McPhillips, Janice

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 31/01/2014 09/05/2013

p.1

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

p.1

This provision requires improvement

 The childminder and her assistants provide a welcoming environment where children demonstrate that they feel secure and confident. They have an understanding of how to manage any concerns they may have about a child's welfare.  The childminder has positive partnerships with parents who are warmly appreciative of the care she provides for their children and their resulting development.  The activities, outings and resources provided are age-appropriate and contribute to children's progress in their learning and development.

p.1

It is not yet good because

 The childminder has not developed a secure knowledge of the statutory requirements for childminders regarding ratios, or of the age at which an adult may be included in the ratios for this and as a result, she has provided care for more children than allowed.  The ways in which the childminder monitors the activities she offers for children to access independently, as well as the monitoring of planning, observations and assessment of children's learning is not precise enough to ensure that children's progress is maximised.  Evaluation has not been sufficiently thorough to identify all areas where change is needed to ensure that the provision continues to be good.

p.1

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

p.2

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.

p.2

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.

p.2

Inspection activities

 A range of information was reviewed by the inspector in order to prepare for the inspection.  The inspector viewed the areas of the premises that are used for childminding.

p.2

Inspection activities

 Evidence of suitability of adults living and working on the premises and their qualifications were checked.

p.2

Inspection activities

 Samples of documentation were examined which the childminder uses when caring for children, regarding welfare and learning.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The childminder and the assistants were interviewed to ascertain their knowledge of areas, such as safeguarding, how to support children's learning and the ways in which practice is evaluated for continuous improvement.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The childminder and the assistants were observed while working with children and the inspector asked the childminder about how this supported the children's care and learning and also the ways in which she manages staff performance.

p.2

Information about the setting

The childminder was registered in 2007 and is on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She lives with her husband and children aged 16, 12, and two years in Little Lever, Bolton. The whole of the property is used for childminding. Toilet facilities for minded children are on the ground floor. There is an enclosed garden available for outside play. The family has a pet cat.

p.3

Information about the setting

The childminder operates Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, term time only, but these hours are very flexible. She works with two assistants at any one time and offers placements to students under 17 years of age. The childminder is able to take children to, and collect them from local schools and pre-schools. She provides funded early education for three- and four-year-old children. There are currently 12 children on roll, of whom nine are in the early years age group and all attend on a part-time basis. The childminder is a member of the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years and receives support from the local authority.

p.3

must:

 ensure that suitable ratios are maintained and that persons under 17 years of age are not included in these ratios

p.3

must:

 develop secure knowledge and understanding of the requirements for ratios and the use of assistants

p.3

must:

 develop the ways in which activities, observations and assessment for children's learning are monitored in order to improve the precision of planning for individual children and better support their progress.

p.3

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

 develop the evaluation of the setting, including the opportunities for children to make ongoing independent selections from a range of resources that provide suitable challenge for their age and stage of development.

p.3

who attend

The childminder has suitable methods to track children's progress in learning and uses observations along with information from parents to identify children's starting points in learning when they join her setting. This means that she and the assistants are able to provide activities to support their learning, based on what children can already do. The childminder does not yet have precise enough monitoring for her planning to check that she provides a balance of child-initiated and adult-led activities or activities that consistently challenge every child across all areas of learning. However, children are showing development that is age-appropriate and are observed to enjoy the activities offered. This is because some outings, activities and resources support their interests and needs. The childminder makes observations about what children can do and enjoy and from this, plans some experiences and activities that support their next steps in learning.

p.4

who attend

She is aware of how to use age-linked developmental milestones to check if children's learning is progressing as expected, above or below. As a result, she is able to adequately implement the assessment requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage, such as the progress check at age two.

p.4

who attend

Children paint pictures to explore their creativity and give meanings to the marks they make, when the childminder or her assistants ask them what their picture is about. This helps to develop children's communication skills and also provides a very early basis for writing, as part of their development in literacy. Adults discuss how mixing paints can produce different colours and show children what happens when they do this to make their favourite colour, such as pink, by mixing red and white paint for them. The childminder and the assistants praise children for their efforts at using brushes and this use of simple tools helps to develop children's fine manipulative skills. Children have access to an age-appropriate range of books to support developing an enjoyment of these. They play with cause and effect toys as part of learning how to manipulate simple technology, by practising how to press, turn and pull to cause a sound or light to be

p.4

who attend

switched on. The childminder plans a range of outings over the week, to local Sure Start centres and toddler groups to broaden the experiences offered on the premises. Children are encouraged to play with small world toys, such as train tracks and also to build with blocks. This further helps to extend their manipulative skills, as they connect track or build towers. The use of small world toys also encourages children to be imaginative and supports their development in communication and language as they say what is happening in their play. The childminder helps children to learn about how other cultures and countries celebrate festivals in order to encourage their awareness of diversity in the world.

