Childminder in North Northamptonshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 02/10/2012 18/01/2010

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early years provision

This inspection: 3 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 3

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This provision is satisfactory

 Children feel safe and secure with the childminder who provides a caring environment where children benefit from familiar routines.  Children are confident to make their own choices from the good range of play materials and activities that are provided by the childminder.  The childminder has a good understanding of how to promote the health and safety of the children in her care. She has assessed the risks in her premises well and has minimised these so the children can move between the activities safely and independently.

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It is not yet good because

 Children's learning journeys give a useful pictorial record of their time with the childminder that parents appreciate, but they do not give the provider enough information about what children know and can do in order to plan the next steps for each child to ensure that their individual progress is demonstrated.  Parents are not yet fully involved in their child's learning at the setting because they do not have the opportunity to record their own comments in their child's learning journey about their child's progress for this to be used to inform the future planning for each child.

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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 2016  more frequently where Ofsted identifies a need to do so, for example where provision was previously judged as 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 for inspection 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  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 living room.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke with the childminder during the inspection and the observations.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector looked at children's learning journeys, planning documentation, the childminder's self-evaluation form and a selection of policies and children's records.

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Information about the setting

The childminder was registered in 1990. She is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She lives in a house in Corby, Northamptonshire and uses the whole of the ground floor, one bedroom and the bathroom on the first floor for childminding. There is an enclosed rear garden for outside play. She lives with her two adult children. The family has two cats.

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Information about the setting

The childminder has completed basic training including first aid and child protection and she regularly updates her knowledge through specific courses such as safeguarding and oral health. She attends groups with the children, and visits the local park and the shops on a regular basis. She takes children to and collects them from, the local school and nursery.

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Information about the setting

The childminder currently has eight children on roll. Three are in the early years age group who attend for a variety of sessions and five are school-age children who attend before and after school and during school holidays. The childminder works all year round from 7.30am to 7pm Monday to Friday except for holidays that are agreed in advance.

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must:

 expand the systems for observation and assessment by using appropriate support materials to identify each child's next steps in learning and re-visit these next steps to clearly demonstrate their progression.

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

 extend the partnerships with parents through seeking their views about their child's progression in learning at home and use this information to inform the future planning for each child.

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who attend

The childminder has knowledge of the seven areas of learning and she provides a range of activities that generally capture children's interest and hold their attention. Children's language development is fostered through regular conversations during their play and lots of reflective listening. The childminder uses prompts by the children to develop their confidence in speaking. For example, a toddler selects a play telephone and holds it to their ear. The childminder begins a conversation with them and then the child hands the telephone to the childminder and she responds by smiling and talking into the earpiece. Children are encouraged to make their own choices from the play materials. They are provided with a suitable range of resources in low-level storage boxes and toddlers enjoy rummaging around to find the items they want. They choose what they want and explore the toy, turning it over in their hands before moving on to the next one they are

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who attend

interested in. Children begin to play purposefully with the resources. For example, they choose a doll to put in the buggy and the childminder supports their choices by using positive words and facial expressions which encourages the children to be independent.

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who attend

The childminder is yet to introduce the progress check at age two but she has systems in place in readiness for this. Although she is generally able to identify what the children in her care are able to do she does not regularly use the support materials or the observations made to assist her in identifying appropriate next steps in learning for each child. Parents have access to their child's learning journey files and they enjoy looking at the photographs showing their child engaged in their activities. However, the childminder does not currently seek their views about their child's progress and use this information to inform the future planning for their child.

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

Children feel very secure with the childminder who seeks information from parents about their preferences and routines which helps her in meeting their individual needs. Most of the children on roll have been in her care since they were babies and her knowledge of their needs is very clear. She sits on the floor with them and they regularly approach her for comfort; they sit on her lap and stroke her hair. She involves herself in the children's play, talking to them about what they are doing and she understands when to step back and allow the children to play independently. Children feel relaxed because the childminder gives them lots of positive reassurance through her language and facial expressions.

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

The childminder makes effective use of the available space to ensure everyone's needs are met. She sets up older children's activities and art and craft on the kitchen table while the younger children can play safely in the living room. Children sit together to eat and some are confident to collect the plates and cups from the kitchen cupboard. Their awareness of healthy lifestyles is promoted because the childminder takes them for daily walks and regularly visits local country parks and adventure playgrounds that have space to run around and fixed play equipment to promote children's physical skills.

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

All children are treated as individuals and the childminder seeks information from parents to ensure that any specific needs can be met. She supports children and their parents who speak English as an additional language.

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provision

The childminder is keen to keep her knowledge up to date and she has completed a number of relevant training courses since the last inspection. She has systems in place to evaluate and reflect on her service and she has identified some plans for the future. She regularly rotates and supplements her resources to ensure the children are provided with interesting activities that are appropriate for their different ages and stages of development.

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provision

The childminder's knowledge of the safeguarding and welfare requirements is strong and children's safety is promoted well but she is less secure in her understanding of the learning and development requirements, particularly in planning for individual children's next steps in learning. The childminder has developed positive relationships with the children's parents. She provides them with daily feedback about their child's routine as well as details about the activities they have enjoyed. She shares relevant information with other providers delivering the Early Years Foundation Stage who are involved with the children. This effective partnership working promotes a smooth transition and a consistent approach for the children in her care.

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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 Satisfactory Satisfactory provision is performing less well than expectations in one or more of the key areas. It requires improvement in order to be good. Grade 4 Inadequate Provision that is inadequate requires significant improvement and/or enforcement. 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 the Early Years Foundation Stage. It will be inspected again within 12 months of the date of this inspection.

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Grade Judgement Description

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 220828 Local authority Northamptonshire Inspection number 885228 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 8

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Telephone number

set out in the guidance ‘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. 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 that are usually their 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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