Childminder in Trafford

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY399780 Inspection date 19/01/2011 Inspector Sarah Rhodes

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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 2009. She lives with her husband, two adult daughters and son aged 13 years. The family live in the Timperley area of Trafford. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding. This includes the lounge, back sitting room, dining room and kitchen. Bathroom facilities are situated on the first floor. There is a fully enclosed rear garden for outdoor play. The family has two dogs, three hamsters and a cat.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to provide care for a maximum of four children under eight years, three of whom may be in the early years age group. She is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She is currently minding three children in this age group. The childminder goes to several toddler groups regularly.

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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

The childminder aims to provide a home-from-home environment, with care that meets each individual child's needs. She has organised the main play areas to provide for a wide range of interesting activities and allow easy supervision of the children. She works with parents to ensure she understands and accommodates any additional requirements the children may have. The childminder is still developing her knowledge of the six areas of learning. She is also in the early stages of implementing the observation and assessment requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage and procedures for assessing each child's progress. Systems for evaluating the provision's strengths and weaknesses have been introduced but are not yet used to drive improvement.

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further?

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

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further?

 improve the methods for recording observations and assessments and use these to identify and plan the learning priorities for each child, matching the observations to the expectations of the different aspects of the early learning goals and involve parents in the process  develop the use of self-evaluation as part of an internal review to inform planning of future improvements  set and record a review date for risk assessments  develop activities that help to expand children's awareness of diversity. 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 to a satisfactory level. The childminder ensures that she has an adequate knowledge of child protection procedures, her ultimate role in reporting concerns and what records need to be kept. She has a written policy as a reference document. She has undertaken risk assessments for both the premises and outings, but the written record does not include a review date. Fire prevention equipment is in place and emergency evacuations have been practised with children, to enhance their ability to cope in an emergency. All adult household members have been notified to Ofsted and visitors are supervised.

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the early years provision

The childminder has started to complete a self-evaluation form just prior to the inspection, she therefore has not had time to use it to systematically aid her in continuing to drive improvement in her provision. However, the childminder has attended a number of courses in addition to all the required courses. She also has plans in place to attend further courses, for example, on observation and assessment, an area she has identified with her local authority support worker as in need of development.

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the early years provision

The childminder has warm relationships with the parents who are confident to ask for her advice. She has a number of policies and parents have copies of these to read. This ensures that they are clear about how the childminder operates right from the beginning of the placement and they can refer back to these policies whenever they need clarification. Written parental permission is obtained, for example, for outings and to seek emergency medical advice and treatment. The childminder places much emphasis on the verbal exchanges with parents and works well in supporting parents' wishes as children, for example, go through periods of having additional medical needs. She shares her observation files with parents, which extends their knowledge of some of the activities undertaken. The childminder is aware of the need to liaise with others who provide Early Years Foundation Stage provision for the children in her care and builds on the activities

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the early years provision

undertaken at nursery when the children return to her setting. She understands the needs of the individual children she cares for and has organised her play space, to provide a cosy and practical space. This allows children to access a range of appropriate equipment as well as quiet areas and areas for table top play and craft work. This ensures that no child is disadvantaged and all children have their needs met effectively.

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and outcomes for children

The provision for children's learning, development and welfare is satisfactory. The children benefit from a warm, homely atmosphere, where the childminder is very aware of their individual needs and attends promptly to them. The childminder has introduced a system for recording brief notes of some of the children's This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 achievements supported by photographs. She has linked these to the broad overarching six areas of learning. Currently the childminder does not systematically plan the next steps in children's learning. Also there is no easy way for parents or the childminder to see how the children are progressing towards all aspects of the early learning goals or for parents to contribute their own thoughts to their child's profile. This impacts on the childminder's ability to monitor that a full range of activities covering all aspects of the six areas of learning are being provided for

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and outcomes for children

children and that information from parents on children's development is captured and acted on.

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and outcomes for children

Children are settled, happy and confident in the childminder's home. She ensures an inviting range of activities are provided, which keeps children well occupied. They enjoy lots of conversation to encourage their speech and often sing songs spontaneously. Books, rhymes and songs are used to encourage an enjoyment of words and rhythm. Children are starting to make marks with crayons and they enjoy using paints. Counting and identifying colour and shape are woven into the daily routines, for example, when singing songs or craft sessions decorating with stickers. The natural world is explored during walks in the local area, as well as when playing in the garden with the sand. Provision of equipment that extends children's knowledge of cultures and beliefs is satisfactory, activities to extend their knowledge are currently more limited. Children have access to larger equipment in the local parks, giving children opportunities to develop their balancing and

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and outcomes for children

The childminder provides a healthy diet, which includes fruit and vegetables. The children are enthusiastic about feeding themselves. General procedures about hygiene, both personal hygiene and hygiene of the home, allows children to enjoy a clean and healthy environment. Even young children understand about hygiene routines, for example, changing the table cloth from a craft one to a dining cloth before lunch. Children are also encouraged to keep themselves safe; they learn about road safety and rules for being near roads. The childminder manages the children's behaviour in a positive way praising the children, using distraction and ensuring simple rules are clear to children. Children are making acceptable progress in developing skills for the future and the move to school when the time comes. 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 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 2 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 3 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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