Childminder in Lancashire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 06/11/2012 24/03/2011

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early years provision

This inspection: 3 Previous inspection: 3 How well the early years provision meets the needs of the range of children who attend The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children 3 The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision 3

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This provision is satisfactory

 Children form good relationships with the childminder and other children. They are settled and comfortable in her care and enjoy the quality interaction they receive from her.  Children's independence is promoted because resources are set out in such a way that allows them to select what they would like to play with.  Positive relationships exist with parents and there is an effective two-way exchange of information between the childminder and home.

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It is not yet good because

 Children's learning and development assessments lack some of the necessary detail to clearly identify their progress in all the seven areas of learning and accurately plan for their next steps.  The childminder does not always make the most of all opportunities to fully extend children's learning by encouraging them to try new activities that will provide more challenge.  Systems for planning the use of toys and activities are not yet fully robust in ensuring that they are clearly linked to children's individual interests and learning and development needs.

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Information about this inspection

Inspections of registered early years provision are scheduled:  at least once in every inspection cycle. The current cycle ends on 31 July 2016  more frequently where Ofsted identifies a need to do so, for example where provision was previously judged as inadequate  brought forward in the inspection cycle where Ofsted has received information that suggests the provision may not be meeting the legal requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage; or where assessment of the provision identifies a need for early inspection  prioritised for inspection where we have received information that the provision is not meeting the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage and which suggests children may not be safe  at the completion of an investigation into failure to comply with the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Information about this inspection

The provision is also registered on the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register. This report includes a judgment about compliance with the requirements of that register.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector looked at the documentation relating to the childminding provision.  The inspector observed activities taking place in the sitting room.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke with the childminder at appropriate times throughout the observations.

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Information about the setting

The childminder was registered in 1992 on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She lives with her husband in a house in Burscough, Lancashire. The whole of the ground floor and the rear garden is used for childminding.

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Information about the setting

The childminder has completed basic training, including first aid and child protection and updates her knowledge through specific courses. She visits the local shops and park on a regular basis. She collects children from the local school. There are currently six children on roll, two of whom are in the early years age group. Children attend for a variety of sessions, including before and after school. The childminder is open every weekday from 7.30am to 6pm all year round, except for family holidays.

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must:

 review and extend the current system for observation and assessment to ensure that it covers all seven areas of learning and clearly identifies how the children's next steps in learning and development will be planned and provided for.

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To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

 improve planning to ensure that it consistently links to and reflects children's individual needs, interests and stages of development

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To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

 accurately plan the use of activities, so that they build on children's interests and provide additional challenge and new experiences that will enhance and extend their learning and development.

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who attend

The childminder has a secure knowledge of how children learn and develop and demonstrates a basic knowledge of the seven areas of learning. She obtains children's starting points from their parents, gathering important information, such as their likes, dislikes and what they enjoy doing. This enables the childminder to make an initial assessment of the child's abilities and plan accordingly. However, planning of learning activities and the resources to support this is not yet fully secure and this results in the childminder missing opportunities to fully extend and enhance children's individual learning. The childminder has begun to record some observations of what children learn and these are included in their individual development files. However, these lack the necessary detail. For example, they do not clearly link to the seven areas of learning or identify how children's next steps in learning will be promoted through a range of

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who attend

purposeful play and learning opportunities that meets their individual needs.

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who attend

Children enjoy participating in a mixture of planned and freely chosen play experiences and enthusiastically explore the resources, which are provided for them in low-level storage containers around the room. However, the resources and equipment available are not always used to their full advantage in consistently providing children with playthings that reflect their interests and provide additional challenge. As a result, children are not fully supported in making as much progress as they can. Children's communication skills are developing as they look at books and engage in conversation about what they see with each other and the childminder. They enjoy their construction activities and work together as a small group with the childminder, building towers and seeing who can build the biggest and recognise the colour of the blocks. Children use resources, such as mark- making equipment, confidently. Young children enjoy experimenting with different colours

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who attend

as they scribble, while older children draw more recognisable pictures, demonstrating age- appropriate pencil control.

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who attend

Currently, there are no children attending, who have English as an additional language or require additional support. However, the childminder demonstrates an understanding of how she would support all children to progress well towards the learning goals, given their starting points.

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The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children

The childminder ensures that her practice enables children to form appropriate bonds and secure attachments, which means they feel safe, happy and secure in her care. Clear boundaries are discussed and children play well together as a result. They are learning to share and develop independence. For example, children confidently take themselves to the bathroom and are aware that they need to wash their hands.

