Childminder in Swindon

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 14/12/2012 16/05/2012

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early years provision

This inspection: 3 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 3 The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision 3

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This provision is satisfactory

 Children are happy and relaxed within the warm and welcoming environment that the childminder provides.  The childminder appropriately nurtures children's confidence and independence, which means they develop suitable skills for their next stages in learning and school.  Children are making satisfactory progress in their learning and the childminder has a clear understanding of their individual interests and uses observations appropriately to determine their stages of development.  Children are making satisfactory progress in their learning and the childminder has a clear understanding of their individual interests and uses observations appropriately to determine their stages of development.

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It is not yet good because

 The childminder does not robustly maintain records of children's accidents and incidents while in the her care and does not always inform parents about these occurrences, which has a minor impact on children's welfare.  Some planned and unplanned activities lack challenge and stimulation and use of the outdoor area is restricted, which impacts on the variety and quality of children's learning experiences.  The organisation of toys and resources results in limited accessibility for children to make independent choices in their play.  Links with parents over children's daily progress and opportunities for them to contribute their views regularly about the setting are inconsistent, which impacts on the children's well-being and the provision's self-evaluation processes.

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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 and care routines in the indoor areas.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector looked at children's assessment records, planning documentation, a sample of policies and procedures, including safeguarding records, and the childminder's self-evaluation document.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector and childminder discussed practice knowledge and her approach to managing the provision at appropriate times during the inspection.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector toured the premises and inspected the resources and toys for their suitability

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Information about the setting

The childminder registered in 2007. She lives with her husband and their two teenage children in a house in the Nythe area of Swindon, Wiltshire. Shops, a park, toddler groups, a library and other amenities are within walking distance. The childminder takes children to, and collects them from, local school and pre-schools. The family has a pet cat. Children may use the entire house but in practice, the upstairs is used for bathroom requirements and sleeping purposes only. A rear garden is available for outside play. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder offers part-time and full-time care for children all year round and before and after-school, on each weekday from 8am to 6pm. There are currently two children in the early years' age range on roll and two older children, who attend after school.

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must:

 keep robust records for all incidents and accidents and ensure that parents are informed about them  develop more challenging educational programmes by using unplanned and planned times, including in the outdoor area, to stimulate and extend children's language and learning through a wider range of experiences

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

 strengthen self-evaluation processes and develop further the consistency of involving all parents in their child's learning and encouraging them to contribute their views about the setting

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

 consider the re-organisation of the toys so that they are arranged to motivate children to use them and are easily accessible for children to choose from

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who attend

Children are happy and settle quickly into the routines and activities that the childminder provides. The childminder has a secure understanding of how children learn and provides an acceptable range of activities to support their development. Children make satisfactory progress given their starting points and most are achieving in line with expected developmental bands. The childminder organises activities that she knows children enjoy, although some planned and unplanned activities lack challenge and stimulation, which affects opportunities for children to investigate and extend their learning. The childminder uses observations correctly to identify children's next stages in learning and carries out necessary progress checks at age two. The childminder consults with the other settings that children attend before making her evaluations and has appropriate discussions with parents about children's levels of development.

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who attend

Children freely choose between toys, which helps them to develop their own play interests and independence. However, the resources require further organisation so that all are easily accessible for children to make choices. The childminder aptly interacts with children on their own level and they enjoy her interest and involvement in their learning. Children keenly choose favourite storybooks for the childminder to read. She supports children's language development appropriately, by saying some key words from the book, such as 'boo', which the child repeats. However, opportunities to develop children's language further are limited because the childminder does not extend children's words into sentences. Children are beginning to develop a sound understanding of mathematical concepts and count correctly in sequence to three. The childminder provides a suitable range of opportunities to promote children's co-ordination skills and they enjoy paint

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who attend

Christmas shapes, manipulating brushes skilfully well. These skills help prepare children suitably for their next stages in learning and school, alongside the regular visits to the local children's centre, which enhances their experiences and social skills. Opportunities for children to enjoy physical exercise and outdoor exploration are restricted because the outdoor area is under-developed and not consistently used. The childminder acceptably enhances children's awareness of the wider world through visits to the library, play-park and local nature areas, where they enjoy feeding the ducks.

