Childminder in Halton

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY356536 Inspection date 16/04/2012 Inspector Alec Smith

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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 2007. She lives with her husband and three children aged five, seven and 13 years. The family live in the Norton area of Runcorn. Children have access to the whole of the ground floor of the property. There is an enclosed garden available for outdoor play. The childminder walks and drives to school to take and collect children. The family have a pet guinea pig.

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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 three may be in the early years age range. There is currently one children attending who is 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 supports children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and children who speak English as an additional language.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is outstanding.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children settle exceptionally well in the warm family environment provided by the childminder. They make excellent progress in their learning because the childminder has a superb grasp of how to plan and provide play activities that meet the needs of every child. She works closely with parents and other Early Years Foundation Stage providers who share children's care to ensure excellent continuity of care. Children enjoy the extremely well-resourced environment that allows them to explore their own ideas in their learning. All documentation is in place, meticulously detailed and shared with parents to ensure that all children are safeguarded. First class self-evaluation processes are in place so that challenging targets are established, such as training.

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further?

To further improve the high quality early years provision the registered person should consider:

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further?

 continuing to implement her current improvement plans, such as attending further training.

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the early years provision

Children are exceptionally well protected and safeguarded as the childminder has a first class understanding of local safeguarding procedures. She has in place detailed policies and procedures to ensure the safety of children and shares these This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 with parents when children are admitted. She attends regular training to ensure that she is continually up-to-date with any developments. For example, she attends meetings to be part of a local childminding network.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a superior understanding of the Early Years Foundation stage and uses this highly effectively to support children's progress. She has set up the environment to ensure that all children can access a vast range of activities and keeps these exceedingly well organised. For example, children select resources from a well-organised play room and can use these throughout the home. She takes children on a number of visits in the local area, as well as, making inspiring use of the garden. This ensures all children have access to fresh air on a regular basis. The childminder is extremely well motivated and works hard to ensure that she provides the very best for all children that attend. She has met all recommendations from the previous inspection, such as, ensuring consent is given for children to have contact with pets. She has developed excellent self-evaluation processes and fully involves both parents and children to set herself targets that

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the early years provision

will have the biggest impact for children. For example, her development plans include provision to further enhance her provision by gaining further qualifications in childcare.

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the early years provision

The childminder has excellent relationships with parents and uses these to ensure all children's needs are given the utmost priority. For example, she completes, with parents, meticulous information regarding what the children can do, such as putting their own shoes on, and ways that she can support the family and child. She seeks parent's and children's views through regular surveys and keeps them informed of any developments that may have occurred. She establishes fantastic working relationships with other providers and professionals and shares, with parent's permission, information about children in her care. This ensures that children make the best progress possible.

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the early years provision

Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are exceptionally well supported. This is because the childminder ensures that she plans activities around each individual child and as such all children make excellent progress. She challenges any discriminatory comments that might be made in a sensitive and caring manner so that children learn to be sensitive to those from different backgrounds.

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and outcomes for children

Children are extremely confident and happy in this setting and feel really safe and secure. This is because the childminder places the utmost priority on establishing relationships and clear routines. Children have an excellent understanding of safety rules. For example, children understand that they have to go the correct way down the slide to keep safe. Children use the equipment outside, such as the wendy house and steps, safely and independently, with the childminder offering support when necessary. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 Children have excellent opportunities to learn about healthy lifestyles. They grow, water and harvest their own vegetables, such as peas and spinach, and then eat these at snack or for their lunch. Children select their own snack for the day from a selection available and have taken an active role in helping to choice the menu

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and outcomes for children

options. This supports children to make brilliant, healthy food choices. Children learn hygiene routines through exceptionally well-organised routines, and are really empowered to do these themselves. For example, children wash their own hands with no support from the childminder but have posters to remind them what to do. Children develop exceptional physical skills though regular trips to the park and visits to the local environment.

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and outcomes for children

Children make outstanding progress towards the early learning goals from their starting points. This is because the childminder completes rigorous assessment, which is linked to planning to provide optimal challenge. Children learn about nature though a wealth of activities. For example, they learn about spring and butterflies through their own butterfly farm. Children are developing a fantastic understanding of stories. They know how to turn the pages themselves, describe the picture that they see and retell their favourite stories about a caterpillar. Children use their phonics skills to read labels on the plants they grow outside, such as 'peas'. Children are making excellent progress in their numeracy skills. They learn their numbers through games and songs such as well as though out other activities. When mark making for decorating windmills that they make, they count the colours that they have used. When children use computers to find out

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and outcomes for children

from the internet what butterflies have hatched in their farm, they gain fantastic skills for the future.

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and outcomes for children

Children are very well behaved and are actively involved in choosing activities and setting them up. For example, children select their own resources from the playroom to use with dolls, pack them in to bags and takes them outside for their own activity. Children learn about their own and different cultures through a vast range or activities and resources. For Chinese New Year, children ate chinese food and found out more from stories and made their own bookmarks for the animal representing the year they were born. 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 1 The effectiveness of the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement The effectiveness of partnerships 1 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 1

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 1 The extent to which children feel safe 1 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 1 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 1 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 1

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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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