Childminder in Halton

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 30/05/2014 01/12/2009

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early years provision

This inspection: 2 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 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 safeguarding children, which ensures that she completes daily checks and clear risk assessments. In addition, the childminder has in place supporting policies to ensure children are kept safe while in her care.  The childminder provides a warm and welcoming environment which enables secure relationships to form as a result, the children clearly enjoy their time at the setting.  Teaching is good with children's individual needs met through educational programmes that have depth and breadth over the seven areas of learning. As a result, children are engaged and motivated so they make good progress.  Partnerships with parents are very effective, the childminder has implemented some innovative strategies in order to work closely with parents and ensure children's individual needs are consistently met.

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It is not yet outstanding because

 There is scope to use more meaningful questions in order to enhance children's thinking skills.

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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 activities in the two rooms and the outdoor area.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector conducted observations of the childminder interacting with the children and held discussions throughout the inspection when appropriate.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector looked at the children's files, assessment records and planning documentation.  The inspector examined the childminder's policies and procedures.

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Information about the setting

The childminder was registered in 2009. She lives with her three adult children. The family lives in Runcorn, Cheshire. The whole ground floor of the property is used for childminding purposes. There is a secure garden available for outdoor play. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. There are currently nine children on roll who attend at various times. Seven children are within the early years age range. The childminder holds the certificate in pre-school practice at level 2 and receives support for a local authority childminder coordinator.

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

 enhance children's thinking skills by using more meaningful questions and ensuring sufficient time is given to enable children to respond.

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who attend

Teaching is consistently good. The childminder has a thorough knowledge of each child's individual needs and their development stages; in addition, she understands how children learn. This allows for activities to be planned that successfully deliver personalised learning. Through a recent topic on bugs, the childminder ensures each child's interests are planned for, in order to motivate learning. This topic includes activities for children to dig and plant, story times, painting and trips around the local area. The childminder instinctively takes the lead from the children and adapts activities when they are not going to plan; ensuring children continue to remain engaged and motivated. However, there is scope to enhance children's skills, by asking more meaningful questions and enabling children to have sufficient time to respond. Regular assessments of children's development allow for any gaps to be quickly identified, so children continue to make good progress

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who attend

and have the key skills needed for their next stage in learning.

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who attend

Children are typically working at age related levels. They are well supported by the childminder and she ensures they can access toys and resources to enhance their learning. Links with parents are strong and the childminder offers additional support, such as collecting children from home, to help parents further. This results in families feeling valued and children feeling secure as the childminder plays an important role in their lives.

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who attend

The childminder shares information on a daily basis, with parents, this is done both verbally and electronically. Parents offer lots of information on their children's experiences at home. These methods allow a strong communication system to develop, in which, all parties are quickly informed and involved in children's progress. Parents have regular access to learning files and frequently input their comments and observations of their child at home, which offers a highly successful consistent approach to learning.

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

The childminder has formed extremely strong relationships with the children she cares for and their families; as a result, children's emotional well-being is secure. Children are confident, motivated and interact happily with adults and each other. The childminder has clear guidelines for managing children's behaviour and any incidents are effectively dealt with, ensuring each child's individual needs are met in each situation.

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

The childminder encourages healthy lifestyles through free access to the outdoor environment. Many opportunities are offered to engage children in physical activities, to help develop their physical skills, as they crawl through tunnels and climb up a slide. Younger children are supported in these activities; then, as their confidence grows the childminder steps back and allows the children to delight in their developing independence. Healthy eating forms an important part of the provision with menus detailing a range of well-balanced meals. Children assist in preparing the environment for meal times by getting the necessary equipment; one older child brings the tray for a high chair that a younger child will use.

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

The children are gaining a good sense of keeping themselves and others safe. They tidy toys away to allow for safe mobility, even the youngest children are able to indicate when something is causing a potential risk and will move objects to a safe place. The children have opportunities to practise the fire drill and have recently attended a safety event at a local children's centre, in which they engaged in role play to support their understanding of road safety.

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provision

The childminder is aware of safeguarding issues and takes the necessary steps to ensure children are always kept safe. She has a clear understanding of her role in protecting the children. The childminder has successfully completed safeguarding training, first aid and food hygiene in order to further protect the well-being of the children in her care. There are well-documented policies and procedures to guide practice and the childminder has an awareness of what to inform Ofsted about. Written risk assessments are in place, with documentation effectively used to continually safeguard children.

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provision

The childminder reviews educational programmes to ensure all children are making good progress based on their starting points. The childminder is a reflective practitioner who is able to identify her strengths and detail her improvement plan.

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provision

Parents have many opportunities to have valuable input into their children's learning experiences. Development files and diaries are regularly accessed by parents, who add important comments and suggestions for their own children's personal learning experiences. These comments are acted upon to provide a personal experience for every child. Through daily discussions, parents receive feedback on their children's experiences; in addition, electronic methods of communication are proving effective in including all parents in their children's learning. The childminder is keen to participate in two-way communication with any settings that children may attend and shares information with local schools as children enter full-time education.

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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 EY390536 Local authority Halton Inspection number 879078 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 9

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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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