p.4

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

The childminder sets clear rules and boundaries that are suitable for supporting the behaviour of the ages and stages of children attending and displays these. As a result, children show steady progress in managing their feelings and behaviour. Parents are informed about their child's well-being, learning and activities on a daily basis, to promote continuity between home and the childminder's care. The childminder does this by providing verbal information on collection and also by posting photographs regularly on a social networking site page for them to see. This also supports partnership with parents who are appreciative of the opportunity to see their children engaged in activities when in the childminder's care. Children are observed to be confident and secure. For example, they explore the space fully and vocalise confidently to adults due to their attachment to the childminder and the assistants. Some resources are immediately accessible to children,

p.4

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

such as a selection of cause and effect toys. However, children and babies are not able to easily access other resources independently, in order to support them being able to make their own choices about what to play with. The childminder and her assistants make suggestions about what children should play with, so there is an activity provided most of the time, but the opportunities for independent choice from a range of resources are limited.

p.5

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

The childminder provides daily opportunities for physical play and exercise as children are taken to local parks and play centres to run and play games. This means that children have opportunities to take reasonable risk in play, combined with careful supervision. Children also have some access to wheeled toys on which to pedal, in the house to further develop their whole-body coordination. The premises are very clean and well maintained, with hygienic measures to help prevent illness due to the spread of any germs, such as when changing nappies. For example, adults wear disposable aprons and gloves at these times. Suitable safety measures have been put in place to help minimise accidents, such as safety gates in doorways and on the stairs to ensure that children cannot roam unsupervised around the house. The childminder provides healthy snacks for children to support a balanced diet and children's understanding of the foods that form this.

p.5

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

Children's packed meals from home are checked for any content that needs to go in the fridge before the rest is stored in a basket for each child, to prevent any mistakes over dietary requirements. Children are offered frequent drinks in order to prevent them becoming thirsty. The childminder seeks suitable information regarding children's routines, preferences and care from their parents prior to them joining. This is observed to help children to settle, as the childminder has sufficient information to support this. The childminder is flexible with regard to starting arrangements for children, in order to support their emotional well-being and this is planned on an individual basis. Parents are complimentary about the care the childminder provides for their children and how they have made progress.

p.5

provision

This inspection was prioritised by Ofsted following concerns raised about ratios and the use of assistants. On the day of the inspection it was found that the childminder had been caring for more children than legally allowed because she was not aware that persons under the age of 17 years cannot be included in the ratios. This is a breach of the requirements of the Early Years Register. Risk assessments and safety checks for the provision are in place to protect children's safety and are regularly reviewed to maintain this. The childminder and the assistants demonstrate an adequate knowledge of safeguarding procedures in order to manage any concerns they may have about a child's welfare. The childminder undertakes training in safeguarding and also has a policy to share with parents regarding her safeguarding practice in order to work in partnership with them in this respect. The childminder has a procedure to follow in the event of an

p.5

provision

allegation being made against herself, an assistant or a member of her family, as part of her safeguarding practice to protect children's welfare. Suitability of adults living and working on the premises is checked through vetting and barring disclosures, in order to protect children. Practice is supported by other policies and procedures that underpin children's welfare and learning, such as for managing children's behaviour appropriately and ensuring that children are within sight at all times. The childminder also has a suitable policy to manage the use of cameras and mobile phones on the premises in order to prevent images being generated of which she is not aware, to help prevent any misuse of these. Other documents required to support the safe running of the childminding provision are in place, such as the daily record of children's names and the times they are on the premises.

p.6

provision

The childminder and the assistants demonstrate a sufficient knowledge of how to provide activities and outings that support children's learning along with the assessment requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage, so that children make steady progress or better in their learning. However, this is not maximised due to a lack of precise monitoring of planning, observations and assessment. This is because the childminder does not check that observations are made across all areas of learning for each child and that this is used to inform planning that is balanced across all seven areas of learning in the Early Years Foundation Stage. The childminder obtains parents' views about her provision through verbal means, and also makes some use of questionnaires so that they have opportunities to contribute to the evaluation of the childminding provision. However, the childminder has not implemented robust ways to update and evaluate her own

p.6

provision

knowledge as she has extended her provision, in order to ensure that she complies with the safeguarding and welfare requirements at all times. Feedback regarding their practice is provided for the assistants on an ongoing basis through the daily informal meetings, in order for them to adjust their practice to the expectations of the childminder. The childminder demonstrates an awareness of the importance of working with other professionals or settings to support continuity of children's care and learning, when needed.

p.6

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

p.6

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 Requires improvement The provision is not giving children a good standard of early years education and/or there are minor breaches of the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. It will be monitored and inspected within twelve months of the date of this inspection. 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

p.7

Grade Judgement Description

the Early Years Foundation Stage. It will be monitored and inspected again within six months of the date of this inspection. 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.

p.7

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.

p.8

Setting details

Unique reference number EY357556 Local authority Bolton Inspection number 952588 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 18 Number of children on roll 13

p.8

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.

p.8

Type of provision

For the purposes of this inspection the following definitions apply:

p.8

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.

p.8

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.

p.8

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.

p.9

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,

p.9

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’.

p.10

Type of provision

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

p.10