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who attend

The childminder has suitable systems in place to ensure that parents are involved in children's learning through daily diaries. There are some inconsistencies with these link strategies and parents are not always fully encouraged to contribute information on children's home achievements. Children periodically take home their individual learning journals, which suitably inform parents about their progress and development.

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

Children are secure and confident within the childminder's warm and affectionate care. When children start at the setting, the childminder discusses their personal preferences with parents. She establishes a clear understanding of their individual needs through 'all about me' leaflets, which include dietary and medical information. Children form positive relationships with the childminder and confidently approach her for cuddles, such as when enjoying the nurturing comfort that she gives them during story times. The childminder models phrases such as 'please' and 'thank you' which positively support children's personal development.

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

Children are encouraged to be independent in their self-care. They help themselves to drinks and make choices between their chosen activities in a self-assured manner. The childminder appropriately promotes hygiene practices, such as washing hands before eating snacks and making choices in toileting routines. She uses consistent methods to manage children's behaviour, such as the use of positive praise, which children respond to well. She refers to a poster of house rules, which suitably supports children's understanding of correct social interaction and points out the importance of sharing and taking turns when looking at books.

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

Children are developing an appropriate understanding of safety, such as understanding the need to wear a harness at mealtimes and taking care when moving around the furniture. Children enjoy tasks of responsibility, such as helping to organise resources. They are free to play and explore within the indoor environment, which supports their development in confidence. Although the outdoor garden area is not effectively used, the childminder regularly takes children out in the fresh air, including visits the play park where they can run around and enjoy physical exercise. Children's social development is enhanced further through attending sessions at the local children's centre, which help to prepare them for their transitions to school.

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provision

The childminder demonstrates, through discussion, that she has an appropriate understanding of her safeguarding responsibilities and the necessary measures to protect children within her care. The childminder has attended relevant safeguarding, food hygiene and first aid training. An adequate range of policies and procedures are in place to support children's welfare and made available to parents. The childminder maintains detailed records for attendance, medication and fire evacuation drills, to promote children's safety further. However, the recording of children's accidents during their time in the setting is inconsistent and the childminder does not always inform parents about incidences that occur. This compromises the provision for children's welfare. The childminder has appropriate permission from parents on file for all outings to community venues. She takes reasonable steps to minimise risks and hazards inside her home, such

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provision

as through the use of stair gates and guards around heaters.

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provision

The childminder updates her professional understanding and has a development plan in place for future training to enhance her knowledge of the early years' learning and development requirements. The childminder has positive links with local childcare advisors, who regularly support her with her practice; she also attends sessions at the childcare support centre. These strategies contribute towards the enhancement of children's learning experiences and provision for their well-being. The childminder uses effective self-evaluation processes to review her practice, which accurately reflect on the settings strengths and some of the areas for further development. One aspect of identified need is a paved area in the outdoor area to increase opportunities for children's learning experiences. The childminder sends out periodic questionnaires to parents, which contribute towards the evaluation, although she

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provision

does not actively and consistently encourage parents to feed back their views on a more regular basis, for example, through use of the daily diaries.

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provision

The childminder has established positive relationships with parents and periodically liaises with them over children's specific needs, ensuring that they are appropriately involved in assessment arrangements and made aware of any concerns. The childminder demonstrates that she has suitable strategies in place to guide parents in supporting their child's emerging developmental needs. The childminder regularly liaises with other settings that children attend to ensure the consistency of information pertaining to children's well- being and learning development. She has also established positive links with the local school and through discussion explained the procedures that she will adopt to ensure children's smooth transfer to school.

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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 EY356165 Local authority Swindon Inspection number 896068 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 3

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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

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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