Childminder in Essex

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 22/11/2012 Not Applicable

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early years provision

This inspection: 2 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 2 The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision 2

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This provision is good

 The childminder has a good understanding of how young children learn through play. She provides them with a good range of planned and free play opportunities to extend their learning.  Warm, caring relationships are in place between the childminder, childminded children and her family, which ensure that children feel settled, secure and happy in their environment.  The childminder demonstrates a good understanding of how to use timely intervention to effectively support children's learning. She extends children's thinking by asking appropriate, open-ended questions and allowing them time to consider their answer and respond.

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It is not yet outstanding because

 Processes for self-evaluation, to include the views of parents, children and others, have not been fully considered to identify areas for improvement.  Links with all of the other early years settings which children attend are not firmly established to enable appropriate sharing of information and to secure continuity of care and learning.

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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 play and activities in the dedicated playroom.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector viewed all areas of the childminder's home used for childminding purposes.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector looked at a range of written policies and documentation relating to the childminder's practices, such as children's details, information about their learning, certificates evidencing the childminder's training courses, accident and medication records and a number of other relevant records.

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Information about the setting

The childminder was registered in 2011 on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She lives with her husband and three children aged three, seven and nine years in a house in Chelmsford, Essex and uses the whole of the ground floor and the rear garden for childminding. The family has two dogs, three cats, four rabbits and two guinea pigs. The childminder attends a local children's centre. She visits the local shops and park on a regular basis. She collects children from the local schools and pre-schools.

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Information about the setting

There is currently one child on roll who is in the early years age group and attends after school. She is able to care for children from 7am to 7pm Monday to Friday, except for family holidays.

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

 improve systems for monitoring and evaluating the provision, to include the views of parents and children and prioritise targets for improvement

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

 develop further the links with other early years settings which children attend, to develop effective partnership working and support continuity of care and learning.

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who attend

The childminder's secure knowledge of the seven areas of learning enables her to provide children with an interesting range of enjoyable, planned and freely chosen play experiences. The environment in which children play and learn is well resourced and effectively organised, as the childminder has had a conservatory built as a dedicated playroom. Toys and play materials are presented at children's height, this enables them to guide their own play and learning. Children are active, keen and eager to learn, which means that they are adopting the attitudes and dispositions that will support them in their readiness for school. They show enthusiasm when selecting toys and resources of their choice. For example, they select some small world figures, which promote their imagination.

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who attend

The childminder uses her observations of children's play and interests to foster activities which she knows they enjoy. She records their progress in interesting and exciting learning journeys. The observations are generally used to plan stimulating and challenging activities for children. The childminder works effectively with parents to establish a good understanding of their children's home background, likes and dislikes, through well- considered and informative 'All about me' forms. This information is used to help the childminder establish a good knowledge of children's needs and requirements. Photographic evidence in the children's learning journeys supports the childminder's observations and helps to involve parents in their child's learning.

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who attend

The childminder demonstrates a clear understanding of how to use timely intervention to effectively support children's learning. For example, she watches their play and makes appropriate judgements about when to join in and when to leave them exploring. She extends their thinking by asking open-ended questions and allowing them time to consider their answers. Children are actively encouraged to express themselves creatively as the childminder provides an exciting range of model-making resources, malleable materials, paints and sticking resources. They are able to independently access a wide selection of drawing and writing tools, enabling them to develop their handwriting skills and hand-eye coordination. Children make dens and cosy spaces indoors and outdoors. Their imagination is enthusiastically enhanced by the childminder who encourages them to use a section at the end of her garden as a sensory area. This area has recently been a pirate

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who attend

ship, a castle, a fort, a fairy garden and a wide range of other imaginative environments. Children are encouraged to explore the natural environment around them by collecting natural items, such as, leaves and pine cones.

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

The childminder has effective systems for settling new children into her care, which ensures that children become happy and content and form good relationships with her, her family and other children. Children's confidence and self-esteem is effectively promoted through the use of praise and encouragement. They wander confidently around the areas of the childminder's home which are accessible to them and ask the childminder for support when required. Children's ideas and suggestions for activities are effectively facilitated by the childminder. These skills help to prepare children for the next stage of their learning.

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

The childminder's consistent routines and good role modelling promote children's good behaviour. They understand her expectations of them and learn to play together and cooperate through turn-taking games and activities. Children's independence is effectively promoted by the childminder recognising their capabilities and enabling them to explore in a safe and secure environment.

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

Children's health and well-being is actively promoted through the childminder's clear and comprehensive practices. Children are encouraged to learn about foods which are healthy and good for them through active discussions and appropriate activities. They help to grow fruits, such as blackberries and strawberries, in the summer months. They enjoy keeping fit and active when they play outdoors in the childminder's garden and participate in trips to local parks and playgrounds. Children's understanding of safety is effectively promoted by the childminder reminding them about safe practices, such as looking for the safest place to cross roads.

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provision

The childminder's secure knowledge of safeguarding issues ensures that the children in her care remain appropriately protected from harm. She understands the local authority procedures to be followed to protect children. Children remain safe and secure in the childminder's care, as she conducts effective risk assessments of her provision, all outings and special events. Clear written policies and procedures support her practices and are available for parents to view. All adults living on the premises are appropriately vetted and proof of their suitability is held on file.

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provision

This is the childminder's first inspection since registering. She has been actively caring for children since the beginning of this year and is committed to improving her provision for all children and their families. She has begun to reflect on her practice and think about her service. However, she has not evaluated it to identify strengths and weaknesses and to take appropriate action to develop her service. Parents, children and others are not invited to provide feedback on her practices, in order to inform changes and improvements.

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provision

The childminder enjoys working in partnership with parents. She shares information with them about their children. For example, she verbally discusses what the children have done each day and provides a clear and well-documented daily diary. The childminder has links with some other early years settings which children attend. However, this does not include all of them, in order to fully secure continuity of care and learning for all children attending more than one setting.

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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 EY435793 Local authority Essex Inspection number 791060 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 4 Number of children on roll 1

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Name of provider

Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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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.

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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 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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