Childminder in Bolton

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 17/04/2014 Not Applicable

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early years provision

This inspection: 3 Previous inspection: Not Applicable 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 requires improvement

 Children are beginning to form secure attachments with the childminder. They enjoy being cuddled and respond well to the care and nurturing she offers.  The childminder has satisfactory knowledge of safeguarding and undertakes risk assessments and safety checks. This practice helps to minimise risks for children.  The childminder provides some activities and outings to help children develop and uses what she knows about their interests, to assist their progress in learning.

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It is not yet good because

 The childminder is still developing her knowledge of the learning and development requirements, which results in planning not always being fully effective, to extend and challenge children in their learning and development.  There is scope for the childminder to offer outdoor provision more frequently, to enhance children's understanding of nature while enjoying the fresh air and exercise.  The ways in which the childminder evaluates her practice in order to bring about continuous improvement, are not robust enough to assess how any changes are successfully implemented.

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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 engaged in a variety of activities.

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Inspection activities

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

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Inspection activities

 The inspector looked at children's assessment records and a range of other documentation.

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Information about the setting

The childminder was registered in 2013 and is on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She lives with her husband and two children aged 13 and 12 years in a house in Bolton. The whole of the ground floor, family bathroom and one bedroom on the first floor and the rear garden are used for childminding. The family has no pets. The childminder attends a toddler group and she visits the park on a regular basis. She collects children from the local schools and pre- schools. There are currently three children on roll, two of whom are in the early years age group and attend for a variety of sessions. She operates all year round from 7am to 10pm, Monday to Friday, except bank holidays and family holidays.

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must:

 promote the learning and development of all children, by planning more challenging learning experiences that will fully support all children's overall progress

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must:

 ensure children have opportunities to explore outdoors every day and in all weathers.

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

 use self-evaluation more effectively, to clearly target areas for improvement that will enhance the quality of the provision and develop methods for ensuring any changes are successfully implemented.

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who attend

The childminder has a satisfactory knowledge of the learning and development requirements. She understands the need to observe children to identify their interest and their next steps in learning, in order to plan activities to support children to make progress. The childminder obtains some initial information from parents when children join the setting in order to plan. She identifies children's starting points through in-depth observations of children in the first few days that they attend her setting. This supports her in knowing what children can already do when she begins to care for them. However, some of the activities that are provided are not always challenging to support all children to maintain attention, and therefore, to make good progress. Although children do make some progress, planning is not methodical enough to ensure that all seven areas of learning are being planned for and that children are consistently challenged. The

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who attend

childminder builds up a knowledge of individual children through observing them in their play. As a result, she is aware of children's interests and the stage of development that they are working within. She uses guidance to support her in identifying some next steps in children's learning,

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who attend

Children have independent access to age-appropriate resources, including books, play dough, role-play toys and cause-and-effect toys. This means that they can make some decisions about what to play with. This develops their growing independence, which helps them in gaining skills needed to support their future learning. Although children have only just started with the childminder, they show curiosity and confidence as they explore the toys near them. They also confidently explore other rooms safely while being closely supervised by the childminder. They crawl around with ease as well as pull themselves up using various pieces of furniture around the home. They enjoy reading books where the childminder encourages children to join in with repetitive language. The childminder verbally labels objects that children select during role play, to support children's language acquisition. The childminder knows the children she cares for well, describing their

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who attend

personalities and learning needs with warmth and consideration.

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who attend

The childminder forms partnerships with parents and is aware of the need to share information, in order to support continuity of learning and care. She talks to parents about children's needs, routines and stages of development, which helps her in establishing children's starting points. She exchanges information with the parents on a daily basis through verbal discussions. The childminder provides information about the activities children enjoy in the day, to help parents engage with their children's learning at home. She also shares children's progress on a regular basis so that parents are aware of the progress of their child's learning and development. Parents comment that the 'childminder is very welcoming and my child has benefitted from the environment that she has created'.

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

Despite children only very recently starting with the childminder, they have formed warm and secure emotional relationships with the childminder and readily go to her for cuddles. This is mainly because the childminder is committed to getting to know the children in her care well. She works well with parents from the start, finding out useful information to assist her in helping children feel relaxed and safe in her care, such as establishing children's routines at home and continuing them in her setting. Settling in takes as long as necessary, dependent on the individual child, so that their anxieties are reduced and they become accustomed to their surroundings. This ensures that transitions between the children's homes and the setting are smooth. Consequently, children are happy and settled in the childminder's care.

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

The childminder promotes good behaviour through giving children praise and using stickers to reinforce good behaviour. She explains to children why certain behaviour is inappropriate. The childminder regularly praises children for their efforts and achievements, helping to develop their confidence and self-esteem. The childminder reinforces social interaction by talking to children during every day routines, such as at meals times. She also attends local groups for young children and babies. This supplements the activities she provides on her premises, in order to further support the opportunity to gain the necessary skills in readiness for school when the time comes.

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

The childminder promotes healthy lifestyles in a number of ways. Before children join the setting, the childminder obtains information from parents about health and dietary needs or preferences, in order to meet individual needs and help with a smooth transition into her care. She provides healthy snacks and meals, so that children receive nutritious food when in her care, as well as providing a halal diet for some children. Hygiene procedures, such as regular hand washing are promoted. However, children do not have access to an outside environment every day. This has a negative impact upon their time to explore, investigate and enhance their understanding of nature while enjoying the fresh air and exercise. Despite this, children do spend time outdoors when they visit the local park and other forms of exercise are regularly included, such as action rhymes, which helps children to develop a positive attitude to exercise. The children understand the importance of

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

clearing away some of their toys after they have used them, to ensure the environment remains safe and free from hazards. This supports children in learning about keeping themselves safe.

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provision

Children are safeguarded well as the childminder demonstrates a knowledge and understanding of the safeguarding and welfare requirements. The childminder demonstrates a good knowledge of how to recognise signs of abuse in children. She can satisfactorily describe the procedures she would follow if she had concerns about a child's welfare. She has suitable policies to meet statutory requirements to support the safe running of the childcare, which she shares with parents. The childminder completes daily risk assessments of the home and equipment to identify and minimise any hazards to children, as well as using suitable strategies, such as safety gates, to create a safe home for children. As a result, children show confidence as they independently enjoy exploring the toys inside. The childminder has appropriate records for accidents that may occur and any first aid needed. She maintains a daily register showing the times when children enter

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provision

and leave her care. These procedures help to protect children's welfare. The childminder understands about notifying Ofsted of significant events.

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provision

The childminder has identified some areas where she aims to improve her practice. She has identified that she would like to improve her garden and attend more groups with the children. However, the ways in which the childminder monitors and evaluates her practice are not robust enough to support her in evaluating why and how she could make improvements, rather than describing what could be changed. The childminder offers overnight care and provides a range of strategies to support her in keeping children safe during the night and support the children's existing bedtime routines to help them settle in her care.

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provision

Parents are very complimentary about the childminder. The childminder values and respects parents' wishes, resulting in children settling quickly in her care. The childminder talks to parents about the children's day and the activities they have been involved in and any significant learning that has happened. A suitable range of written information, such as a child development file, daily diaries and the use of photographs, helps parents form a picture of how well their children are doing. At present the childminder does not care for children who attend another setting. However, through discussion, the childminder demonstrates an understanding of the importance of building partnerships and links with other settings when the time comes, to support children's transition and future learning.

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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 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

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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.

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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 EY470836 Local authority Bolton Inspection number 942338 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 3

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Name of provider

Date of previous inspection not applicable

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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

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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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