Childminder in Lancashire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 21/08/2014 30/03/2010

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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 positive, nurturing approach towards caring for children. As a result, children form strong attachments to the childminder and are confident and settled in her care.  The childminder has developed a comprehensive system for tracking children's progress. As a result, children are making good progress towards the early learning goals.  Partnerships with parents and links with local providers are given a high priority by the childminder. Consequently, children benefit from continuity of care.  The childminder understands her roles and responsibilities in safeguarding children. As a result, children are kept safe from harm.

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It is not yet outstanding because

 Opportunities to promote children's self-esteem, are not maximised, for example, by displaying their art work.  Not all opportunities are used effectively, to further develop children's understanding of quantity and measure.

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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 childminder's home.  The inspector observed activities in the indoor playrooms.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector samples a range of documentation, including policies and procedures and self-evaluation.  The inspector looked at children's learning journey records and tracking records.

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Information about the setting

The childminder was registered in 1989 on the Early Years Register and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She lives with her husband and adult son in Fulwood, Lancashire. The whole of the ground floor of the childminder's house is used for childminding and there is an enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder takes children on visits to the park and local toddler groups. There is currently one child in the early years age range on roll and the childminder cares for two grandchildren in this age range. The childminder receives support and guidance from the local authority.

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

 extend children's learning experiences, through the use of timely intervention, to further develop children's understanding of quantity and measure

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

 extend the opportunities available to promote children's self-esteem, for example, by displaying their art work within the childminding provision.

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who attend

The childminder has a thorough understanding of the learning and development requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. She is committed to ensuring children make good progress throughout the seven areas of learning. This is because she has developed her own comprehensive system for tracking children's progress, which is precisely assessed and used to plan suitably challenging activities. Additionally, she has created detailed learning journey records for children, which give a lovely overview of a wide range of the experiences in which children participate. The childminder skilfully observes children and this enables her to fully understand children's individual needs and plan for their next steps in learning. As a result, children are making very good progress towards the early learning goals.

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who attend

Children enjoy their time with the childminder. This is because she offers an environment in which children can explore, both indoors and outdoors. Children contribute to the childminder's planning, as she includes their likes and interests into activities and experiences. For example, children enjoy playing with dinosaur figures. The childminder uses this knowledge to plan an activity for children to explore different textures and discuss the world around them as she helps them create a dinosaur land. Children use their imaginations and display the characteristics of effective learning, as they feed their dinosaurs, using different cereals, and discuss texture and shape. They count beyond 10 when counting pieces of cereal to share out into the bowls. As a result, children are developing skills in mathematics. The childminder provides children with a planting activity. They use plant pots, soil and mark-making resources to create their own plant

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who attend

pots to plant their own ivy. Children concentrate as they scoop the soil out of the soil bags and into the pots. However, there are opportunities missed to further enhance children's understanding of quantity and measure, as they scoop the soil into their pots. The childminder encourages children as they confidently use intricate fine muscle skills to skilfully scribe their names on the pots with a pen. Consequently, children are developing literacy skills and are well prepared for their next stage in learning.

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who attend

The childminder ensures parents are seen as a high priority in her practice. Before children attend, she collects important information from their parents, to record in the 'all about me' forms. This ensures she has the best knowledge of the child before they make their transition to the childminding provision. As a result, the care in which children receive from the childminder is tailored to their needs. The childminder ensures children's developmental progress is shared with parents on a daily basis, using daily diaries and verbal communication. She asks parents to contribute to their child's learning, by observing their children at home. The childminder uses these observations to compare with her own, as a method of evaluation. Consequently, children benefit from continuity of care in the childminding provision and at home.

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

Children are confident, happy and settled in the care of the childminder. She demonstrates a positive, nurturing approach and fully understands how to support children's emotional development. Therefore, children make strong attachments to her. For example, when children hear a loud noise, she is quick to comfort children who become frightened and immediately gives them cuddles and reassurance, distracting them with activities. This results in children calming quickly and returning to their play. The childminder recognises when children work together, cooperating as they learn. She understands the importance of peer leadership and praises children's efforts when they help others learn. Consequently, children are emotionally ready for their next stage of learning.

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

The childminder provides an environment, which is accessible to all children. She offers labelled boxes at child height, with a wide range of interesting and exciting resources. Children confidently select various resources from boxes containing role-play outfits, games, and books. The childminder provides children with access to a variety of cultural resources, in order for her to discuss cultures from different countries with them. The childminder ensures children's artwork is sent home to parents. This promotes children's self-esteem. However, there are missed opportunities to extend this, for example, by displaying children's artwork around the childminding provision.

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

Children benefit from a healthy and safe environment in the care of the childminder. This is because she takes the opportunity to discuss safety and good hygiene practices during children's routines. The childminder supervises children when they wash their hands, discussing the importance of effective hand washing. She encourages them to manage their own risks as they use tools during the planting activity. Children have plenty of opportunities to be healthy outdoors. The childminder has a large, secure back garden with large play equipment, which children use to develop large muscle skills, balance and coordination. When the garden cannot be used, the childminder takes children on frequent trips to the park, zoo and toddler groups. Consequently, children benefit from fresh air and exercise on a daily basis. The childminder provides children with healthy, home- cooked meals and snacks throughout the day. She encourages children to contribute to

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

the preparation of snacks by buttering their own toast and selecting their own fruit to peel. As a result, children are developing transferable self-help skills, in preparation for school.

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provision

The childminder places a strong focus on keeping children safe. This is because she has a high level of understanding of her roles and responsibilities in safeguarding children. For example, she ensures her safeguarding training is kept up to date and she ensures detailed policies and procedures are followed. The childminder is confident in her approach, in recognising if a child is at risk from harm. She recognises the signs and symptoms of abuse and understands her responsibilities to report and refer any concerns, should they arise. The childminder shows a high regard to children's safety as she reviews daily risk assessments and supervises children as they play.

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provision

Partnerships with parents are good. This is because the childminder values the opinions of parents and includes them and children in planning to improve her childminding practice. The childminder skilfully uses information gathered from questionnaires to enhance her provision, to ensure children have the best possible experiences during their time with her. The childminder places a strong emphasis on making strong links with local providers and shares relevant information with them. This enables the childminder to ensure children's' transitions to and from her provision, are as smooth as possible, ensuring children have continuity of care.

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provision

The childminder demonstrates a strong commitment to improving her childminding practice, since her last inspection. For example, she has developed a well-organised system, which enables her to operate her childminding business with confidence and ease. Policies and procedures are easy to find and include parents' packs, induction procedures, and accident and medication forms, amongst others. The childminder has contributed to a self-evaluation, which highlights realistic targets for improvement and uses this to swiftly make the necessary improvements. For example, the childminders' tracking systems ensure that she identifies gaps in learning, quickly, so that all children make good progress from their realistic starting points.

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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. We re-inspect nurseries and pre-schools judged as requires improvement within 12 months of the date of 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

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Grade Judgement Description

is not meeting the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. It will be monitored and inspected again within six months of the date of this inspection. Met There were no children present at the time of the inspection. The inspection judgement is that the provider continues to meet the requirements for registration. Not met There were no children present at the time of the inspection. 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 308081 Local authority Lancashire Inspection number 876827 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 1

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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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