Childminder in Bolton

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY436432 Inspection date 19/04/2012 Inspector Jane O'Callaghan

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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 2011 and works with another registered childminder and two assistants on the outskirts of Bolton. The whole of the ground floor, upstairs rear bedroom and garden are used for childminding purposes. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She is registered to care for a maximum of six children under eight years at any one time. The childminder currently has six children on roll and of these six are in the early years age range and none are in the compulsory childcare group. When working with another childminder and assistants she may care for a total of no more than 14 children under eight years of age; of these not more than 10 may be in the early years age range and of these, not more than three may be under one year at any one time. The childminder holds a level three qualification in childcare.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder collects and takes children to local schools and visits parks and places of interest. The family has a dog, guinea pigs and a hamster as pets.

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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 childminder knows the children and their families well and supports their individual needs effectively. She promotes their learning, safety and welfare in a consistent manner overall and the children are secure in their relationships with her. The childminder develops good partnerships with the parents and is aware of working collaboratively with any other settings. Children's individuality is valued by the childminder who obtains useful information regarding requirements and preferences to ensure their needs are inclusively met. The childminder shows she is committed to continuous improvement and has effective systems in place to assist her in evaluating her service.

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further?

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

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further?

 extend the link between children's next steps and planning to further their good progress in all areas of learning  ensure children's personal hygiene is effectively implemented, with particular regard to the prevention of cross infection.

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the early years provision

Children's welfare is safeguarded because the childminder understands her role and responsibilities to protect them. She ensures they remain sheltered from people who have not been vetted at all times. She demonstrates her knowledge of This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 protecting children and understands the importance of recording any concerns. The childminder has created well written risk assessments for reducing hazards to children, which include all areas they use indoors, outside and any outings they go on. She regularly reviews, dates and signs these and also carries out daily checks of the home and toys and equipment.

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the early years provision

The childminder establishes caring and supportive working relationships with parents, providing them with verbal and written feedback of their child's routine, progress and development. She ensures that parents have access to children's individual profiles and encourages them to comment in them. She has relevant written policies and procedures that reflect the aspects of the care provided; these are made available to parents in a welcome pack. The childminder encourages parents to set up settling-in periods for the children with her, prior to them being left, to ensure that they are comfortable and feel secure with her. Parents also receive daily diaries and there is an informative notice board with photographs of the childminder and also other colleagues she works closely with so that parents are fully aware of all those working at the setting. She is building links with other providers who care for the children to ensure continuity in the children's learning,

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the early years provision

The childminder is committed to enhancing the service she provides, monitoring her provision through an effective system of self-evaluation. She also works alongside another childminder on a joint self-evaluation to facilitate consistent childcare practice. She has also attended lots of relevant training, for example, safeguarding, risk assessments, child development and food safety, to ensure a good quality setting is provided to support children's care and learning.

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the early years provision

The environment is welcoming and inviting to children of all ages and they are encouraged to join in a wide range of activities. The childminder ensures that children are made aware of the wider world and community around them. For example, they celebrate a variety of festivals, take part in world food tasting and have a positive selection of resources to support their understanding of other people and cultures.

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and outcomes for children

Children are happy and settled in the childminder's home. They demonstrate a good sense of belonging, as they confidently move around and, with assistance from the childminder and assistants, enjoy a good range of activities they independently choose. All toys and resources are clearly labelled, ensuring that children learn that print carries meaning.

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and outcomes for children

The children enjoy a balance of indoor and outdoor activities, with regular visits to local parks, museums, garden centres and other places of interest. They also get lots of opportunities to play and develop their physical skills in the well-resourced garden. They learn to ride the bicycles and play games with bats and balls and to develop their imagination in the outdoor play house. They access a good selection This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 of creative activities, where they paint independently, roll out the dough and cut out and paint different animals and flowers for their spring topic. Children are learning to enjoy books. They regularly go to the library to choose books and can also self-select, in the home, a wide choice of age-appropriate books. They go to many child-orientated groups on a regular basis where children get good opportunities to develop their social skills as they play with their friends. For

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and outcomes for children

example, they regularly go to the local Children's Centre and to soft play centres. More able children are keen to show the younger children how to play skittles and patiently take turns. They throw the ball and knock down the skittles, counting how many as they do this. The playrooms have lots of posters displaying numbers, letters and pictures of animals to support the consolidation of the children's learning. These are all at children's level and connected with various themes that the childminder has planned. There is also a good display of children's own artwork and also lots of photographs of them doing a variety of activities both indoors and outdoors. These displays help to develop children's self-confidence and to support children to use appropriate language to talk about what they have done and enjoyed.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder has good understanding of the early learning goals. Profiles have good information relating to children's starting points and observations are clearly linked to areas of learning and stage of each child's development. However, children's next steps are not clearly linked to the planning to consistently extend children's learning. Children's profiles contain lots of their creative work and individual photographic evidence. This helps parents to become involved in their children's learning and for the childminder to maintain a pictorial record of activities to ensure children's individual learning is supported.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder ensures that children are cared for in a safe environment. For example, there is a safety gate in place, a fire blanket is appropriately sited in the kitchen and fire drills are regularly practised with the children. She also teaches children how to cross the road and this is supported with appropriate books on the subject. Health and well-being are promoted in most areas and the childminder records any children's dietary and health needs appropriately. There are written health and welfare policies in place, including a detailed sick-child policy, all of which are shared with parents. The childminder explains to children about washing hands after using the toilet and has posters to show the procedure to follow. However, children's personal hand-washing routines are not further promoted, for example, by children having access to individual drying facilities. Snacks of fruit are provided by the childminder and main lunches all of which are healthy options. All

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and outcomes for children

children have access to water and sugar-free juice in their own cups and drink bottles throughout the day.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder has a well written behaviour policy and children behave well. She gives gentle reminders to children to say 'please' and 'thank you' and to share and take turns. The childminder responds to their actions with lots of praise which effectively raises their self-esteem and confidence and shows them their efforts are valued and appreciated. 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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