Meachin, Emma-Jayne Louise

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY437606 Inspection date 30/04/2012 Inspector Vickie Halliwell

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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. She lives with her husband and two children aged eight and nine years in Clone, Lancashire. The premises are within easy reach of public transport, shops, parks, schools and community resources. The provision is registered on the Early Years Register and both parts of the Childcare Register. The whole of the ground floor and first floor bathroom are used for childminding. The home is accessed via several steep steps. There is a fully enclosed outdoor play area to the rear of the property.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children under eight years. There are currently two children attending who are within the Early Years Foundation Stage. The childminder also offers care to children over five years. The childminder is supported by the local authority.

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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's welfare is satisfactorily promoted, individual needs are suitably met by the childminder who warmly welcomes each child into her home. Children benefit from a loving and affectionate relationship and demonstrate a strong sense of belonging. Children enjoy a broad range of activities and experiences, which help them make steady progress in their learning and development. However, systems to identify children's capabilities and plan for their future learning are not fully developed. The childminder promotes relaxed and informal relationships with parents, but not all required parental consents are requested. Systems to review, monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the provision are not yet fully established, although the childminder has the capacity to make improvements.

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further?

To meet the specific requirements of the EYFS, the registered person must:

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further?

 request parental consent to seek emergency medical advice or treatment (Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare). 15/05/2012

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further?

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

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further?

 implement a system of self-evaluation to identify strengths and priorities for improvement that will improve the quality of the provision for children  improve the range of resources that reflect positive images of different cultures and disability to raise children's awareness of diversity and provide support so children learn to respect and value differences This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006  improve observational assessment and use this information to help identify the next steps in children's learning  develop systems to monitor children's learning and development to show their continued progress towards the early learning goals in each area of learning given their starting points.  improve the risk assessment so that it includes all potential hazards and identifies aspects of the environment that need to be checked on a regular basis

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the early years provision

Children are adequately safeguarded because the childminder has a satisfactory knowledge of child protection issues. She has devised a written policy and is able to implement appropriate procedures to protect children from possible harm. The childminder is aware of her responsibility to notify her local safeguarding children board and Ofsted in the event of an allegation been made against herself. All adults living on the premises have undergone checks to ensure their suitability, which further safeguards children. Attention to children's safety within the childminder's home and whilst on outings is good. However, records of risk assessments do not include all potential hazards, such as the portable radiator, and do not identify aspects that need to be checked on a regular basis. The childminder uses the available space and resources appropriately to meet children's needs, although systems to ensure rooms are adequately heated are not

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the early years provision

The childminder has only recently commenced minding and most records required for the safe and efficient management of the provision are satisfactorily maintained. However, the childminder has not requested consent from parents to seek emergency medical treatment or advice for their children in order to promote their health in an emergency situation. This is a breach of a specific legal requirement. The childminder's capacity to maintain continuous improvement is not fully promoted as systems to monitor the effectiveness of the provision are not yet established. The childminder is mindful of some weakness in relation to observation and assessment, but does not have clear plans in place to tackle these. All required training has been completed, including obtaining a paediatric first aid certificate, but the childminder has not identified any further training needs.

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the early years provision

The childminder provides an inclusive service. All children and their families are warmly welcomed and the childminder is a positive role model who encourages children to respect one another. As a result, children are developing positive and caring attitudes towards others. However, play materials that reflect positive images of diversity and opportunities to help children learn about and appreciate differences as they play, are limited. Relaxed and informal partnerships with parents facilitate the routine exchange of information, particularly in relation to children's care needs and routines. Parents are adequately informed about the childminder's provision and sign to confirm their understanding of written policies and procedures at admission. The childminder has not yet cared for any children This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 who have special educational needs or disabilities, or children who attend other

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the early years provision

early year's provisions. However, she is aware of the importance of working with other professionals when necessary, to ensure children are appropriately supported.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder appropriately promotes children's welfare. Children feel safe and secure in the childminders care and enjoy loving and affectionate relationships. They are developing healthy eating habits because the childminder provides a varied range of healthy and nutritious meals and snacks. Mealtimes are valued as a social occasion and the childminder dines alongside the children. Routine procedures help raise children's awareness of the importance of good hygiene practices, for example regular hand washing. Children also have regular opportunities to be physically active. They enjoy dancing within the childminders home, visiting local parks and participating in 'adventure walks' which raise their awareness of both the local community and the natural world. The childminder is a positive role model who implements positive behaviour management strategies. Consequently, young children benefit from consistent boundaries and simple

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and outcomes for children

explanations which form the basis for good behaviour in the future.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder is aware of the six areas of learning and provides a varied range of activities which broadly promote children's learning in each area. Children benefit from a balance of adult-led and child-initiated activities and regularly visit local groups and facilities, which further enhances their learning. Children's emerging language is appropriately supported by the childminder who routinely introduces new vocabulary during routine play. Picture books and stories are used to stimulate their interest in books. Consequently, children spontaneously select their 'favourite' stories and snuggle in beside the childminder, joining in with familiar phrases. The childminder naturally and spontaneously supports children as they play, sitting alongside them and providing encouragement as they complete a selection of increasingly complex jigsaw puzzles. Children express their imagination. They enjoy using puppets and proudly announce 'time for the show'.

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and outcomes for children

With the support of the childminder, children dress up in a wide range of costumes and wait to be lifted up, so they can see their reflection in the mirror. The childminder has completed occasional observations, but these lack detail; consequently, the childminder is unable to fully identify children's capabilities and does not use observations sufficiently to plan for the next steps in children's learning. The childminder explained she has started to highlight 'development stages' to help monitor children's progress, but these records do not include sufficient detail. Furthermore, the childminder does not have any systems in place to identify children's starting points, so is unable to securely monitor children's progress towards the early learning goals. 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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