Childminder in Lancashire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY287109 Inspection date 03/10/2011 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 June 2004. She lives with her husband and child aged seven in a terraced cottage within the rural area of Fence in Burnley. Children have access to the main lounge, conservatory, upstairs bathroom and one bedroom for sleeping. There is no access to outdoor play on the premises as a condition of registration, and children are taken to local parks and playgrounds.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children under the age of eight years at any one time and there are currently two children on roll in the early years age group. She is registered on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register as well as the Early Years Register.

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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

Children enjoy activities that ensure sound development and future skills for learning as the childminder pays careful attention to individual needs. Sustained interaction with children promotes positive outcomes for them. Children are happy and confident, while partnership with parents is good and they are informed of their children's daily routine, care and learning. There are links with other settings to ease transitions for children. Self-evaluation is beginning to be evident; however, not all statutory requirements with regard to documentation are not being met.

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further?

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

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further?

 ensure that a daily record of children looked after on the premises and the hours attended is kept (Documentation) (also applies to the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register). 17/10/2011

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further?

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

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further?

 link planning for individual children's development to the early learning goals.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a secure awareness of how to keep children safe on the premises and uses baby gates effectively to keep children within her supervision. She also encourages them to keep the floor tidy so that no one trips over toys, and sleeping babies are frequently checked. She has a sound knowledge of signs of This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 abuse and adults on the premises are suitably vetted for being in frequent contact with young children. There are written risk assessments in place for the premises and a local play centre, although these are not available for visits to the park with its playground or the local library. However, the childminder is aware of potential hazards on these outings.

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the early years provision

The childminder also does not hold a daily record of the actual hours that children are present in her care. This is a statutory requirement, but does not affect the welfare of the two children cared for because of the very low number of children attending. She is now aware of the current shortcomings in statutory documentation and that as part of continuous improvement, registers must be maintained daily. The childminder has suitable policies and procedures in place for administering medicines and recording accidents and existing injuries, and there is now a fire evacuation procedure with a log book. The childminder's planning contains reference to supervising children playing in the rear outdoor area on a single occasion in hot weather. This is in breach of her conditions of registration. On this occasion, Ofsted does not intend to take any further action.

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the early years provision

The childminder makes good use of resources, especially with regard to providing role play opportunities like going to the supermarket, and she makes use of local facilities for borrowing resources, such as small puppet theatres. She uses these effectively when playing with the children by involving counting and extending vocabulary. Planning shows the beginnings of self-evaluation processes as she reflects on the success of activities and how they could be improved next time. However, current planning and observations are not linked to progress towards the early learning goals which reduces the effectiveness of planning for children's needs. The childminder intends to pursue more training on using the Early Years Foundation Stage to inform planning and recording of children's development .

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the early years provision

The childminder has good links with parents who use the service and works with them to address children's needs. She provides daily verbal and written information to parents regarding children's activities, food, drinks and rests so that they know individual children's needs are being met. When children move on to the local pre-school, she provides samples of craft activities they have done and information to promote continuity for them in their new setting, forming an effective partnership with other practitioners. However, she does not have systems in place to obtain information from other settings attended by children to inform her own provision and provide continuity. The childminder visits children in their new setting as part of the settling-in process. She has an induction guide which parents read when their child joins the setting so that they are suitably informed about policies and procedures, including how to make a complaint to the

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the early years provision

Satisfactory policies are in place for promoting equality and eliminating discrimination, while meeting individual needs of children. The childminder plans experiences based on festivals from various cultures and religions to broaden children's knowledge and understanding of other cultures and to promote a sense of respect for these. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

Children at the setting are happy, confident and enjoy being with the childminder, seeking her attention in positive ways and playing purposefully with her enthusiastic support. They generally handle toys and implements safely, in line with their age and physical development. She pays particular attention with the older child to making sure that all the small items are picked up when the baby wakes up and explains why they need to do this. Equipment, such as highchairs and pushchairs, is clean and well maintained and she reminds children to leave the pushchair alone if they touch it and why.

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and outcomes for children

Children's health is promoted by the childminder providing frequent opportunities for outdoor play at the local park and playground, so children can develop use of their muscles and learn to enjoy physical exertion. She promotes eating fruit and vegetables, and rewards children appropriately when they try new tastes. Surfaces used for eating are cleaned before and after use, and she draws children's attention to why clean hands are important before eating snacks and meals. Hygiene is well maintained at nappy changing times as the mat is cleaned before and after. Children are learning about personal hygiene through her routines because she talks about them. Snacks and meals are generally nutritious, with an emphasis on making eating fun.

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and outcomes for children

Children are given sound opportunities through quality play experiences to develop skills for the future as the childminder is careful to weave many aspects of the six areas of earning into sustained interactions with both children. As a consequence, they are beginning to show strong communication and verbal skills to express a need or want, helping their social and emotional development. The childminder works hard to include frequent reference to counting, colour, shape and comparative vocabulary to develop early mathematical skills. She takes the children to story and rhyme sessions at the local library to extend creative development.

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and outcomes for children

Children's folders contain examples of collage, painting and drawing, and collages show evidence of children making choices about what to use, rather than adult- directed ones. The use of implements, such as crayons and gluing spatulas, extends children's dexterity. Activities also provide opportunities for children to learn about the wider world, such as role play about going shopping and using money, along with celebrating festivals like Chinese New Year by making fried rice and using chopsticks. As a result, children enjoy their play at the setting and are making satisfactory progress.

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and outcomes for children

Children are well-behaved and this is due to the calm way in which the childminder sorts out misunderstandings. She also encourages the children to share and find a solution to the problem. Boundaries are clearly set and the childminder makes it evident in an age-appropriate way when a child's behaviour is not acceptable. 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 2 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: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The registered provider does not meet the requirements of the compulsory and or voluntary part/s of the Childcare Register.

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 take action as specified in the early years section of the report (Records to be kept). 17/10/2011

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 take action as specified in the early years section of the report (Records to be kept). 17/10/2011

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