Childminder in Lancashire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY418228 Inspection date 01/09/2011 Inspector Lynne Naylor

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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 2010. She lives with her husband and five children aged 12, 10, eight, four and two years in Skelmersdale, Lancashire. The whole of the ground floor of the childminder's house is used for childminding. The rear garden is available for outdoor play. The childminder walks or drives to toddler groups and is able to take children to and collect them from local schools. The family has two bulldogs as pets.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of four children under eight years at any one time, of whom no more than two may be in the early years age range. There is currently one child attending who is within the Early Years Foundation Stage. The childminder is also able to offer care to children aged over five years. She is registered on the Early Years Register and on both the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 3. She is a member of the National Childminding Association and an approved 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's unique needs are well met and they make good progress in their learning and development. The risk assessment record does not contain all the legally required information. However, the childminder follows effective policies to maintain children's health and safety. She has organised her home and resources well to be inclusive and accessible. The childminder has made steady progress to develop her service since registration and demonstrates the capacity to maintain continuous improvement. She communicates well with parents and her links with other settings that children attend are evolving.

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further?

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

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further?

 improve the risk assessment record so that it includes anything with which a child may come into contact (Suitable premises, environment and equipment). 15/09/2011

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further?

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

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further?

 enable parents to match their observations to the early learning goals to identify learning priorities and agree next steps  build on the partnership with other providers delivering the Early Years Foundation Stage to ensure progression and continuity of learning and care. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

The childminder demonstrates a clear commitment to safeguarding. She recently refreshed her training in child protection. Therefore, she is suitably trained to recognise that children may be at risk of harm and to liaise with appropriate agencies. She consistently implements comprehensive policies and procedures. These keep children safe, protected and supported in the home and garden and on outings. She also carefully completes record keeping systems. These include records of attendance, evacuations, accidents and medication. The childminder carefully monitors the safety of the home and garden. Identified hazards are minimised, with some more clearly recorded than others in the written risk assessment. Outings are planned safely and each type is clearly covered in the written risk assessment record. Indoors and outdoors, children move freely around, choosing where and with what they would like to play. This is because the

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the early years provision

ground floor of the home and the garden are well organised. Every day the childminder sets out a wide range of toys and activities. These are good quality and used well to support children's learning and development.

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the early years provision

The childminder is developing positive working relationships with parents, who provide valuable information about their children's background, interests and abilities before they start. The childminder uses this information to tailor learning experiences to the needs and abilities of individual children. Parents receive clear information about the childminding practice through regular exchanges of information, a diary and informative policies and procedures. The childminder has a clear knowledge of the children's individual needs, including health and dietary requirements. She provides very healthy meals and involves children in their preparation, for example, children mash the potatoes for the shepherd's pie. Parents informally contribute to some aspects of their children's learning and development, planning and assessments.

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the early years provision

The childminder holds a recognised childcare qualification and regularly reads relevant publications and meets with other childminders to update her skills and knowledge. She readily shares her knowledge with other childminders to improve outcomes for other children. Since registration, the childminder has made good progress to develop her service. She is beginning to use a formal system of evaluation and has devised and sent out a questionnaire to parents to formally seek their views. However, none have been returned, therefore, parents' views are not fully reflected in the evaluation of the service. The childminder understands the benefits of working in partnership with other settings delivering the Early Years Foundation Stage to ensure progression and continuity for individual children. The liaison does not yet support children's learning, but daily verbal exchanges of information ensure children's welfare needs are met.

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the early years provision

This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

The childminder effectively supports each child so they all make good progress in their learning and development. She observes and assesses children's progress and plans the next steps in their learning. Each child has an attractive learning journal, which is beginning to formally evidence their progress. The childminder has implemented a useful recording sheet to cross-check that areas of learning are covered in a balanced way. Comments made by parents about all the areas of learning are used in planning, but not yet included in the children's records of achievement.

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and outcomes for children

Children develop good physical skills in a wide variety of ways. They go for regular walks in the area to attend local groups or to visit places of interest. For example, they feed the ducks at the wildlife centre for birds. Children effectively learn about hygiene and safety issues through routines, stories and planned experiences, such as baking. They use a range of gardening tools as they enjoy experiences, such as planting and caring for vegetables. This also teaches children about how food is grown. They learn about life cycles as they watch tadpoles grow, and refine their computer skills as they research information about frogs. They learn to care for other living things as they make bird feeders from pinecones. Children demonstrate an awareness of their own needs. For example, they independently access the bathroom to wash their hands before lunch.

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and outcomes for children

Children have a good relationship with the childminder, who effectively promotes their self-esteem. They demonstrate a clear sense of security as they confidently move about the home, interacting with the childminder's own children. They learn about safety through role play and are involved in practising evacuations of the home. Children also attend group events that promote their knowledge of health and safety. For example, the dentist shows them how to care for teeth and a police officer talks about safety when on outings.

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and outcomes for children

Children develop good skills for the future. They learn to socialise, share and take turns with others as they visit local groups and meet up with other children. They show curiosity and a desire to explore. They use all their senses as they manipulate dough, fill plastic bottles with different materials and listen to the sounds. They also look closely at the bubbles formed when shaking a bottle of coloured liquid. Children's awareness of diversity is increased as they enjoy a range of planned creative activities relating to their own culture and those of others. They taste different foods at Chinese New Year and make cards at Diwali. Children show a keen interest in books as they listen to stories read by the childminder. Role play is carefully planned to promote children's learning in all areas while they play. For example, they play imaginatively in dressing up outfits with the tools and tool bench and in the garden playhouse shed. Children demonstrate a good

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and outcomes for children

understanding of cause and effect. For example, a child asks for his Cornish pasty to be warmed in the microwave. 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 3 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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