Childminder in Oldham

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY344158 Inspection date 01/02/2012 Inspector Karen McWilliam

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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 2006. She lives with her husband and four children aged two, eight, 11 and 12 years in the Royton area of Oldham. The whole of the property is used for childminding, except the bedrooms. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play.

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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 these, not more than two may be in the early years age group. She is currently minding two children in this age group. When working with an assistant, may care for no more than 10 children under eight, of these, not more than two may be in the early years age group. The childminder is registered by Ofsted on the Early Years Register and on both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is able to collect children from the local schools and goes to several toddler groups regularly. 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 good.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children have fun and make good progress through access to stimulating activities and skilful support and challenge. Outcomes for children are good and exemplary in response to being healthy. Effective partnerships with the others and meaningful relationships with parents ensure individual children's needs are met. Effective arrangements exist to ensure children's safety and encourage their involvement in the provision. Self-evaluation, overall, identifies the strengths and weaknesses of the provision. The childminder shows drive and commitment and is confident about what she needs to do to secure and further sustain improvements.

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further?

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

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further?

 further improve systems for on-going self-evaluation to support improvements.

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the early years provision

Children are effectively safeguarded because the childminder has a good understanding of safeguarding issues and she ensures records are kept of any injuries or concerns. All adults in the home have been suitably vetted to further protect children. There are detailed risk assessments and daily checks of all This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 aspects of her provision this means that the environment is safe for the children to explore. Children are further protected because the childminder keeps some good documentation such as, attendance records. The childminder has attended training to update her knowledge of keeping children safe, including first aid. She also ensures smoke alarms are routinely tested and has a clear and effective escape plan in place in case of a fire.

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the early years provision

The available resources are used extremely well to achieve the planned goals in learning and development and outcomes for children are clearly attributable to this. The highly effective use of child-height storage encourages children's self-help and investigative skills and excellent use of the photo album ensures that all children are able to contribute to the daily planning. This ensures an inclusive environment that caters for all children's interests. The childminder has a good knowledge of each child's background and needs and effective partnerships with parents ensure these are appropriately met. She has established good partnerships with others which further contribute to ensuring good quality outcomes for children. For example, the childminder regularly works alongside other childminders to greatly enhance the play experiences for their minded children, by visiting the local park together.

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the early years provision

The childminder makes good use of a range of rigorous monitoring activities to drive and secure improvement well. These include using the on line self-evaluation and seeking parent's and children's views relating to the provision through annual questionnaires and newsletters. As a result, the childminder builds on areas of strength and overall identifies realistic targets that improve outcomes for children. For example, children share their ideas about activities and contribute to planning their own play.

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and outcomes for children

Children really enjoy being in this welcoming and spacious family home. They demonstrate they are familiar and secure in its routines by eagerly going to the shoe box after tidy up time, without prompting, for outdoor play. This is because the childminder is careful to meet their needs. Children move freely and confidently around the play areas because the childminder ensures there is a range of safety equipment in place. Children show good levels of self-esteem in response to frequent praise and encouragement.

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and outcomes for children

Children's health is given a high priority by the childminder. She offers them healthy choices of fruit and ensures children have the recommended '5 a day'. Children demonstrate their developing awareness of healthy habits by choosing water when thirsty. They readily wash their hands before snack, clean their teeth after meals and play in a very clean environment because excellent hygiene routines are well-established. Children are able to get out in the fresh air daily and benefit greatly from the open fields behind the provision. Regular walks to the farm, park and around the community also contribute to children developing healthy habits. They develop excellent physical skills in walking, running, jumping and climbing because they make use of a variety of resources to test and This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 challenge their skills.

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and outcomes for children

Children are making good progress towards the early learning goals. The childminder observes what they can do and documents this in their individual learning journeys. She then uses this information to plan appropriate play experiences for the children. The childminder tracks the progress children make over time and identifies appropriate next steps in their learning. Children playing in the home corner together and choose their own activities, for example children ask to play 'what's in the bag'. As a result of this they are developing good personal, social and emotional skills. The children have many opportunities to try out their early writing and drawing skills. For example, they make marks with a variety of resources, such as paints and chalks. They fit pieces into jigsaw puzzles, and listen as the childminder points out numbers. As a result of this they are developing good skills in problem solving, reasoning and numeracy. Children join in many activities

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and outcomes for children

that support the development of effective communication and language skills. They choose puppets from the nursery rhyme basket and snuggle in for a story. The childminder promotes children's knowledge and understanding of the world through a variety of activities such as small world toys. Children are learning to develop positive attitudes towards themselves and others because the childminder ensures that they partake in a variety of activities that enhance their understanding. For example, they celebrate a variety of festivals and there are lots of toys and equipment for children to play with that reflects the diversity of the world in which we live. Children are also gaining sufficient skills in using technology as they access a computer and cause and effect toys. This means that children are also developing good skills for the future.

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and outcomes for children

Children behave well in the setting. This is because the childminder offers clear explanations. She is a good role model and constantly praises the children. The rules of the house are portrayed pictorially and shared from the outset, which further reinforces appropriate behaviour. Children are encouraged to care for their environment by recycling house-hold items and by re-using paper. 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 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 2 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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