Childminder in Bolton

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 27/10/2014 18/12/2008

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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

 The childminder sensitively settles children into her care and develops warm, trusting and caring relationships with them. As a result, this helps children to feel safe, secure and supports their emotional well-being.  The childminder provides an engaging and fun variety of experiences through a good balance of child-initiated and adult-led activities. She uses these effectively to build on information from parents about children's interests and capabilities to encourage and support their learning and development.  The childminder has established good partnerships with parents, which contribute to meeting children's individual needs.  The childminder assesses and monitors children's learning and development effectively to promote good progress.  The childminder has attended safeguarding training and she is fully aware of her role and responsibilities to protect children.

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It is not yet outstanding because

 Opportunities to support young children's growing awareness that print carries meaning and information can be relayed in print form, are not fully promoted.  The childminder does not always use different teaching strategies, such as open-ended questions, to help children to think and extend their vocabulary.

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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.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector looked at the childminder's documentation, including her policies, procedures, risk assessments and self-evaluation.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector took account of the views of parents from available written references.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector checked evidence of the qualifications and the suitability of the childminder and evidence of the suitability of other adults living in the household.

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Information about the setting

The childminder was registered in 1998 on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She lives with her husband and adult child in a house in Bolton. The whole of the ground floor, a bathroom on the first floor and the rear garden are used for childminding. The family has two cats and two rabbits 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 five children on roll, three of whom are in the early years age group and attend for a variety of sessions. The childminder operates all year round, from 7.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, except bank holidays and family holidays. She is a member of the Professional Association of childcare and Early Years.

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

 enhance the use of a wider range of teaching strategies, for example, by using more open-ended questions and giving children time to respond and extend their vocabulary

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

 support children's growing awareness that print carries meaning and information can be relayed in print form, for example, by labelling the storage boxes, which contain resources and providing more print in the indoor and outdoor environment that children can use it to support their play and ideas.

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who attend

The childminder discusses with parents their children's particular abilities, needs and interests when they first start. She records this information, including what children like doing at home. The childminder uses this information, along with her observations, to establish each child's capabilities and starting points. She uses ongoing observations that enable her to plan activities and offer support or extra challenge, tailored to each child's emerging skills and stage of development. She records clear and relevant written observations, supported with photographs and pieces of children's work, in a learning journey folder. The childminder links observations of children at play to the seven areas of learning. This ensures that she clearly identifies any next steps and uses them to inform the future planning of activities. Children's good progress is evident and they are developing the skills and confidence that will support them for their future learning and

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who attend

their eventual move onto school. The childminder develops positive relationships with parents. They are able to view their child's learning journey folder at anytime and they contribute frequently, thereby, promoting a joined up approach to their child's learning.

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who attend

Children's physical development is fostered well through daily access to the outdoor garden. They enjoy a variety of physical activities, such as scaling the climbing frame and climbing up and sliding down the slide. There is also a large grass area where children can move freely and babies can crawl and explore safely. However, there is little print in the learning environments, in particular the outdoors, to maximise children's emerging interest in print and to help further their understanding that print carries different meanings and can be relayed in different forms.

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who attend

The childminder plays and interacts with children appropriately. She effectively encourages children to use their imaginations and thinking skills. For example, in the role-play cafe, she ensures that children have the correct props to support their ideas, such as food, crockery and menus. The childminder also provides them with a good narrative to support their play. However, on occasion, her questions to children only require them to give a 'Yes' or 'No' answer. This does not maximise opportunity for further discussion or extension of their vocabulary and language.

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

The childminder works closely with parents, to sensitively settle children into her care. She has meaningful initial discussions with parents about the needs of their children and their expectations of her service. The childminder uses this information and her own observations, to help her understand each child's capabilities, likes, dislikes and routines. The childminder gets to know each child well, enabling her to support their individual needs. She is warm, caring and affectionate towards the children and they develop secure and trusting relationships with her, which supports their emotional well-being. They clearly feel happy and comfortable with her and confidently express their needs to her. These are quickly and gently addressed by the childminder.

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

The childminder is an excellent role model for children. She uses clear and consistent strategies to manage behaviour and always offers children explanations as to why certain behaviour is not acceptable. Therefore, given children's stages of development, they behave well. The childminder supports children's awareness of keeping themselves safe. For example, she sensitively explains to children the need to wash their hands thoroughly before eating and after using the toilet, to eliminate germs. Regular evacuation practises and discussions about road safety, while out and about, further contribute to children's understanding of keeping themselves safe. Children have access to a wide range of resources that are safe, clean and age appropriate. Resource boxes are labelled with pictures but not words. This does not maximise opportunities for children to extend their emerging early literacy skills. Children display good levels of independence. For example,

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

they help with daily tasks, such as preparing food and pouring their own drinks.

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

The good health of children is successfully supported by the childminder. She gives clear messages about the importance of leading healthy lifestyles. For instance, the childminder provides children with fresh fruits and vegetables, as part of main meals and snacks. They benefit from fresh air because she ensures that children have daily access to the outdoors and they enjoy regular outings in the local community. Children manage their personal hygiene well, according to their age and stage of development. For example, children access the toilet and wash their hands with little support from the childminder. Additionally, nappy changing routines are carried out according to children's individual needs and these are hygienically managed.

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provision

The childminder has a thorough understanding of her responsibilities to meet the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Children are kept safe, as there is an up-to-date safeguarding policy. Also, the childminder is aware of the procedures to follow if she has any concerns about a child. For example, through attendance at training, she is confident in her ability to recognise the possible indicators of abuse or neglect and she knows the correct procedure to follow to keep children safe. The childminder holds a current paediatric first-aid certificate. This provides her with the knowledge and skills required to effectively administer first aid, as well as meet the requirements for registration. The childminder has a good awareness of how to promote children's safety and carries out both visual and written risk assessments, to ensure they can play and explore confidently, in a safe and suitable environment. For example, there is a safety

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provision

gate at the playroom door and at the bottom of the stairs. Additionally, the main entrance door is kept locked. A good range of policies, procedures and records, which underpin the children's care, are in place.

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provision

The childminder demonstrates a well-organised approach to her role. She clearly understands how to successfully support children's learning and development. Systems for monitoring children's achievements and supporting next steps in their learning are effective. The childminder evaluates her planning to make sure activities promote all areas of learning, to meet children's individual needs. She, also, demonstrates a commitment to continually improving her provision and ensuring that it meets the needs of the children and their families. The childminder clearly identifies strengths and areas to improve. For instance, she has gained her childcare qualification at level 3 and regularly meets with other childminders, to share good practice and broaden her already good understanding of childcare. Additionally, since her last inspection, the childminder has addressed all the recommendations made. Therefore, she demonstrates a dedicated approach to making

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provision

meaningful and ongoing improvements to her provision.

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provision

The childminder establishes very open, trusting and positive partnerships with parents. She promotes regular exchanges of information with them, verbally and by the use of text messages and emails. This ensures that children's individual needs are met. Additionally, she asks parents to complete feedback sheets, with regards to their children's learning and development and the quality of service she provides. As a result, parents feel valued and positively comment that they are very happy with the childminder's provision, confident that their children are extremely well cared for and are progressing very well. The childminder works well with other providers when the children's care is shared. She exchanges regular feedback and information sheets with them about children's interests, learning and development, so they can complement each other.

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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 315498 Local authority Bolton Inspection number 868310 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 5

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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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