Childminder in Lancashire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 307642 Inspection date 07/06/2012 Inspector Ferroza Saiyed

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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 1990. She lives with her partner and two adult children in a residential area of New Longton, which is situated on the outskirts of Preston in Lancashire. One of her daughters is also a registered childminder and works with her. The home is close to local amenities including shops, schools and a community hall.

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Description of the childminding

The whole of the ground floor is available to the minded children. The toilet and washing facilities are on the ground floor. There is an enclosed rear garden available for outdoor play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. Registration is for a total of six children aged under eight years when working alone. When working with another childminder she may care for 12 children under the age of eight of whom no more than six may be in the early years age range. There are currently 11 children on roll all in the early years age group. The children attend on a part-time and full- time basis. The childminder cares for children from 7.30am to 6pm on weekdays all year round. Advice, support and training are gained from the local authority.

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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 is effective in meeting the needs of all the children through recognising their uniqueness; she provides an inclusive, welcoming and caring service. Good organisation, drive and the motivation of the childminder ensure that children are happy and have positive experiences. Children make good progress in their learning and development, although this is not yet fully maximised. Generally good partnerships with parents and links with other professionals are established. The childminder has successfully addressed all recommendations from her last inspection. She is positive in her approach to maintaining continuous improvement by identifying and taking action on priorities to improve outcomes for children.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop systems to gather children starting points to aid their learning and offer support for extending children's learning in the home  develop systems for observation and assessment for all children in the Early Years Foundation Stage so their progress can be tracked in all areas and the information used to inform future planning. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

Children's safety and welfare is promoted well because of the effective procedures in place. The childminder has a good knowledge of current child protection procedures because she has recently attended training. She backs this up with a well written policy including the local telephone numbers to call for advice or to report a concern. The childminder holds a current first aid certificate, which enables her to act appropriately in an emergency situation. The children are kept safe as robust risk assessments are implemented for the premises and for each type of outing. These are regularly monitored and reviewed. Opportunities for children to learn about fire safety are provided. The childminder discusses aspects of safety with children to help raise their awareness of keeping themselves safe.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a positive attitude towards personal development and has attended several training courses since her previous inspection. She is developing a good understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage and has undertaken a well-planned programme of continuous learning opportunities to ensure that her skills are consistently updated. The childminder has been proactive in addressing the recommendations made at the last inspection. This has further promoted children safety and welfare.

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the early years provision

The childminder is highly committed to working in partnership with others. She supports children when they attend another setting which ensures a continuity of care and maximises the outcomes for the child. Partnerships with parents and carers are effective. She invites parents and children for introductory sessions and gathers relevant information required to meet the children's individual needs. However, the systems to find out about children's starting points in relation to their learning and development are not sufficient. Parents are not actively involved in their child's learning, which means they cannot contribute effectively.

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the early years provision

The childminder has an abundance of toys and activities for inside and outside play. She clearly considers how to make best use of space in order to achieve the maximum benefit for children. For example, creating areas, such as role play, construction and messy play, to meet the needs of a wide age range of ages and abilities. Toys are stored on low-level shelving or in boxes. This enables children to make confident choices about their learning and play. Children benefit from dedicated playrooms in the child-orientated home where colourful examples of their work, along with posters and photographs are displayed. This helps to promote their sense of belonging and self-esteem.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder has a good understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage. A good balance of child-led and adult-initiated experiences ensures that activities are appropriate for children's ages and stages of development and cover all areas of This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 learning. Ongoing observation is the main form of assessment and the childminder has developed a system for assessing the children. As a result, most children are making good progress in their learning and development. Individual files have been developed for each of the children, which include photographs and assessments of their learning. However, the tracking process is not clear for all children meaning their next steps are not based on current learning priorities.

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and outcomes for children

Children have lots of fun and enjoyment; they are confident and most of all they are happy. They are well supported in their learning and development as the childminder knows them very well. She is skilled at promoting positive attitudes to learning, ensuring that every child is suitably challenged by the experiences provided. Her calm approach and warm and playful interactions motivate young children well and help them to make progress. Children's emerging language skills are advanced through their interest in singing and dancing. Children delight in doing movements with their hands and feet as they sing 'Dingle dangle scarecrow' and the 'Grand old Duke of York'. Children enjoy vocalising as the childminder initiates conversations and reinforces their attempts to speak. For example, they learn to say 'ta' when given their beaker. Younger children understand simple commands, such as when the childminder says 'come and look at this'. Their

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and outcomes for children

concentration skills are developed through an interest in books and stories. The childminder interacts with the children constantly. She stimulates their curiosity and uses open questions well to encourage their developing language skills as they play together. For example, she asks children to reflect on how they cross the road. Children respond by going through the procedure for road safety. This positively contributes to children developing a sense of danger and how to keep themselves safe. Good use is made of spontaneous learning opportunities. For example, children talk about weddings in their families. The childminder supports them as they dress the dolls in wedding clothes. This approach enables the children to make meaningful connections in their learning. Early mathematical number skills are introduced through everyday activities; for example, counting the number of cake cases and measuring the ingredients when baking. Children

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and outcomes for children

independently count the number of raisins given for their snack. This all helps promote children learning and development.

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and outcomes for children

Children learn about the importance of fresh air and exercise being good for their health and well-being. They enjoy playing in the garden; they delight in jumping on the trampoline, riding on bikes and playing in sit and ride cars. The childminder has a very good understanding of the importance of providing a healthy diet and this is supported by exciting and fun activities. Children plant fruits in pots and in the garden and they harvest them and enjoy these as their snacks. Therefore, children are beginning to learn to adopt healthy lifestyles. The childminder use food and holidays to promote discussion about the wider world. Children celebrate each other's birthdays and they acknowledge the festivals and celebrations of others. For instance, they celebrate Chinese New Year and dress up as witches and pumpkins at Halloween. Children confidently use information and communication technology to support their learning; for instance, they use a variety of

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and outcomes for children

programmable toys, interactive books and toy laptops. This helps to develop their skills for the future.

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and outcomes for children

Consistent daily routines, such as hand washing are used to good effect to ensure This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 that even the youngest children are beginning to develop habits conducive to their good health. The childminder is a very good role model, having a quiet manner and listening to children well. She shows positive regard for them as individuals. They are well supported by the childminder who has clear house rules in place to help children to begin to learn right from wrong. This is combined with lots of praise and encouragement. Planned trips and visits to groups where children are able to socialise with their peers provide them with opportunities to learn and show respect for one another. These activities enhance their positive disposition to 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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