Childminder in St Helens

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 19/05/2014 Not Applicable

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early years provision

This inspection: 2 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 2 The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision 2

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This provision is good

 The childminder has a clear understanding of each child's individual learning and progress. This enables her to provide activities to support their future learning so that they continue to make good progress towards the early learning goals.  Children's health and well-being is a priority and appropriate safeguarding procedures are in place to protect children from harm. The childminder carefully assesses the risks to her premises and minimises these, which helps ensure children's safety as they play.  The childminder has effective policies and procedures to support her practice, which she shares with parents and carers. This ensures that the childminding provision operates smoothly and that parents are kept informed.

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It is not yet outstanding because

 Although the childminder has effective partnerships with parents, there is scope to enhance the level of information shared with regard to children's learning and development, both at the setting and at home.

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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 had a tour of the premises.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed children's play and learning and spoke with parents of minded children who were present during the inspection.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector reviewed documentation and discussed the childminder's evaluation process and children's learning with the childminder.

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Information about the setting

The childminder was registered in 2011 and is on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She lives with her mother, who is also a registered childminder, and adult brother in Thatto Heath, St.Helens. The whole of the ground floor and the rear garden are used for childminding. The family has goldfish as pets. The childminder attends a toddler group and activities at the local children's centre. She visits the shops and park on a regular basis. She collects children from the local schools and pre-schools. There are currently 10 children on roll, five of whom are in the early years age group and attend for a variety of sessions. She operates all year round from 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except bank holidays and family holidays.

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

 strengthen the partnerships with parents by promoting an ongoing dialogue or sharing of regular two-way observations of learning with parents and use this shared knowledge and understanding to plan together and think through ideas of how to move the child forward.

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who attend

Children are provided with a wide range of activities and experiences, which support their development across all the areas of learning and which help prepare them for their future learning and the move on to school. Teaching is effective and the childminder ensures that children's individual interests and preferences are catered for. The childminder has a good understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Children select from an interesting range of age-appropriate resources and a mix of adult-led and child-initiated activities. They move around freely, and independently select from the variety of resources available as they learn to make choices in their play.

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who attend

The childminder has good quality resources, toys and equipment arranged in clearly labelled boxes, on shelves and at floor level, which children can easily select from as they decide what to play with next. This develops their independence and their confidence in a welcoming and accessible environment. Children enjoy building with large coloured blocks, practising putting the blocks together and pulling them apart, which strengthens their small physical skills. They also spend time rolling balls of different sizes and colours around the floor tray and to each other. They explore the feel of the balls and the various properties as the children can squash them, bounce, roll and spin them on the floor. Later, children spend time playing with the small world characters in the doll's house and explore the play kitchen for a short time before returning to the childminder for cuddles. Together they sit on the floor mat and explore a treasure basket of sponges, cloths and cushions.

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who attend

The children enjoy the feel of the different textured materials in their hands and against their cheeks and pretend to wash their faces. The childminder talks to the children about what they are doing and encourages them to copy and repeat familiar words and actions which supports their understanding of language and communication. While looking at the fish in the tank, children point to the baby fish and the larger fish, showing an interest in the world around them. Children wait for the childminder to describe the fish and together they make a fish face and giggle about how funny they look.

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who attend

Additional activities are provided at different times to enable children to progress across all areas of learning. For example, children enjoy playing outdoors and they visit the park and playgroups regularly. This enables them to develop their social skills and their large physical skills as they run, climb, jump and play with a variety of equipment. The childminder demonstrates through discussion that she has a clear knowledge of each child's individual learning needs and the progress they have made to date. She identifies possible next steps in children's learning and plans ways in which she can support their development through enjoyable activities. Children's general development is discussed with parents, although not always in depth. There is also scope to enhance opportunities for parents to share information regarding children's progress at home to enable the childminder to build on this information and extend children's learning even further.

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

The childminder, before children start to attend, has discussions with parents regarding children's individual care needs. She records all required information and gathers appropriate written consents from parents. Individual routines and preferences are known and catered for, such as medical or dietary needs, and the childminder has a personal knowledge of each child she cares for. This helps children to make a comfortable and smooth transition from home into the childminder's care. It also ensures that children build secure attachments with her, which supports their emotional security and helps to build their confidence and self-motivation.

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

Children are developing a good understanding of health and safety. The childminder is a positive role model as she follows clear hygiene routines, for example, when changing nappies, which support children's understanding of good practice. Children are offered snacks of fruit, toast, crumpets and yoghurts and have free access to their individual drinks at all times. Additionally, children take part in regular physical exercise in the childminder's home and on their visits in the local area. This helps them to develop a positive approach to a healthy lifestyle.

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

The childminder manages children's behaviour appropriately and reminds young children not to climb as it is dangerous. Children are encouraged to take turns and share the toys with each other which helps them to play together cooperatively and understand about respecting others. An evacuation procedure is in place which is practised regularly with the children and recorded. This enables children to develop an understanding of keeping themselves safe in an emergency. Children learn about the wider world through discussion and activities. Resources, such as, books and dolls, spending time in the local community and celebrating various cultural festivals, help children to learn about diversity. Children's individual needs are respected and all children have equal opportunities to use the resources and activities provided.

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provision

The childminder has a good understanding of safeguarding and welfare requirements. She has a good knowledge of safeguarding and the correct procedures to follow should she have concerns about the welfare of a child in her care. Consequently, children are protected from harm. Policies and procedures are in place and are shared with parents. The childminder helps to keep children safe by ensuring her home is suitable for children, clean and well maintained. Risk assessments are carried out and she uses equipment in the home and on outings to protect children from harm. For example, safety gates are used to prevent younger children having free access to the kitchen and hall area. The childminder holds a current certificate in paediatric first aid and ensures medication and accident records are maintained.

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provision

The childminder demonstrates a clear understanding of how young children learn and provides children with interesting activities and experiences, which promote their progress and development. She monitors the children's development to ensure they make good progress and is able to demonstrate how this is done through ongoing good quality activities. Good relationships with parents are in place to ensure that children's care and welfare needs are known and catered for well and generally good discussions regarding children's ongoing progress take place. The childminder reflects on her own provision and is able to evaluate the strengths of her practice while identifying areas for future development. The childminder regularly attends various training courses to keep herself up to date. She has identified that she would like to increase her knowledge and experience of working with children with additional needs, which is something she is

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provision

The childminder demonstrates an understanding of the importance of developing effective partnership with other settings which minded children attend. Currently, there are no minded children who also attend nursery or pre-school. The childminder speaks with the teachers of children who attend before school, when she takes them to school in the morning, in order to ensure their general well-being and development is promoted.

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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 EY429777 Local authority St. Helens Inspection number 797929 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 10

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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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