Childminder in TamesideOfsted inspection, 2 Nov 2011

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY424678 Inspection date 02/11/2011 Inspector Diane Ashplant

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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 husband and adult son in Dukinfield, Tameside, close to local shops, parks and schools. The whole ground floor of the childminder's house is used for childminding as well as the bathroom on the first floor. There is a fully enclosed garden for outdoor play. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children under eight years at any one time and is currently caring for three children in the early years age range on a part-time basis. The childminder is registered by Ofsted on the Early Years Register and on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder attends other early years groups and takes and collects children from school. The family has a dog.

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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

The childminder has settled confidently into childminding and offers a welcoming environment where children's care, learning and overall development are well supported. She works with parents to meet children's individual needs and ensures all practice is inclusive. She has attended the required training to support continuous improvement and is starting to use systems to evaluate her practice. She works in partnership with parents, offering a flexible service to meet their routines, and has established links with others to support outcomes for children. All the required documentation for the efficient management of the setting is in place and well organised.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop further systems for maintaining a regular two-way flow of information with parents  extend the use of observation and assessment to identify learning priorities and plan relevant and motivating experiences for each child.

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the early years provision

Children are safeguarded as the childminder has a clear understanding her role and responsibilities in protecting children from possible harm or neglect and how to pass on concerns appropriately. She has attended recent training in this area to enhance her awareness and has a clear policy which she shares effectively with parents. All other procedures, such as safe collection, are routinely carried out to further promote children's welfare. The childminder maintains a very safe and This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 clean environment and uses both visual and written procedures for risk assessment, such as a daily written check list, to ensure all hazards are addressed so that children can explore and play safely. She is fully aware that all adults around children must be either fully supervised or appropriately checked. She has attended the required training to support continuous improvement and uses the

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the early years provision

internet to update her knowledge and search for useful information to support her business and extend children's learning opportunities. She has started to use systems to reflect on her practice and has taken action, such as fitting a safety surface and protective play mat in the conservatory, to support young children as they gain in mobility. All the required documentation for the safe and efficient management of the setting is in place and well organised.

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the early years provision

The childminder offers a bright and welcoming environment with a wide range of toys to support children's individual play preferences and uses facilities in the wider community to extend their experiences. She liaises with parents to find out about their individual needs and routines. Although she has not had any experience of looking after children with special educational needs and/or disabilities she shows a positive attitude and would work with parents and outside professionals to further support children's development. She has established some links with other early years settings which children also attend and views their development folders to ensure she is aware of how they are settling in and what they are doing so she can talk knowledgably to them and offer appropriate support.

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the early years provision

Partnership with parents is working well and all information about children's individual details are exchanged at the start. She offers a flexible service to support parents' individual routines, such as providing a pick up and drop off service to and from their own homes. Parents receive a copy of the childminder's policies which they sign for and all necessary consents are in place. Most information about the children's day is shared through discussion or the many interesting and varied photos on the wall of activities children have enjoyed. However, opportunities to involve parents in children's learning and development are not yet fully developed which means that not all learning opportunities are maximised. Children are taken out into the community on a regular basis to widen their play and social experiences.

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and outcomes for children

Children are settled and very content in this safe and stimulating environment and have made positive relationships with the childminder who supports their development well. Children move confidently around the environment which is child-orientated and are learning about safe play through gentle reminders. Young children are able to practise their early walking and crawling skills as they explore the environment which is safe and suitable for their developing needs. Children take part in fire drills so they begin to understand about fire safety and are reminded about walking properly when they are outside. Children's health is well promoted by the high standards of hygiene and cleanliness and the rigorous routines which take place daily, such as nappy changing on the unit and the use of This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 plastic gloves and aprons to reduce any chance of cross-infection. Children have

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and outcomes for children

individual towels when they wash their hands and clear routines are in place for pet care which further supports their health. The childminder is aware of the benefits of promoting healthy eating and although she does not have the opportunity to provide much food due to the children's individual routines she offers healthy snacks like fruit and water bottles for the older ones. She carefully discusses daily routines with parents and prepares food and bottles for the baby accordingly. Children have lots of fresh air opportunities as they take regular walks or play in the garden with a range of toys such as push and rides, slides and see- saws which promote their emerging physical skills. They enjoy using soft play centres in the local community and attend music and movement sessions. Children's behaviour is encouraged by the positive, individual attention they receive from the childminder who engages happily with them in their play,

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and outcomes for children

providing smiles and encouragement to help develop their self-confidence to try out new things. Children have a wide range of appropriate resources to choose from, with the childminder responding well to their need for change and diversion to keep them interested. There are inviting displays and resources reflecting diversity and children engage in activities around different celebrations like Diwali so they begin to develop an understanding of the wider world.

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and outcomes for children

Children are happy and content in this environment where the childminder uses her own instinctive observations and discussions with parents to discover what children like to do. A wide range of age-appropriate resources are set out to engage and interest them, with others easily accessible in labelled drawers for older children to make independent choices. Children are beginning to explore and develop their reasoning skills as they use a variety of shape sorters and practise their skills with different puzzles. They examine and try out musical toys and listen to the different noises they make or respond happily to the musical puppet, laughing spontaneously at a game of 'peepo'. Natural items like household wooden spoons, egg cups and brushes are of interest to examine at the high chair while waiting for dinner. They have opportunities to mark-make with a selection different resources and older children are learning to recognise letters and write their own

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and outcomes for children

names as they trace around dots. Many different posters of letters, numbers and shapes, positioned appropriately on the wall so they can point to them, encourage their number, colour and shape recognition. Children are developing a love of books as they choose a favourite one to read when they return from school or listen to stories and songs on the CDs. Children enjoy different craft activities to develop their imagination and creativity, such as sand and water play or gluing and sticking for Halloween and firework night. Younger ones explore the delights of gloop and cornflour play or make hand and foot prints with paint. Children are starting to notice the natural world as they point out and discuss things as they walk around the community, or collect natural items to make an autumn collage.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder knows individual children well through discussions with the parents and taking time to observe them at play. She encourages parents to complete forms at the start to share important details about their children and takes many photos of children at play which are a constant source of interest to the children and also to visiting parents. The childminder is beginning to comment on and evaluate these photographic observations which she collects along with items of children's work in their development folders. However, these observations This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 are in their early stages and not yet clearly identifying children's next steps or informing future planning to share with parents. 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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