Childminder in Blackburn with DarwenOfsted inspection, 29 Mar 2011

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 301641 Inspection date 29/03/2011 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 1999. She lives with her husband and two children age 21 and 16 years old on the outskirts of Blackburn. The whole of the ground floor, rear bedroom and rear garden 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 six children on roll and of these, three are in the early years age range and three children are in the compulsory childcare group.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder collects and takes children to local schools, visits parks and places of interest.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder has a level three qualification in childcare and is a Network childminder. She is also 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 good.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children are cared for in a welcoming family home and good attention is given to promoting their welfare, and keeping them safe and secure. They happily engage in their play in the child friendly environment, and make good progress in their learning and achievement. They benefit from a childminder who understands their individual needs and plans enjoyable and challenging activities for them. Partnerships with parents positively contribute to creating an inclusive atmosphere that welcomes each child's individuality. The childminder is keen to promote continuous quality improvement. She is beginning to develop a self-evaluation system to monitor her provision and to identify areas for future development.

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further?

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

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further?

 update the record of risk assessment to include any assessments of risks for outings and trips  ensure children's starting points are recorded and used to further their development and parents are given opportunities to contribute in them.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a good knowledge of her safeguarding policy and the procedures to follow should she have any concerns about a child in her care. She has accessible contact details for the Local Safeguarding Children Board and other This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 appropriate agencies she may need to contact. The childminder ensures that she regularly attends training in safeguarding in order to keep up-to-date of any changes. Prior to care commencing a copy of these and her other policies are made available to parents, ensuring they are aware of her responsibilities regarding child protection. Children play in safety through the comprehensive risk assessments for the indoors and garden areas by the childminder, along with daily checks. However, risk assessments for all individual outings that children go on are not fully implemented. She ensures the premises are suitable and safe for the

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the early years provision

children on arrival each day, as she minimises all potential hazards, preventing unnecessary accidents.

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the early years provision

An effective partnership with parents is established, and the childminder has received positive written feedback about the care provided. In line with the Early Years Foundation Stage requirements, the childminder completes observations of the children participating in a varied range of activities, and has begun to record these in the children's learning journeys. Observations are supplemented with the use of photographic evidence and are used to plan future activities for each child as their next steps in their learning are identified. However, children's starting points are not recorded and parents are not given opportunities to contribute in their individual profiles. Parents are also given regular feedback and the childminder also gives them the choice to have daily diaries completed about their child's day. The childminder has at present no children attending other settings that provide the Early Years Foundation Stage. Although, she is fully aware of the

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the early years provision

importance of building links with them to ensure continuity and care with all children and has procedures in place to support this.

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the early years provision

The childminder has started to evaluate her practice and takes pride in her commitment to ensuring that children's care, welfare and learning are supported by her in a thorough but sensitive way. She is beginning to develop a system to identify areas for improvement. The childminder has also attended lots of training and is a Network childminder.

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the early years provision

In this inclusive environment the childminder helps children to value different aspects of their own and other people's lives through discussion, activities and a range of resources that reflect positive images of the diverse needs not only of people in their local community but also those in the wider world. The environment has lots of posters around depicting different languages welcoming children and also of sign language. The childminder has a written equal opportunities policy and procedure which is fully implemented, and the toys and resources are available to all children.

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and outcomes for children

Good adult support and well planned activities means that children thoroughly enjoy their play while making good progress in their learning and achievement. Quality toys meet the needs of all the children, and good organisation helps them become active learners and make decisions about their play. They eagerly seek out This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 favourite toys and have plenty of fun, as they build different cars with the construction materials and compare the colour of the wheels. Children share the magnetic toys and with interaction from the childminder, they go around the room seeing what they stick to. The children are asked by the childminder open ended questions about what other metal objects they can see and go round to find them. Children are very keen to participate in the creative activity; they paint the canvas as the childminder talks to them explaining that these are for their mummies for

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and outcomes for children

Mothers Day. After this, the children ask if they can do some sticking and enjoy making faces on the paper plates and show the inspector explaining about the two eyes and nose with pink feathers. They receive a lot of support from the childminder who listens to what children want to do. For example, younger children get books out and then sit with the childminder and read about the fireman and cat. Children go into the conservatory where they use their imagination with the play house as they make food and give to the childminder. They get opportunities to develop their social skills as they are taken to a variety of child-orientated groups. Children can access the garden on a regular basis, to play on slides, seesaws, ride in toy cars and together play ball games to ensure their physical skills are being developed.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder ensures that children learn about being healthy, they all have access to drinks throughout the day in their own personal cups. The childminder provides nutritious meals and snacks for the children, ensuring that all their dietary needs, their likes and dislikes are adhered too. Children are encouraged to wash their hands before meals and after going to the toilet, they all have their own individual towels. The childminder reinforces the importance of having a hygienic setting through posters displayed on how to thoroughly wash hands.

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and outcomes for children

Children are cared for in a safe environment and are made aware of staying safe, through regularly practising fire drills, visits to the fire station and talking about road safety. The childminder also makes sure that sockets are protected, safety gates fitted and a fireguard is fixed ensuring safety is a priority.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder is a good role model to all children in her care. She encourages children to be polite, be kind to each other and to take turns when playing with the toys. The childminder has a written behaviour policy, which is shown to parents. Children are cared for in a warm and friendly environment, where they have lots of fun. 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 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 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 2 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 2 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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