Childminder in Stoke-on-Trent

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 17/06/2013 03/12/2008

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early years provision

This inspection: 3 Previous inspection: 2 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 initiate their own play freely as they access the low-level storage and the wide range of toys and resources on offer.  The childminder and assistants provide a caring and loving environment where very young children form appropriate bonds and secure emotional attachments.  The childminder has a sound relationship in place with parents and the local school that the children attend. This ensures progression and continuity of learning and care for all children.

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It is not yet good because

 Documentation showing the names of children being cared for and hours of attendance for them, and the assistants present is not consistently kept up to date. Therefore, the childminder is unable to demonstrate how ratios are met at all times and how children's safety is maintained.  The childminder has not considered her policy with regard to the appropriate outdoor playing boundaries for children over the age of eight years. As a result, older children are not fully protected.  The system for self-evaluation is not wholly robust because children's views are not routinely included in the self-evaluation process to help in identifying targets for improvements within the setting.

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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

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Information about this inspection

 scheduled more frequently where Ofsted identifies a need to do so, for example where provision was previously judged 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 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  scheduled 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 observed children's activities in both playrooms.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke with the childminder and her assistant at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector carried out a safety check on the premises.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector examined a range of documentation including policies and procedures, children's developmental records and suitability of the childminder and persons in the household.  The inspector took account of the on-line self-evaluation form.

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Information about the setting

The childminder was registered in 1992 and is on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She also works with an assistant and another registered childminder in a full time partnership. The childminder lives with her adult son in a house in Packmoor, Stoke on Trent. The whole of the ground floor and the rear garden are used for childminding.

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Information about the setting

The childminder visits the shops and park on a regular basis and collects children from the local school. There are currently 23 children on roll, three of whom are in the early years age group. The childminder also cares for children over the age of eight years, and all attend for a variety of sessions. She operates all year round from 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except bank holidays. The childminder is a member of Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years.

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must:

 keep a daily record of the names of the children being cared for on the premises and their hours of attendance, including assistants.

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

 review the process of self-evaluation, considering further ways to include the views of children, as part of the drive for improvement.

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who attend

The childminder has an appropriate understanding of the seven areas of learning and these are promoted sufficiently well. Children are able to select from a range of age- appropriate toys and equipment and the childminder plans a suitable range of indoor and outdoor activities. For example, younger children explore with 'shapes' looking into the boxes as they begin to identify different shapes and colours. They make marks using a range of media, including paint and wax crayons. This helps children to make satisfactory progress in their physical development.

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who attend

The childminder and assistants observe their key children during activities and record what they can do in their daily journals. This provides a general overview of the children's progress and helps the childminder to identify the next steps in their learning and plan for purposeful experiences. For example, to support children's personal, social and emotional development, the childminder uses mirrors and pictures of facial expressions. Children begin to understand their different feelings as they identify happy, sad and cross. Assessments of observations and activities are recorded in the children's profile, which is shared with parents on a regular basis. This helps keep parents appropriately informed about their child's progress and helps them to be involved to support their child's learning at home. Children's progress is linked to their development bands in the guidance document, Development matters in the Early Years Foundation Stage. This ensures that

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who attend

the childminder is successfully targeting the next steps in children's learning in readiness for school.

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who attend

The childminder appropriately supports children's sense of belonging and self-esteem. For example, children are able to see displays and photographs of their activities. Pictures of the children's recent trip into town are displayed, together with their bus tickets, and a large poster of a bus with their individual pictures at each window. This is all linked to the 'wheels on the bus' song, which the children enjoy singing, to promote language development through action rhymes with the childminder.

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

Toys and equipment appropriate for the age and stage of development of the children who attend are stored in low-level baskets. These are labelled with words and pictures to help younger children build on their independence as they make their own choice on what they want to play with. Children move around freely from one play room to the other as they follow their own interests and initiate their own play. Information from parents on the children's routines and likes and dislikes helps them to settle easily. In addition, a flexible settling-in process based around the needs of the child helps them to make smooth transitions from home into the childminder's care. As a result, children are able to develop warm bonds with the childminder to support their emotional well-being.

