Childminder in Manchester

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY364642 Inspection date 08/02/2011 Inspector Jane O'Callaghan

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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 2008. She lives with her husband on the outskirts of Manchester. The whole of the ground floor and the upstairs bathroom are used for childminding purposes. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She is registered to care for a maximum of six children under eight years at any one time. The childminder currently has five children on roll. Three are in the early years age range and two are in the compulsory childcare group.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder collects and takes children to local schools and visits parks and places of interest. She has tortoise and three cats as family pets.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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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's overall professionalism and dedication to her work ensures that she excels in promoting all aspects of children's welfare and development. Children are extremely safe and well cared for in her warm, inclusive home, where each individual child is treated with the utmost respect and welcomed as part of the family. The childminder has confidently implemented the Early Years Foundation Stage framework and in doing so ensures that all children achieve well and reach their full potential. The childminder has been able to successfully evaluate her practice, taking steps to continually improve her service and ensure that she is fully responsive to the needs of the children she cares for and their families. Excellent systems which encourage two way communication between parents and other carers ensure that the childminder knows children extremely well and provides the care and support they need.

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further?

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

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further?

 continuing to label toys to ensure children learn that print carries meaning.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a fully comprehensive awareness of safeguarding issues. Her understanding of her responsibilities towards the children in her care is exemplary, which effectively safeguards their welfare. In-depth written policies and procedures are implemented consistently and robustly to ensure any concerns are prioritised This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 and dealt with effectively. Thorough risk assessments are carried out daily and are regularly reviewed to ensure that children are always safe in the home and when out and about. The childminder dedicates her home to childminding to ensure that children enter into an environment which encourages them to feel secure and safe. For example, she does daily checks, ensuring that safety gates are in place, smoke alarms are working and all locks are fitted on the kitchen cupboards.

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the early years provision

The childminder works extremely well with parents, enabling her to have a thorough understanding of each child's background and needs, and ensuring that equality and diversity are successfully promoted. Parents are encouraged to form excellent partnerships with the childminder through daily feedback, very informative daily diaries and regular questionnaires, as well as having access to a range of written policies and procedures. Parents' comments show they are very happy with the service provided and the childminder takes on board parents' and children's comments and ideas. The childminder dedicates time to building effective partnerships with other professionals where appropriate. She has built excellent links with the local nursery and schools and shares termly planning which she incorporates into her own for each individual child. The childminder is using her self-evaluation form as a working document to secure her outstanding capacity

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the early years provision

to improve. She highly values the benefits of continuing professional development to extend her skills and support further improvement in her practice. The childminder has attended an extensive range of training courses, all of which benefit the excellent professionalism within the setting.

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and outcomes for children

Children are totally at ease, happy and thriving in the childminder's care. Their sense of belonging is evident as they independently select their chosen toys and resources. Children take part in a wide variety of well thought out, age and stage appropriate activities and experiences that support their learning and development, both at the childminder's home and at the range of play centres they attend regularly. They develop very good relationships with the childminder and respond extremely well to her warm and caring approach.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder makes in-depth observations of children's achievements, which are used to plan future learning experiences and ensure activities consistently build on children's existing knowledge and skills. Children are very keen to communicate as the childminder converses with them happily at the appropriate level throughout the day, and younger children benefit from the childminder's patience and encouragement as they learn new words and start to join in conversations. The childminder has started to introduce the concept and meaning of print, although not all storage boxes are clearly labelled with a picture and written words to fully extend children's understanding. Books account for a large part of the children's learning through accessing a wide selection of age-appropriate books and regular visits to the library. The childminder also encourages children to take part in puppet shows using the story sacks and props that she has. Children are keen to

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and outcomes for children

be included in contacting the child that she has sponsored from El Salvador and This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 she discusses with them the country and also their cultures. Children's knowledge and understanding of the world is further extended through the celebrating of a wide range of festivals. Children play with the childminder as they are encouraged to find the orange and blue cars and watch them go down the ramps. They are also very keen to put the wooden shapes on the poles and, as they get the shape and colour right, are given lots of praise. The childminder has lots of photographs to support the vast range of activities that children do. These are displayed in their informative learning journeys. For example, children collect leaves from the park and then make collages, while younger children learn about the different textures of them. They also learn to develop their manipulative skills when holding the

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and outcomes for children

pencils to start writing the different letters. The childminder ensures that children's social and physical skills are developed through regular walks to parks, going to soft play areas to climb and balance in the ball pools and visiting local drop-in groups.

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and outcomes for children

Children develop an excellent awareness of safety issues and recognise and understand how to keep themselves safe as the childminder appropriately reminds them of the reasons behind the set boundaries. Very clear fire safety precautions are in place and children learn about evacuation procedures through discussion and practices to ensure they can act quickly in an emergency. Children's hygiene routines are effective as they wash their hands before eating and after toileting using their individual towels. They are also given opportunities to brush their teeth after meals. They have posters in the bathroom about how and why to wash hands in order to remind them of the importance of personal hygiene procedures. They benefit from well-balanced, home-cooked meals and snacks that meet their nutritional needs and they learn about foods that are good for them. The childminder has effective systems in place to record new foods introduced to the

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and outcomes for children

children, enabling her to identify likes and dislikes for the future. Children are actively involved in all aspects of their routine. They helped to formulate the house rules as they each took responsibility for the making of a poster of these, which is displayed. Children are well equipped for the future as they are encouraged to be polite to one another and use good manners throughout their routine. Children thoroughly enjoy their time spent at the childminder's and they are very well occupied and stimulated throughout their day. 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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