Childminder in WirralOfsted inspection, 25 Sept 2014

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 25/09/2014 01/07/2009

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early years provision

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

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This provision is good

 Children enjoy warm, caring relationships with the childminder that support their independence and their personal, social and emotional development.  The childminder builds positive relationships with parents, exchanging and sharing information to support their involvement in their child's care and learning.  Children are provided with a stimulating environment and are motivated to learn, because the childminder successfully guides their learning through play. This helps children develop their thinking and understanding.  The childminder has a robust understanding of safeguarding, underpinned by the comprehensive policies and procedures that are shared with parents. She is aware of her role and responsibilities in promoting children's welfare should she have any child protection concerns.

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It is not yet outstanding because

 Opportunities for the childminder to improve the outdoor environment further in order to build on children's natural curiosity, their interest in the living world, and their awareness of print and numbers have not been fully explored.

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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 spoke with the childminder at appropriate times throughout the inspection and observed play, teaching and learning opportunities indoors and at snack and lunch times.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector looked at documentation and a selection of policies and procedures, including children's information, risk assessments, certificates and evidence of the childminder's suitability.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector took account of the information provided in the childminder's self- evaluation document, and from written and verbal feedback from parents.

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Information about the setting

The childminder has been registered since 2002 and is on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She lives with her husband and one adult child and two children aged 16 and 14 years in Meols, Wirral. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding. There is an enclosed garden for outdoor play. There are currently ten children on roll. Of these, five are within the early years age range. The childminding service operates all year round, from 7.45am to 5.45pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder attends parent and toddler groups and takes and collects children from local schools. She is a member of the local childminding network and has a relevant qualification at level 3.

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

 enhance and build on children's natural curiosity, for example, by providing a rich range of play opportunities in the outdoor area, which will promote children's interest in the living world and their awareness of print and numbers.

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who attend

The childminder has a good understanding of how children learn and develop and uses this knowledge effectively to support children to make progress. She records observations of children's learning in their learning journals, which are shared regularly with parents. Parents have opportunities to add comments and share information about learning that occurs at home, to support the childminder in meeting children's learning and development needs. Learning journals contain observations, photographs and regular assessments of children's development. The childminder uses this information to plan for the next steps in their learning. She has a good understanding of the prime and specific areas of learning, and follows children's individual interests, which effectively promotes their learning and development.

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who attend

The quality of teaching is good. The childminder offers a varied learning environment, covering all areas of learning. Resources are accessible for children to make their own choices and become active learners. This supports independence and their personal, social and emotional development. She gives children time to explore and experiment during their play, while providing a range of activities that build on prior learning. For example, when engaged in pasta activities children experiment with jugs and containers of different sizes and practise filling and pouring.

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who attend

Children's speech and language is supported well. The childminder talks constantly to children, providing commentary throughout activities, asking questions and introducing new words to build children's vocabulary and understanding. She recognises that babies sometimes understand more language than they can use, and so uses facial expressions as well as language to help them to get involved in their play and discoveries. Older children are making good progress in their learning and development and are gaining the skills they need to be ready for school. They are provided with a range of activities that offer challenge to extend their learning. The childminder encourages children to count and recognise colours during play activities. For example, when playing with a toy piggy bank and large coins, children count the coins, recognise colours and sort the coins into colour groups. This effectively supports their mathematically development and helps children to

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who attend

learn how to solve simple problems. Children have access to outdoor activities on a daily basis in the garden area and at the local park. However, there are fewer opportunities for the children to investigate and develop their understanding of the living world through digging and planting activities. In addition, there is not enough print in the outdoor area to fully encourage literacy skills, or recognition of numbers, so that children's learning in these areas are maximised.

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

Children are settled and at ease in the childminder's care. This is because she uses settling-in processes that are based around the individual needs of children and their families. The childminder knows and meets their individual needs very well, because she gathers good information from parents about their child's needs. As a result, children are happy, settle well and develop secure attachments. Children enjoy close contact with the childminder and she responds to them positively. They are encouraged to participate in care routines to develop their understanding and independence. For example, children can wash their hands with supervision. Children have access to drinking water throughout the day and healthy snacks and meals are provided.

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

The childminder is a good role model, ensuring that children are developing an understanding of respect and good manners through daily routines and by their behaviour. She gives clear indications as to how children are expected to behave, for example, by praising their good work, thanking them for helping to tidy activities and encouraging them to share resources. The childminder helps the children to learn how to keep themselves safe and healthy by providing clear explanations during their play activities. For example, when the children are moving toys and furniture during play activities, the childminder explains to them why they must do it carefully and what will happen to them if there is an accident. Children participate in regular fire drills, which help them to understand how to keep themselves safe in an emergency. They enjoy playing outdoors where they have good opportunities to develop their physical skills.

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provision

The childminder has a good understanding of the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage, which helps to ensure children, are kept safe and protected from harm. She is well organised and maintains all the required paperwork, such as, children's information and a record of their attendance. Policies and procedures are robust and shared with parents. Risk assessments for the home, garden and outings are in place and the childminder completes daily opening checks to ensure that the children are safe at all times. The childminder supervises the children well and takes effective safety precautions, such as, a using a barrier across the stairway and finger safe devices on doors. The childminder has a good understanding of safeguarding procedures and knows what to do if she has a concern about a child in her care. As a result, children are kept safe and protected from harm.

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provision

The childminder monitors children's progress well and has a good awareness of their abilities and skills. She uses assessments of children's progress to identify aspects of learning where individual children may need extra support. The childminder ensures her mandatory training is kept up to date and uses additional training to support the provision. Self-evaluation is good. The childminder monitors her practice to ensure continuous improvement so that children benefit from rich learning experiences.

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provision

Partnerships with parents are well developed. The childminder regularly discusses children's progress and development with parents and provides written information in daily diaries. Learning journals are shared with parents, who are encouraged to include their own comments and observations. Parents and older children complete regular questionnaires, which the childminder uses to review and improve her practice.

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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 EY225120 Local authority Wirral Inspection number 869866 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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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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