Chew, Anne Louise

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY265940 Inspection date 19/10/2011 Inspector Jennifer Kennaugh

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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 registered in 2003. She lives in the Colne area of Lancashire close to the town centre, with two adult children. There are five children on roll, all attending part time. The childminder is registered to care for three children on the Early Years Register, except for the times specified under conditions of variation, when this may be increased to four. She is also registered on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. The total number of children cared for at any one time under eight may not exceed five. Children have access to the sitting room, dining kitchen, upstairs and downstairs bathrooms and rear yard. The childminder is a member of the local childminding network, the National Childminding Association and is accredited to provide nursery education for three to four year olds.

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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 promotes children's learning and welfare exceptionally well. She has exemplary systems to ensure that individual needs are met and her approach to providing high quality outcomes for children means that they are very happy and secure. The setting is well equipped and highly inclusive. Parents are very well informed and consulted about their children, although opportunities for children to evaluate the provision are not so well developed. The childminder forms extremely positive links with other agencies to further support continuity for children's welfare and education. There are successful systems in place for self-evaluation and monitoring, demonstrating the commitment of the childminder to continuously improve outcomes for children.

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further?

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

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further?

 devising ways for children to contribute to evaluation of the provision.

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the early years provision

Children are very well protected by the childminder because she has attended regular training on safeguarding issues and demonstrates an excellent knowledge of how to keep children safe. The childminder has written robust policies as a result of enhanced knowledge through training and these fully support her exemplary practice. She ensures that all adults living on the premises have been suitably vetted. Risk assessments are excellent, especially those for outings, where the childminder also includes maps to show her route and potential hazards. As a result, children's safety is prioritised, both indoors and outdoors. Maintaining the This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 statutory requirements with regard to the safety of the premises is her utmost priority. All records are up to date and comprehensive records and policies are in place to ensure children thrive and make excellent progress towards the early

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the early years provision

learning goals, because the childminder is highly skilled at using their interests to drive their learning experiences. She has a wide range of toys and resources and uses these highly effectively because of her detailed recording and planning. The childminder has made a choice book so that children can show which toy they want, and uses this to inform her planning. Toys are regularly rotated to reduce wear and tear, sustaining the childminder's resources and ensuring that children remain stimulated by them. The childminder has attended many courses, such as outdoor play and multicultural awareness, to improve outcomes for children in her care. Outings are varied and used effectively to widen children's knowledge of their local area and promote social development.

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the early years provision

The childminder has made superb progress to continuously improve since her last inspection by becoming accredited to provide free nursery education for three to four year olds. She has completed a self-evaluation form and makes daily notes to improve practice and outcomes for children. Parents receive a daily information sheet that they return with comments the next day as the childminder uses the sheet to actively seek parents' views. The childminder uses these in her self- evaluation and to meet children's needs, although there is currently little opportunity for children to evaluate the provision. As a member of a quality assured network, the childminder receives regular monitoring visits from her local authority to ensure consistently high provision. She has also joined the committee at a Children's centre to help provide better outcomes for local children.

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the early years provision

The childminder forms highly effective partnerships with other professionals and agencies to support children's needs by sharing observations and recording of progress with them. Parents are very well informed about their child's learning, care and daily routine. There is also a parents' noticeboard so that they are extremely well informed about the Early Years Foundation Stage and able to contribute towards children's learning. Photographs of children learning through play are added daily to the sheets and they are stored in the children's files with their learning records, policies and permission slips. The files are sent home for parents to view several times a year to inform them of children's progress and for them to add any information they feel is relevant. Transition times are well planned, with detailed information regarding children being passed on to school and staff coming to visit the child at the childminder's house.

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the early years provision

The childminder has an excellent range of policies to ensure that children's individual needs are met through her practice. Her policy is to adapt activities to ensure that all children have fair access to learning through them. She pays particular attention to planning inclusively for the children in her care to promote equality of opportunity. Many festivals from different cultures, religions and countries are celebrated using a variety of activities to promote diversity and eliminate discrimination. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

Children are very settled and happy with the childminder. They show this by frequently communicating to her, when they are enjoying their play or have a need. They are very confident when moving around the setting and interact with unfamiliar visitors cheerfully as the childminder is present. They make choices about what to play with from the toys available and persist with favourite activities, with the enthusiastic support of the childminder. Children are confident enough to take risks, such as crawling under role play equipment as they know that the childminder will help them if they have a difficulty. They play 'peepo' with her, enjoying the repetitive response she gives to them as she teaches the basis for sustained conversation.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder promotes a healthy lifestyle by providing plenty of opportunities for exercise, indoors and out. As a result, children learn to enjoy physical exertion and gain an understanding of the importance of regular exercise. Meals are home cooked and menus are healthy. Snacks are varied and include fruit or vegetables, with crackers or breadsticks. The childminder's knowledge of the importance of healthy eating has been enhanced as a result of attending training to promote children's dental health. Routines and procedures for promoting children's personal hygiene are exemplary. The childminder adopts excellent practice with regard to food hygiene and children show an exceptional understanding of the importance of following good personal hygiene routines, for example, having clean hands before and after eating.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder has a detailed approach to observation and planning for children's learning. She uses daily observations and monthly recording of children's interests. Individual interests are utilised for inclusive weekly planning so that all children present can benefit as she incorporates them into either free play or adult-led activities. Her exceptional knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage practice guidance and skilled management of young children's learning means that children make excellent progress in all six areas of learning. She has detailed records to track their progress and uses this information to challenge children to meet their full potential. Her planning enables children to become absorbed in their play, whether splashing water to make wheels go round or enjoying repetitive play with cause and effect toys.

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and outcomes for children

The activities planned for at home provide many opportunities for learning, and the childminder works hard to incorporate the reinforcement of early numeracy and literacy skills into everyday events, for example, counting food on plates or singing nursery rhymes while playing. A booklet of laminated photographs is available for children to choose activities and toys, promoting communication skills and enabling children to make a positive contribution to the day's routine. The childminder plans weekly outings to playgroups, shops, and the library. Children also enjoy frequent visits to and from other network childminders to extend children's knowledge of the world and develop their social skills.

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and outcomes for children

Children are consistently given firm boundaries for appropriate behaviour, which This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 they fully observe, demonstrating a clear understanding of behavioural expectations. The childminder uses a set of pictorial house rules for pre-school age children and older ones to reinforce their understanding. Children respond positively to the childminder when she plays with them, and vocalise in reply, showing the excellent relationship they are forming with her. Beautiful displays of children's art and craft in the dining kitchen raise children's self-esteem as their efforts and achievements are valued. The childminder takes many photos of children which they can view at any time so that they gain an understanding of the passage of time and re-visit previous experiences. 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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