Childminder in St Helens

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY421750 Inspection date 29/11/2011 Inspector Gillian Sutherland

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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 two children aged three and five years old in St. Helens. The whole of the ground floor, plus the family bathroom upstairs are used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The childminder is able to take and collect children from local schools and pre-schools.

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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 are currently four children attending, three of whom are within the Early Years Foundation Stage, all of whom attend on a part-time basis. The childminder also offers care to children aged over five years to 11 years. She is registered on the Early Years Register and on both the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder 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 good.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The childminder provides a safe and very welcoming environment for children who are settled in her care. The broad range of purposeful and stimulating activities ensures they are well occupied and happy. Consequently, children are making good progress in their learning. An effective partnership with parents contributes significantly to ensuring the needs of the children are met and continuity of care is promoted. The childminder has a clear vision for the future to continually improve outcomes for children and has prepared a self-evaluation document. However, parent's contributions to this process have not yet been included.

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further?

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

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further?

 increase the range of activities to develop further children's awareness of difference, diversity and the wider world  provide parents with opportunities for themselves and their children to be involved in the self-evaluation process.

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the early years provision

Children are safeguarded as the childminder has a good understanding of child protection procedures and is fully aware of the signs and symptoms of abuse. She has a written safeguarding policy and contact details of the appropriate agencies to contact should she have any concerns about a child in her care. The childminder This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 has a good awareness of safety issues and continually monitors the areas of her home and outdoor play area. Risk assessment documentation is maintained and covers outings to the different and interesting venues she visits with the children. Indoors the wide range of resources are organised effectively to enable children to make independent choices about which ones they want to play with. The childminder ensures that toys are accessible to all and suitable for children in the different age groups. There are some resources available, which reflect the

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the early years provision

differing needs and abilities of people, for example, books and play figures identifying people who have no sight or limited mobility.

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the early years provision

The childminder's clear written policies work effectively to ensure that children's health, well-being and safety are promoted. Parental consents are sought for children to go on outings using public transport and for children to access the trampoline in the garden. Parents are well informed about the childminder's policies and procedures prior to care commencing.

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the early years provision

Parents have opportunities to discuss their child's progress through discussion, plus they have access to their child's learning journeys, which are maintained by the very competent childminder. To further create a successful partnership with parents, the childminder distributes questionnaires to them and children to seek their views on the service she provides. Extremely positive feedback was provided on the completed questionnaires. The childminder is not caring for any children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities. However, she has a secure understanding of the value of working with other professionals when the need arises to ensure she is meeting children's particular needs. The childminder fully understands how she will establish systems for sharing information with other providers of the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework where children attend more than one setting.

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and outcomes for children

Children are cared for in a welcoming and stimulating environment and there is a good balance of adult-led and child-initiated activities. Children's self-esteem is raised as the childminder offers praise and encouragement, as they play. The childminder and children enjoy their outdoor learning. Although, the weather was dry and cold, children were having so much fun. They were eagerly planting their winter pansies in what used to be the outdoor sand tray. They have also planted carrots and turnips, which they will monitor until ready to be eaten. The innovative childminder explained that part of her plans for this large area is to have a vegetable patch for her and the children to grow a greater selection and to provide them with even more opportunities to adopt a healthy lifestyle. They enjoy exploring with their spades and buckets to look for worms and collect leaves for their art and craft work. The children and childminder talks about the different feel

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and outcomes for children

and texture of the leaves, including if they are dry they are crinkly, whilst when wet the leaves become slippery and will not easily stick on to their pictures. Children play enthusiastically in the garden eagerly demonstrating their skills. For example, they skilfully ride around on the wheeled toys and they learn to jump and This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 balance as they access the trampoline. The garden lends itself to providing them with adventurous activities, such as den making. Whilst others included feed in a family of ducks that landed and stayed for a few days with them. They play hide and seek and as the others go off to hide, a child will count to 10 before going to search for them. They go on walks to local places of interest and use public transport to take them to places further a field. For example, a trip to the museum included a train journey and for some children this was the hi-light if their day. At

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and outcomes for children

a visit to an aquarium, children watched and talked to the childminder about the different colours and sizes of the fish. Children are developing an understanding of the needs of others. However, planned activities which would include cultural festivals and traditions to help children learn about the world around them are limited.

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and outcomes for children

Children learn about keeping themselves safe, as the childminder offers them gentle reminders. They know when it is appropriate to wash their hands and observation and pictorial evidence supports this. They also learn to share and take turns, as they play games together, such as snakes and ladders. Children learn about and participate in good road safety practice, as they go out and about with the childminder. They participate regularly in fire drills, thus, ensuring that in the event of an emergency they and the childminder can leave the house quickly and safely.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder's methods of observation, assessment and planning are continuing to develop. She has created learning journeys for each child and is very knowledgeable as to how the different activities children participate in link into the six areas of learning. Her observations, plus written and pictorial evidence, clearly identify the next steps in their learning and development. 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 1 The extent to which children feel safe 2 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 1 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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