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The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children

Children's safety is given priority. The childminder ensures that children play in a safe and clean environment, carries out daily safety checks and keeps the premises secure. Children take part in regular evacuation drills, so that they learn what to do in the event of an emergency and they learn about road safety when walking to and from school. The range of toys and resources used to reflect the needs and abilities of others and to make children aware of the wider world are used well.

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The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children

Appropriate daily routines for such things as nappy changes, meals and rest times, help to ensure that children are happy. They are supported in developing a healthy lifestyle through nutritious meals and regular opportunities to exercise. These include trips to the park, walks around the local area and use of the garden where children develop physical skills with toys, such as balls and scooters.

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provision

The childminder has clear and effective systems in place for meeting the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. She understands her responsibilities with regards to protecting children and demonstrates a good knowledge of current guidance on referring safeguarding concerns. Her home is effectively risk assessed to ensure that children play and explore in a safe, secure and welcoming environment. The childminder is aware of the recent changes to the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage and the requirement to monitor the progress of children. She is beginning to review and revise her procedures and documentation to ensure that they meet the requirements of this. For example, she has updated her safeguarding policy to cover the use of mobile phones and cameras. However, assessments of children's progress and the planning of activities and resources are not yet sufficiently robust to

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provision

ensure that they accurately link to and reflect children's individual interests and learning needs, and that they are used effectively to provide additional challenge.

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provision

The childminder works well with parents and has appropriate systems in place for sharing relevant information about their children on a daily basis. She verbally discusses what the children have done each day and shares samples of their art work with them. The childminder is firmly committed to developing her provision for children and has made improvements and changes since her last inspection. All actions and recommendations have been met. This has brought about some improvements to practice, documentation and to the educational programme. She has completed a self-evaluation form, detailing information about her procedures and working practices.

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provision

The childminder liaises with other providers, who provide care for the children in the early years age range. For example, she takes children to and collects them from local schools and relays information given to her by the school teaching staff for the parent. The childminder has a secure understanding of the need to work with other professionals when the need arises.

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The Childcare Register

The requirements for the compulsory part of the Childcare Register are Met The requirements for the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are Met

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Grade Judgement Description

Grade 1 Outstanding Outstanding provision is highly effective in meeting the needs of all children exceptionally well. This ensures that children are very well prepared for the next stage of their learning. Grade 2 Good Good provision is effective in delivering provision that meets the needs of all children well. This ensures children are ready for the next stage of their learning. Grade 3 Satisfactory Satisfactory provision is performing less well than expectations in one or more of the key areas. It requires improvement in order to be good. Grade 4 Inadequate Provision that is inadequate requires significant improvement and/or enforcement. The provision is failing to give children an acceptable standard of early years education and/or is not meeting the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. It will be inspected again within 12 months of the date of this inspection.

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Grade Judgement Description

Met The provision has no children on roll. The inspection judgement is that the provider continues to meet the requirements for registration. Not Met The provision has no children on roll. The inspection judgement is that the provider does not meet the requirements for registration.

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Inspection

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under Sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children’s learning, development and care, known as the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 307929 Local authority Lancashire Inspection number 818821 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 6

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Telephone number

set out in the guidance ‘raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted', which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk.

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Type of provision

For the purposes of this inspection the following definitions apply:

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Type of provision

Full-time provision is that which operates for more than three hours. These are usually known as nurseries, nursery schools and pre-schools and must deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage. They are registered on the Early Years Register and pay the higher fee for registration.

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Type of provision

Sessional provision operates for more than two hours but does not exceed three hours in any one day. These are usually known as pre-schools, kindergartens or nursery schools and must deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage. They are registered on the Early Years Register and pay the lower fee for registration.

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Type of provision

Childminders care for one or more children where individual children attend for a period of more than two hours in any one day. They operate from domestic premises that are usually their own home. They are registered on the Early Years Register and must deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Type of provision

Out of school provision may be sessional or full-time provision and is delivered before or after school and/or in the summer holidays. They are registered on the Early Years Register and must deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage. Where children receive their Early Years Foundation Stage in school these providers do not have to deliver the learning and development requirements in full but should complement the experiences children receive in school. 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,

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Type of provision

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, 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. To receive regular email alerts about new publications, including survey reports and school inspection reports, please visit our website and go to ‘Subscribe’.

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Type of provision

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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