Childminder in Blackburn with Darwen

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY427118 Inspection date 10/10/2011 Inspector Janet Singleton

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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 2011. She lives with her three children aged 19, 12 years and five years in Darwen, Lancashire. On the ground floor the playroom, lounge and kitchen are used for childminding purposes along with a first floor bathroom and one bedroom. Children have access to a fully enclosed rear yard for outdoor play. Local amenities include parks, schools, nurseries and the childminder's premises are situated close to transport links.

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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. She is registered to care for a maximum of five children under eight years and, of these, three children may be in the early years age group. There are currently two children attending who are within the Early Years Foundation Stage, both of whom attend on a part-time basis. The childminder also offers care to children aged over five years. The childminder works with an assistant during school holidays. She 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 satisfactory.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The childminder has a sound understanding of the children she cares for to enable them to make satisfactory progress towards the early learning goals. Observation and assessments are completed but do not inform future planning. The children are kept safe with risk assessments in place for the home and outings. Most policies and procedures for the efficient and safe management of the setting are in place. However, the childminder does not have adequate insurance cover for using her own transport for childminding purposes. Partnerships with parents and others are satisfactory. The childminder is committed to the evaluation and continuous improvement of her provision but this is in its infancy, with no formal system in place.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop the planning system to reflect the identified children's learning priorities to plan relevant experiences and match these to the expectations of the early learning goals  ensure that adequate insurance cover is in place before using your own transport for childminding purposes  build upon the systems in place for the evaluation of your setting in order to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the provision and the information This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 and plans you have are acted upon and prioritised to improve your service.

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the early years provision

The arrangements for safeguarding are satisfactory and the childminder is confident of the action to take should she be concerned about a child. She has also attended training in safeguarding. There are supporting policies in place to maintain the safety of the children, for example, risk assessments for both indoors and for outings undertaken. All adults in the home have undergone checks to ensure their suitability to further safeguard children. The childminder has a vehicle available to use for childminding purposes, however, adequate insurance cover is not in place to enable her to use the vehicle for transporting children. The home is very welcoming to children with quality resources available to them in the dedicated playroom. The playroom provides an inclusive environment for all children attending as they make good choices from the wide range of resources. Their work is displayed and this gives them a sense of belonging, of being valued

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the early years provision

Satisfactory relationships with parents are built through the daily communication and sharing of all policies and procedures to inform them of the service provided. Partnerships with others are satisfactory. Through sensitive observation and assessment procedures children's needs are identified, although, they are not used to inform future planning. The childminder is committed to improving her practice, although, her process of her self-evaluation is in its infancy. The systems for the identification of the strengths and weaknesses of the provision are not sufficiently robust to give the provider a clear view of the action to take to progress her provision.

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and outcomes for children

Children are happy and enjoy their time with the childminder as they make satisfactory progress towards the early learning goals. The satisfactory knowledge of the childminder means that she can plan to meet children's individual needs and provide an inclusive environment for all. Children are happy and secure as they take part in suitable activities, for example, arts, construction and mark making. They play and learn in a welcoming home where they can make choices about their play in the dedicated and well-resourced playroom. Outdoor play is promoted to ensure children have the opportunity to develop their physical skills and remain healthy as they walk to the park, feed the ducks or attend a soft play environment. They are meaningfully occupied as they are engaged and motivated, moving freely and enjoying their learning.

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and outcomes for children

Children are secure with the childminder and readily seek her support in their play, for example, cutting with the scissors. They learn how to keep safe as she explains to keep the scissors closed, so as not to present a danger to others. Their decision This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 making skills are promoted through play as they decide how to make paper faces using their imagination and creative skills. They decide what they need for the skin, eyes and the hair as they use the pink or yellow paper and brown string to represent hair. They attempt to use scissors to cut their circles for their eyes, they talk about how and what they are doing as they use their problem solving skills to create their own picture. They use mathematical language as they talk about the size of the paper, tearing it to make it smaller and describe the digger as being a big one. They benefit from praise from the childminder as she tells them how they

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and outcomes for children

have done well and are good and consequently, building their feelings of self- worth. They use glue sticks to make their masks, learning how to use tools for a purpose. They delight in looking in the mirror to decide what colour their own eyes are as they recognise and describe them as being blue. They follow this by discussing the shape of their eyes and naming triangle, square, circle, laughing and giggling as they all play together. They learn to manage their behaviour as the childminder is calm in her approach. She reminds them to share and explains they need to work together, not to snatch and to take turns as she uses positive strategies, appropriate to their age and stage of development. Through talking about the differences and similarities of people and celebrating festivals, children learn about the world around them and diversity.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder includes the children in developing their understanding of satisfactory hygiene practices through discussion and support. They enjoy home made food, for example, home made pizzas, spaghetti bolognaise or sandwiches for lunch and have a balance of fresh fruit for snack with a drink of juice or milk. They play together, socialise with other children and follow a daily routine which is conducive to promoting sound outcomes, enabling them to make satisfactory progress towards the early learning goals given their age and capabilities. 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 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 3

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 3 The extent to which children feel safe 3 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 3 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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