Whitley, Nichola Jane

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY318133 Inspection date 21/09/2011 Inspector Frank Kelly

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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 2005 and she lives with her husband and one child aged 12 years old in Whiston, Merseyside. The home is close to shops, parks, schools and public transport links. The whole of the ground floor and a bathroom and two bedrooms on the first floor are used for childminding. There is an enclosed garden for outdoor play that includes a raised fully fenced fish pond.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory part of the Childcare Register, to care for a maximum of four children under eight at any one time. Of these, three may be in the early years age range. There are currently three children on roll, all of whom are in the early years age range. The childminder is also registered to care for children aged over eight years on the voluntary part of the Childcare Register.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder holds a recognised childcare qualification and is a member of the National Childminding Association. She receives support from the local authority as a member of their local childminding network and takes the children out regularly to toddler groups, parks, libraries and other places of interest.

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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 children are very settled at this setting, they demonstrate a strong attachment due to the childminder's genuine affection for them. The well-organised home, daily routines and childminder's lively interaction creates a rich and enabling environment that supports the children's good progress in their learning and development. Well written policies provide an insight into how the service operates and regulatory documentation is efficiently organised. Self-evaluation, although cautious, is accurate and the childminder has undertaken regular training to keep up-to-date as she continues to make regular improvements to her service. The childminder is aware of the need to work in partnership with significant others and has a very good engagement of parents to ensure that children's unique needs are known and effectively met.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop further the activities that help children to know about their own cultures and beliefs and those of other people; consider how the suggestions within the Practice Guidance for the Early Years Foundation Stage, could be applied to build further on the practice already in place  develop further the ways parents can contribute to their child's learning and development records. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

Children are safeguarded very well. A detailed policy is in place and the childminder is very confident when discussing the steps she should take to report any concerns about a child's safety and well-being. A thorough risk assessment has been conducted and the childminder uses a series of daily and weekly checklists to monitor the continuing effectiveness of them. Children are very well-supervised and gently supported to keep themselves and their peers safe. For example, the childminder provides simple explanations to the toddlers, as to what might happen if they lean back whilst holding the windows of the role play unit. Fire safety procedures are regularly undertaken to help the children gain a sense of what to do in an emergency and the childminder evaluates any issues that have arisen.

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the early years provision

The childminder has not undertaken a formal self-evaluation but is able to demonstrate how she has sought the views of parents and local authority advisers. Since her last inspection she has undertaken a breadth of vocational training and revised her policies and procedures to improve the quality of her service and ensure that it fully meets the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. The childminder is enthusiastic about her role and has taken actions to fully address the recommendations from her previous inspection. For example, the children's safety has been improved as the access to the stairs is now restricted and an additional hand-rail has been fitted to assist them when using the stairway. Parental consents have been obtained for a variety of methods of transport and all outings are fully risk-assessed.

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the early years provision

The childminder's warmth of welcome is infectious and the very young children she currently cares for benefit from this. She chooses to care for small numbers of children to ensure that they receive good adult support and her consistent use of routines, such as, tidy up time and meal times effectively foster the children's independent and social skills. Regular outings provide children with differing physical and social experiences but the childminder is sensitive to the children's needs and ensures they have meals and rest times in the home so as to fit in with their individual routines. There is a very good range of toys and resources which are based in a playroom and some of the books and play figures provide children with positive images which promote equality. The childminder introduces children to other cultures through art activities, tasting of new foods and visits to places, such as, China Town when linked to special events or celebrations. However, she

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the early years provision

has not considered how this could be extended further, such as, introducing songs or counting in other languages and listening to music from other lands.

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the early years provision

The engagement and sharing of information with parents is good. The childminder provides parents with copies of significant policies and procedures and has established a very good initial contact system. She uses settling in periods and daily liaison to continually engage parents. Displays within the home provide information about the registration requirements and a digital photo-frame provides up-to-date visual evidence of what their children have been doing and learning. The childminder readily makes available the children's records of progress, although, as yet, she has not established a system that encourages them to add This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 their comments or contribute regularly towards their child's record of progress. The childminder has secure systems in place and confidently demonstrates her good understanding of how and when she should work in wider partnerships, to ensure

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the early years provision

children receive the specific support they may need.

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and outcomes for children

The home is well-organised with lots of toys and activities which have been organised with the young children's developmental stages in mind. For example, babies can access low-level baskets and activity toys that make noises. Older children inquisitively fit together magnetic puzzles on a wall mounted board. They gleefully undertake role-play using the play vacuum to clean up and make noises to represent running water as they pretend to fill their cup from the tap. Younger children are fully included and they are positioned so they can see and be part of the activity. For example, during the musical instruments activities they explore hand held bell rattles and the childminder encourages them to pat the mini bongo drums. The older children are fascinated by the differing sounds they create with the beaters on the wooden xylophone and the metal glockenspiel.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder plans well, using her formal and informal observations to help her plan activities to help extend the children's learning and development. She has begun to complete a simple but informative summative assessment which outlines the children's progress and she intends to implement this on a regular basis throughout the year. She uses other relevant assessment documentation as recommended by the local authority to act as a monitoring matrix to ensure that children continue to make progress. The planned activity programme is not always recorded in a formal system but the childminder is clearly able to demonstrate the children's current interests, stages of development and the activities she provides to help them progress.

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and outcomes for children

The outcomes for children are promoted well within this home. Hygiene routines are followed and children are introduced to and provided with a range of healthy snacks and meals. They enjoy lots of opportunities for outdoor play in the garden and whilst out on trips with the childminder. They are learning about keeping themselves safe as the childminder reminds them about playing safely. The childminder acts as a good role model for the children, she is respectful, calm and uses please and thank you whenever interacting with the children. She understands that their young age means they are still developing an understanding about how to interact with each other and praises them well when they respond to her encouragement, such as, at tidy up time.

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and outcomes for children

Children have regular access to toys that represent technology and promote their problem solving, such as, posting boxes. The childminder is responsive to the children's developing communication skills, as she responds to the babies' babbles and chatter. She reads the children stories regularly and spontaneously counts with them during routines, such as, getting ready for a snack. Children are provided with materials to support their early writing skills and regular opportunities to play with small world figures and animals. They build with blocks This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 and explore textures through paint and other materials, which help to build their physical dexterity and exploratory nature. Consequently, the children benefit from experiences which effectively foster skills for their future learning. 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 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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