Childminder in Northumberland

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 07/09/2012 04/09/2009

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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 are happy, motivated and eager to learn. They show high levels of independence, curiosity and imagination and demonstrate extremely positive behaviour and strong self-assurance.  The childminder has a secure knowledge and understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage. She demonstrates good awareness of how young children learn and makes the most of opportunities to promote children's learning through play, discussions and planned activities.  Children are skilled and confident communicators. They confidently express themselves within the rich language environment provided and speak and listen in a range of situations.

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It is not yet outstanding because

 Although information regarding learning opportunities is shared between parents and the childminder, they are not fully reflected in children's development records to show how well learning opportunities are supported between home and the childminder.

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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 main downstairs room.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke with the childminder at appropriate times throughout 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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Inspection activities

 The inspector also took account of the views of two parents spoken to on the day, in person and by telephone.

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Information about the setting

The childminder has been registered since 1992. She lives in the Bedlington area of Northumberland. Local amenities and public transport systems are within walking distance. The whole of the ground floor area is used for childminding purposes, access to the first floor is restricted to the use of the bathroom. There is a safe and enclosed rear garden available for outdoor play. The childminder has a dog. She is currently caring for five children, three of whom are in the early years age group. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register.

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

 improve children's development records to show how well learning opportunities are supported between home and the childminder.

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who attend

The childminder has good knowledge of the seven areas of learning and provides a range of activities that capture children's interest and hold their attention. Children's language development is fostered well as conversations include listening to each other and taking turns to speak. Children's vocabulary is extensive and they can be heard talking throughout their solitary play, explaining to themselves what they are doing. Children confidently hold pencils correctly and write their own name. They are supported with spelling as the childminder uses phonics and writing with the children so they can see spelling in action.

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who attend

Children are able to count confidently well beyond ten and can represent amounts using objects, for example, by using six fingers to show that six eggs were collected at the allotment. Children take part in activities that provide opportunities for the use of positional language, space and patterns and enjoy using stickers to make complex patterns. The childminder engages children's natural curiosity well as she visits pet shops and an allotment with the children. They talk about caterpillars changing to butterflies, how to treat snails gently and collecting eggs carefully.

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who attend

The childminder has not yet needed to implement the progress check at age two but is confident about this and is able to identify what the children in her care are able to do and how they are making good progress. This is reflected in their photographic development record shared with parents. Children are making good progress, as the childminder offers wide ranges of opportunities for them to play and explore while supporting their confidence through praise and encouragement.

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who attend

Children are developing good physical skills as they move around confidently. They show good control in small movements as they use pencils and hold them effectively to form recognisable letters. They manipulate small objects with excellent control, for example as they make pictures and patterns with stickers.

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who attend

Children are adept at using use a range of programmable toys and equipment to develop their information technology skills. They have access to a children's computer and enjoy using electronic equipment such as a whisk during baking activities.

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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 has clear procedures in place to ensure she gains information from parents about children's interests, routines, likes and dislikes. Therefore her knowledge of their individual needs is very clear.

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

Children's relationships with the childminder are warm and caring and they demonstrate care and concern for her. Consequently their behaviour is very good. For example, they are keen to help the childminder prepare meals and tidy away their dishes after eating. This also develops their good self-care skills. Children are encouraged to develop healthy lifestyles with a good focus on outdoor activities and play with regular access to the garden and trips in the local community. Children talk about road safety when on outings; this shows they are developing understanding of how to keep themselves safe effectively.

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

Children are skilled and confident communicators. They confidently tell the childminder what they know, for example if number six is upside down it becomes a number nine. They confidently approach adults and talk about events in their lives.

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provision

The childminder has a good commitment to improving her service through accessing training, and has recently completed safeguarding training to update her knowledge. Written self-assessment is completed and through self-evaluation she identifies areas for development. Her knowledge of the safeguarding and welfare requirements is strong. Children's safety is well promoted as the childminder has assessed the risks to her premises well and has minimised these so children are able use all areas of the downstairs and the garden in their play. The childminder has good understanding of the learning and development requirements particularly in planning for individual children's progress. She has high expectations of the children, is fully aware of their starting points, what children know, can do and enjoy. This means children are making good progress towards the early learning goals.

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provision

The childminder has positive relationship with parents and regularly shares information about children's routines and the activities they complete. Parents speak highly of her service and her commitment to meet their children's care needs. They are able to become appropriately involved in their child's learning as the childminder shares activity information. However, this is not fully incorporated into children's development records in order to demonstrate the learning opportunities between home and the childminder. Relationships with other providers delivering the Early Years Foundation Stage where children attend are good and this promotes continuity in children's care and learning. There are highly effective relationships with school as they work together with the childminder to ensure all areas of children's development are covered, for example the childminder is working jointly with school to extend a child's early writing skills.

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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 506897 Local authority Northumberland Inspection number 882628 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 5

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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

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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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