eagerly to constant praise and encouragement and enjoy the warm, This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 caring reassurance from the childminder. They feel good about themselves, show respect for each other and are beginning to manage their own behaviour successfully. The childminder has high expectations and her highly effective use of praise ensures children feel self-assured and supported. The childminder has an excellent understanding of food nutrition and offers children fruit and vegetables each day. A menu is displayed informing parents about meal choices, and meals are freshly prepared, including dishes from different cultures. All meals are provided according to the dietary needs of the children, who are often involved in

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and outcomes for children

helping to prepare their own meals. The childminder ensures children are making excellent progress in their physical development by providing an abundance of opportunities to develop control and to move their bodies in various ways. For example, children ride on a variety of toys requiring different skills to make them move; they balance and use the exercise equipment in the park, dance to music and manipulate a vast amount of different consistencies on a daily basis, such as play dough and crazy foam. Children learn about their own safety through following the excellent practice of the childminder. She constantly, but gently, reminds children of safety rules to reinforce safe practice. Children regularly practice the fire drill and have a good understanding of road safety and stranger danger through the daily outings and planned activities they take part in. She explains rules and boundaries to help children understand why rules exist. This

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and outcomes for children

gives them confidence to explore and learn in a safe and secure, yet challenging, environment. 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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Early Years Foundation Stage

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 1 The effectiveness of the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement The effectiveness of partnerships 1 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 1

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 1 The extent to which children feel safe 1 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 1

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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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