Childminder in Halton

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY286710 Inspection date 16/04/2012 Inspector Ron Goldsmith

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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 2004. She lives with her two adult sons in Widnes, Cheshire. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding and the bathroom on the first floor. There is a fully enclosed rear area 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 six children under eight years at any one time, of whom no more than three may be in the early years age range. There are currently five children attending who 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. She is registered on the Early Years Register and on both the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register. 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 satisfactory.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children are making satisfactory progress as they take part in some interesting activities that cover most aspects of their learning and development. They enjoy familiar routines and their individual needs are known and met by the childminder. Sound relationships are in place with parents and some limited relationships with other professionals are being developed. Children's welfare is effectively promoted because the childminder ensures children are safeguarded; she communicates effectively with parents, and ensures that children are safe at all times. Observation and assessment are not clearly linked to planning the next steps of learning. The self-evaluation system is not robust enough to identify all strengths and areas for development. In addition risk assessment is not effective in identifying all potential hazards.

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further?

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

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further?

 make sure observation and assessment are clearly linked to planning the next steps for each individual child  develop self-evaluation to identify strengths and areas for improvement in the setting  ensure the risk assessment identifies all hazards in the setting.

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the early years provision

The childminder demonstrates sound knowledge of the welfare requirements and the written policies and procedures. She ensures all appropriate records and This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 documentation are maintained and are stored securely to promote children's health, safety and welfare. She supervises children closely during play. Risk assessments of the premises and outdoor area ensure most potential dangers are identified and suitable measures are taken to minimise any risk to children. However, an electrical socket was left unprotected. Risk assessments for outings are also undertaken. The childminder shows generally effective knowledge of safeguarding issues and the procedures to follow to ensure child welfare concerns are identified satisfactorily and responded to appropriately. Although a range of interesting activities and resources to support children's play and learning are

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the early years provision

provided, it is unclear to what extent all areas of learning are developed. This is because observation and assessment are not clearly linked to planning for each individual child's next learning steps.

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the early years provision

The children feel confident and safe to express themselves, for example, choosing an activity they wish to follow, which the childminder supports. They benefit from positive opportunities to learn about diversity through access to a variety of books and resources depicting differences. Written statements from parents have indicated that they feel positive about the setting. Previous inspection recommendations have been acted upon but the childminder has not completed self-evaluation well enough to sufficiently identify all strengths and areas for development in order to bring about improvement to the setting. Partnerships with other settings children attend are therefore not well developed because information is not consistently shared to fully support children's achievements and well-being.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a positive partnership with parents and relationships are well established. They receive information through the sharing of the childminder's book of activities and experiences offered to the children. This includes photographs and examples of their children's work to show parents how children are engaged in the setting.

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and outcomes for children

Children are making sound progress in their learning because the childminder supports them in a variety of activities. They respond well to the childminder's interaction and engagement in their play, quietly chatting and beginning to respond to questions and ideas, which provide suitable levels of challenge. For example as the childminder asks them to pass her a blue colour. Children make some choices in their play, laughing as they build a tower from bricks, responding to questions from the childminder about colours and using simple mathematical language such as 'next to', and 'bigger than'. They are beginning to count simple numbers and enjoy dressing up in role play clothes as a cook or a doctor. They are confident to ask for help when they need it and they are encouraged by the childminder to share and take turns.

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and outcomes for children

Children have close bonds with the childminder and chat happily with her while chalking on a slate board or playing with small world toys. The very youngest children show an interest in books and turn pages confidently to look at pictures. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 They independently select musical instruments from a box and smile as they shake bells to make sounds. Children are happy and settled, displaying a sense of belonging in the home. They enjoy daily walks to and from school and occasional opportunities to engage in large physical activities at the local park. The childminder ensures children make trips to local places of interest to help reinforce and extend their awareness of the wider world. Children are beginning to show an understanding about healthy lifestyles and the importance of adopting good hygiene habits. They are provided with suitably healthy and nutritious snacks, food

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and outcomes for children

and drinks. Diluted juice or water is made available for them to drink, should they be thirsty. individual towels are provided to help reduce the risk of any cross infection. 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 3 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 3 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: 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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