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

Children are supported to play cooperatively with the childminder. They demonstrate that they are contented and feel safe; for example, children initiate the rituals of their sleep time and are reassured by the childminder when unfamiliar people are present. Children are suitably supported to develop an understanding of how to keep themselves safe. For example, the childminder supports younger children to use equipment correctly, such as sitting at the table for activities on low-level chairs, or using the slide in the garden. Older children are reminded about road safety, as they walk home from school in pairs, knowing to stay close to the childminder and to cross roads together.

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

Children have opportunities to be active, both indoors and outdoors, as they learn about the importance of physical exercise and a healthy diet. Daily walks back and forth to school allows them to enjoy exercise and fresh air as they enjoy large climbing equipment at the local parks on the way. Children's dietary needs are appropriately met. The childminder works well with parents, as she displays the local school's weekly menu together with her own menu, which is planned appropriately to complement each other to ensure that older children receive balanced and nutritious meals. Young children begin to develop control and coordination as they are able to feed themselves with limited support from the childminder. In addition, their self-care skills are gradually promoted as they learn how to drink from a cup.

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

The childminder praises children as they play, using facial expressions and clapping hands in a positive way with younger children. She promotes positive behaviour and is consistent in her manner. Older children have sticker charts which are used in a positive way. For example, they receive a sticker to help aid potty training, or when they succeed putting their shoes and coats on. As a result, children are well behaved and babies are developing an understanding of acceptable behaviour.

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provision

The childminder is building her confidence in delivery the Early Years Foundation Stage for all children in her care. She is aware of observing and assessing children's progress, and is extending her knowledge of the progress check at age two in preparation for the children reaching this stage. The childminder is committed to improving her provision, and has addressed and met the recommendations raised at the last inspection. She understands the need to evaluate her practice and has completed a self-evaluation which identifies further areas for improvement. Parent's views are given consideration although there is less emphasis placed on gaining the direct views from children as this is done more on an ad-hoc basis.

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provision

The childminder has a satisfactory understanding of her responsibility in meeting the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. A safeguarding policy, which is shared with parents, includes the action to be taken and who to contact to seek advice and support. In addition, this includes the appropriate use of mobile phones and cameras in the setting to protect children. The premises are safe and secure as access is managed by the childminder and assistants from within the house. However, the childminder is unable to demonstrate how ratios are met, as she does not consistently record the hours of attendance of assistants to clearly demonstrate that sufficient adults are present to meet the required adult to child ratios. In addition, children's attendance is not recorded immediately during the day. For example, children who had been taken to school in the morning were not entered into the register. As a

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provision

result, the childminder fails to meet one of the safeguarding and welfare requirements, this means that requirements are not met on all registers.

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provision

The inspection took place following a complaint relating to the supervision of children, with particular regard to when children play outside the boundary of the childminder's property, in the cul-de-sac. Discussion with the childminder identified that the complaint was directed at children over the age of eight years old that the childminder is responsible for. The children were allowed to play outside with others who live in the area, as a direct request and consent from parents. There are no immediate implications for children's safety, however, this does means the childminder does not meet all the requirements of childcare register. The childminder understands the importance of communication and working cooperatively with external agencies and other providers. Relationships with parents are positive. Parents' written comments demonstrate their satisfaction with the childminder's service from comments and feedback in daily journals. The childminder has a generally good

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provision

relationship with the local school. Information from school is fed back to the parents, and the childminder has a 'school' notice board for parents with reminders about dates for; sports day, parents evenings and transition evenings. This ensures progression and continuity of learning and care for all children.

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The Childcare Register

The requirements for the compulsory part of the Childcare Register are

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actions)

The requirements for the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are

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To meet the requirements of the Childcare Register the provider must:

 maintain a daily record of the names of the children looked after on the premises and their hours of attendance (compulsory part of the Childcare Register)  ensure that children receiving childcare are kept safe from harm (compulsory part of the Childcare Register)  maintain a daily record of the names of the children looked after on the premises and their hours of attendance (voluntary part of the Childcare Register)  ensure that children receiving childcare are kept safe from harm (voluntary part of the Childcare Register)

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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 action. 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 224624 Local authority Stoke on Trent Inspection number 923395 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 16 Number of children on roll 23

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Telephone number

set out in the guidance ‘Complaints procedure: 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, which are usually the childminder’s 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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