Childminder in St Helens

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 26 March 2015 11 December 2009

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Previous inspection: Good 2 How well the early years provision meets the needs of the range of children who attend Requires improvement The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children Good 2

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The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision Requires improvement The setting does not meet legal requirements for early years settings

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This provision requires improvement. It is not yet good because:

 Children's progress towards the early learning goals, is not always effectively supported by the childminder as she does not consistently use the information gained from observations to plan meaningful and relevant activities.  During creative activities, the childminder does not always allow children to explore their own ideas and provides a limited range of materials and tools to direct their play.  Children's concentration and play are occasionally disrupted by the childminder, in order to undertake daily routines.

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It has the following strengths

 The childminder is experienced and has a relevant qualification, which gives her a secure understanding of how children learn and develop. She interacts well with children and provides a broad curriculum, which they enjoy.  Partnership working is embedded in the childminder's practice as she regularly shares information about children's learning with parents and other professionals where appropriate.  Children behave well as the childminder provides clear and consistent messages to promote their understanding of boundaries. She praises their good behaviour, which fosters their confidence and self-esteem.  The childminder is committed to improving her provision. She proactively liaises with the local authority and other childminders to share ideas for practice.  The childminder has a secure understanding of how to identify signs and symptoms of abuse and she is confident in reporting concerns regarding children's welfare to the

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage the provider must:

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 use information gained from observations to consistently plan activities based on children's existing interests, in order to support their progress towards the early learning goals more effectively.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 provide a range of tools and materials for children during creative activities, in order to allow them to explore their own creative ideas  revise daily routines to consistently allow children more time to explore and complete their chosen activities.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities in the indoor area and conducted a joint observation with the childminder.  The inspector reviewed a range of operational documents, including evidence of the childminder's suitability and her qualifications.  The inspector spoke with the childminder at appropriate times during the inspection and reviewed the childminder's self-evaluation form, including the views of parents recorded by the childminder.  The inspector took a tour of the areas used for childminding and spoke with children at appropriate times during the inspection.

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who attend. This requires improvement

The childminder monitors and assesses children's progress towards the early learning goals and completes regular observations of their learning. However, she does not consistently use the information gathered from her observations to plan activities, which are relevant and meaningful for individual children. This means that sometimes, children are not motivated to learn. Despite this, children make steady progress as the quality of teaching is generally good. Parents and other professionals are kept well informed of children's progress. Children learn about cause and effect using programmable toys and develop their social skills as they regularly visit local playgroups. They enjoy outdoor play as they develop their physical coordination skills. However, during creative activities, the childminder offers a limited range of resources and directs children to place materials in a certain way. Therefore, opportunities for children to follow their own interests and be

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good

The childminder gets to know children well by obtaining relevant information about them from their parents. She develops caring relationships with children in her welcoming setting and considers their individual routines. However, she occasionally allows daily routines to interrupt the flow of children's play, for example, when providing meals or planned activities. As a result, children's concentration and engagement are not always maximised. Children demonstrate kind and caring behaviour towards each other, for example, as they try to soothe others when they are upset or tired. Children show a good understanding of making healthy choices as they choose from a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables at snack time. They independently feed themselves a freshly cooked lunch, as the childminder supports their self-care skills effectively. This helps children to develop skills, which prepares them well for school.

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provision requires improvement

The childminder has a secure understanding of her responsibilities under the Early Years Foundation Stage and these are generally implemented well. Self-evaluation is ongoing and the childminder has appropriate systems in place to obtain the views of parents. They report their pleasure at the care and attention their children receive while at the childminder's home. She is very passionate about her role and maintains links with the local authority and other professionals, in order to develop her setting further. The childminder ensures that training undertaken enhances her practice. For example, her recently updated paediatric first-aid training ensures she has the knowledge to respond appropriately in the event of an emergency. Children's safety is maintained by the childminder as she identifies hazards through regular risk assessments and takes appropriate action to minimise these. The curriculum is monitored appropriately by the

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Setting details

Unique reference number 323038 Local authority St. Helens Inspection number 868813 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 7

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Name of provider

Date of previous inspection 11 December 2009

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 1986 and lives in St Helens, Liverpool. She operates all year round from 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder has a level 3 qualification.

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Telephone number

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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Telephone number

procedures set out in the guidance ‘Complaints procedure: raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. 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, safeguarding and child protection.

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Telephone number

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Telephone number

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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