Childminder in Sefton

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY352330 Inspection date 13/01/2011 Inspector Lynn Dent

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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 2007. She lives with her husband and three children aged 16, 14 and 10 years in the Maghull area of Liverpool. The whole of the ground floor of the childminder's house is used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register to care for a maximum of five children under eight years at any one time. She is currently minding seven children, all are in the early years age range.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. She attends the local carer and toddler group, takes children to the library and to the park.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder supports children with special educational needs and children who speak English as an additional language. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association. Partnership arrangements are in place with the local childminding network.

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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

Children are happy, settled and confident, because the childminder ensures that she has the information about their individual care, learning and development needs. The required personal records for the care of the children for most children are in place. Effective flexible planning means that children receive a good balance of activities within the home, outdoors and at local groups. The childminder fosters extremely close working relationships with parents and carers by providing them with information about her services and comprehensive feedback about their child's care and learning. She develops strong partnerships with others involved in the children's lives, for example, specialist workers, and other providers making sure that the needs of all children are met. Efficient systems to monitor and evaluate practice and to drive development include the users of the service.

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further?

To meet the specific requirements of the EYFS, the registered person must:

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further?

 maintain records to meet the needs of the children; this is with regards to personal information about all the children cared for (Documentation) 03/02/2011

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further?

To further improve the early years provision the registered person should: This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006  ensure that all records are easily accessible at all times.

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the early years provision

Children are safeguarded because the childminder has a robust understanding of the indicators of abuse and neglect and child protection procedures. The childminder has implemented a range of safety measure within her home to keep children safe, for example, low-level cupboards are fitted with safety locks. Thorough risk assessments ensure that the home, resources and outings promote children's welfare. The childminder provides a good range of developmentally appropriate toys and resources both within the home and in the garden.

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the early years provision

The childminder gives attentive consideration to the inclusion of all children and effectively organises activities and learning opportunities so that they are fully enabled to participate according to their age and capability. Excellent arrangements with other specialists means that children with special educational needs receive the dedicated support they need to reach their full potential. Highly effective partnerships with parents means they are fully informed and included in their child's lives, learning and development at all times. The childminder is innovative in helping parents to extend their child's learning at home by providing books and activities for them to do. The childminder has established excellent working relationships with other early years providers involved in the children's lives, very effectively promoting coherence in their learning.

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the early years provision

This childminder has a range of written policies that underpin the health, safety and welfare of the children. She collects the required personal information about the children from parents. However, on the day of inspection these records were not in place for two children. Consequently, although the childminder had the relevant contact numbers for their carers some required information was not maintained to meet the needs of the children. The childminder collects detailed information about the children's stage of development and learning at induction. As a result she is able to build on what they know and can already do. By interacting with the children and observing them at play the childminder develops a clear understanding of the children's stage of development and learning. This effectively enables her to identify their learning priorities. This information is used well to plan future experiences. Consequently, children are making good progress

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and outcomes for children

This childminder is qualified and experienced which means that she effectively plans and provides a wide range of activities and experiences that promote the outcomes for children of all ages. Children enjoy stories such as 'We're going on a bear hunt' because the childminder plays this on a CD and acts it out with them. They have ready access to a good range of books such as stories, those about different cultures and everyday situations, for example, going to the dentist. Older This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 children are effectively helped to read as the childminder provides books from a recognised reading scheme. Children have access to information technology in the form of early computer type toys which help them learn mathematical and language and literacy skills.

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and outcomes for children

Children enter this childminder's home with confidence and are eager to take part in the good range of developmentally appropriate experiences offered to them each day. For example, they are learning about shapes as they complete inset jigsaws. Younger children draw around different shapes and can identify circles. They show they are keen to learn new shapes as they ask the childminder what different ones are. This also helps extend children's language. Children enjoy singing simple rhymes such as 'Twinkle, twinkle, little star' and match actions to words as they sing. The childminder involves babies in this activity by sitting them on her knee and helping them to do the actions. Consequently, all children are involved at their individual developmental stage.

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and outcomes for children

Children enjoy their time with the childminder because they are made to feel special and receive good levels of care and attention. This effectively promotes their confidence and self-esteem. The childminder cares for children with special educational needs and those who speak English as an additional language. They make excellent progress because the childminder is pro-active in ensuring she has the information and skills to meet their individual needs. For example, working to set targets and communicating in their own language or using pictures and gestures to communicate. Children are learning about diversity, other cultures and lifestyles through a range of different activities. Recently they dressed up and ate foods to celebrate Chinese New Year.

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and outcomes for children

Children have an acute awareness of good hygiene and healthy living. They use hand gel on arrival at the childminder's and throughout the day. They understand about healthy foods as they help grow and eat strawberries and potatoes. The childminder provides freshly cooked food, most is organically produced. Children develop a strong sense of safety from a young age. They show this as they close the door and help to lock it when their parents leave and explain they must wear a safety belt in the car. They are learning how to care for the environment as they help the childminder to recycle food waste, paper and other products. 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 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 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 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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