Childminder in Lincolnshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 11/09/2012 Not Applicable

p.1

early years provision

This inspection: 3 Previous inspection: Not Applicable 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 3 The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision 3

p.1

This provision is satisfactory

 Children make satisfactory progress in all aspects of their learning and benefit from generally effective support from the childminder. They have access to a suitable range of well-labelled toys and resources together with a spacious outdoor area.  Children feel comfortable and secure with the childminder who provides a relaxed and calm environment where children enjoy making decisions about their play. They have a warm rapport with the childminder who is responsive to their needs.  Regular trips to local toddler groups, the children's centre and other childminder's houses, helps children to gain confidence and to develop their social skills.  The childminder attends training initiatives and is therefore committed towards her own professional development.

p.1

It is not yet good because

 Observation, planning and assessment systems are not yet secure enough to give the childminder enough information about what children know and can do to effectively plan the next steps for children across all seven areas of learning.  There is no clear and well-understood policy and procedures for assessing risks to children's safety with regards to the practising of fire evacuation procedures.  The childminder sometimes misses opportunities to extend children's vocabulary during her support of activities.  Systems of self-evaluation lack rigour and plans for the further development of the provision are limited.

p.1

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.

p.2

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.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities taking place in the kitchen/diner and lounge.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector looked at the beginnings of children's observation records, a selection of policies and children's records.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke with the childminder at appropriate times throughout the observations.  The inspector also took account of the views of one parent spoken to on the day.

p.2

Information about the setting

The childminder registered in 2010. She lives with her husband and two children aged six and four years in a rural village in Lincolnshire. The ground floor and first floor bathroom are used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. There are some amenities within walking distance, such as a shop and post office. The childminder drives children to the next village where there are more amenities, such as pre-schools, schools and toddler groups. The family has a pet cat and keeps chickens in the garden.

p.2

Information about the setting

The childminder is registered on the Early Years register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder currently has one child on roll in the early years age group who attends on a full time basis. She is open all year round from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday except for family holidays agreed in advance. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association and receives support from the local authority.

p.3

must:

 make systematic observations of children's learning and assess their progress across all seven areas of learning in relation to their age and stage of development and use this information to plan the next steps for each child  put in place a clear and well-understood policy, and procedures, for assessing any risks to children's safety, this specifically relates to considering the regularity with which fire evacuation procedures are practised with children.

p.3

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

 develop rigorous and effective systems for self-evaluation that are supported by clear improvement and development plans.

p.3

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

 ensure that spontaneous opportunities during activities are used to promote and further develop children's vocabulary by using and repeating key words so that children can begin to build on their vocabulary and link words to their meaning.

p.3

who attend

The childminder has a basic knowledge of the seven areas of learning and provides a suitable range of activities to interest and stimulate children's learning. Children's language development is fostered as the childminder repeats back sounds made by young children and she models the correct word they are attempting to say. However, during some spontaneous activities, opportunities are missed to introduce new words to further extend children's vocabulary. For example, as a child investigates shaving foam, opportunities are missed to introduce simple words to describe it's texture, colour or feel. During this activity, young children demonstrate that their physical skills are developing well as they hold the small paintbrush with a good grip and coordinate their actions to 'paint' using the foam.

p.3

who attend

Children are beginning to learn about number as they listen to the childminder counting the books back into their box. Children begin to enjoy and understand the world around them as they help to collect eggs from the chickens kept in the garden and dig, looking for worms. Children enjoy a suitably-resourced environment where toys are clearly labelled. As a result, children make connections in their play; they look at the pictures and find the corresponding toys in the box. The garden is spacious and freely accessible to children during finer weather, giving them opportunities for fresh air and physical play on equipment appropriate for their age and skills.

p.4

who attend

Secure systems of observation, assessment and planning have not yet been established. As a result, there is limited evidence to demonstrate what children know and can do across all seven areas of learning and how children's next steps have been identified or planned for. Although children make overall satisfactory progress, the planning for their future learning is not yet systematic enough to ensure that any gaps in their learning are swiftly identified and addressed or that the childminder is able to effectively implement the progress check at age two when applicable.

p.4

who attend

The childminder regularly gives feedback to parents about their achievements and has regard for the information they give her about their child's learning and development at home. However, as children's' assessment records are not yet fully established, there is less information to share with parents to ensure that they have a good overall picture of their child's progress towards the early learning goals. The childminder offers ideas and resources to help parents support children's learning at home.

p.4

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

Children feel secure and comfortable in the childminder's care. They are confident to explore and investigate the familiar surroundings but also enjoy returning to the childminder's lap for a story, cuddle or to show her toys. Children enjoy their interaction with the childminder, especially when they share favourite books together. The childminder is responsive to children's needs, for example, changing their nappy when necessary and preparing a snack when they indicate that they are hungry. She ensures that their drinks are freely accessible so that they can make decisions for themselves about their needs. Children are encouraged to develop healthy lifestyles with regular trips out and use of the garden. Children begin to learn from a young age the importance of good hygiene routines, for example, washing their hands before they eat. They develop independence as they help to hold and peel their own fruit. The childminder's regular

p.4

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

outings to the local children's centre, toddler groups and other childminder's houses, helps children to develop confidence away from their main care setting, as well as their social skills. These activities give children vital skills to support them as they grow up and move on to other settings or school. Children are gaining an acceptable understanding of risk, for example, as they are reminded not to eat the shaving foam during messy play activities. Older children will benefit from the childminder's recent training about 'forest schools' which has given her ideas about how to enable children to take supervised risks in the outdoor area. Young children behave well, they are calm and co-operative in response to the childminder's friendly and relaxed nature.

p.4

provision

The childminder has a clear commitment towards her own professional development, attending many courses since registration with more booked for the future. She understands her responsibility in meeting the learning and development requirements, although systems to observe, track and monitor children's progress are not yet sufficiently developed. The childminder also has yet to establish secure systems of self-evaluation. She is able to identify aspects of her provision that she needs to develop. However, plans about how these areas will be improved are limited and unclear.

p.5

provision

The childminder has positive relationships with parents and regularly shares information about children's routines and the activities they enjoy. Parents speak well of the childminder and value the individual attention that she gives their children. The childminder understands the importance of working in partnership with other providers and sharing information if children were to attend more than one setting.

p.5

provision

The childminder has a sound understanding of the procedures to follow should she have child protection concerns about a child in her care and who to speak to should she need advice or to make a referral. However, one of the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage is not met, but the impact on children is minimal. For example, although the premises and environment is safe for children, the childminder does not have a secure risk assessment policy in terms of fire evacuation and the regularity with which these need to be practised in order to be assured of children's safety. As a result, evacuation procedures have not yet been practised with children to ensure procedures are effective and to give the children and the childminder confidence in an emergency situation.

p.5

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

p.5

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.

p.6

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.

p.6

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.

p.6

Setting details

Unique reference number EY414599 Local authority Lincolnshire Inspection number 802621 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 4 Number of children on roll 1

p.6

Name of provider

Date of previous inspection Not applicable

p.7

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.

p.7

Type of provision

For the purposes of this inspection the following definitions apply:

p.7

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.

p.7

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.

p.7

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 that are usually their own home. They are registered on the Early Years Register and must deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage.

p.7

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,

p.7

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’.

p.8

Type of provision

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

p.8