Mills Suzanne

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 20/12/2012 21/10/2009

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early years provision

This inspection: 2 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 2

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This provision is good

 The childminder understands how children learn and so they make good progress through child-initiated and structured activities. The wide range of accessible resources is varied to meet children's individual interests and this keeps them motivated.  The childminder understands the importance of promoting the health and safety of every child in her care. She regularly assesses the environment to minimise risks to children as well as updating her safeguarding procedures to reflect revised guidance. As a result, children's safety is promoted.  Partnership with parents, external agencies and other providers delivering the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage are well established and these partnerships make a strong contribution to meeting children's needs.  The childminder is well organised and undertakes detailed observations, which are reflected in her planning and meet the unique needs of all children. As a result, each

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This provision is good

child makes good progress in their learning and development from their starting point.  Effective self-evaluation enables the childminder to assess her setting's strengths and weaknesses through the views of children and parents. Therefore, continuous improvement is secured which enhances children's development overall.

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It is not yet outstanding because

 Children do not have regular opportunities to be independent at meal times. For example, they do not serve themselves or pour their own drinks.

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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 looked at a variety of written policies, procedures and children's individual 'learning journeys'.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities in the main downstairs room used for childminding.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke with children and the childminder at appropriate times throughout the inspection.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the childminder.

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Information about the setting

The childminder was registered in 2003 on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She lives with her husband, one child aged 11 years and one adult child in a house in Letchworth, Hertfordshire. The whole of the ground floor, a downstairs toilet and the rear garden are used for childminding. The family has no pets.

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Information about the setting

The childminder attends various toddler and childminding group. She visits the shops, library and local park on a regular basis and she collects children from the local school and pre-school.

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Information about the setting

There are currently three children on roll, all of whom are in the early years age group, attending for a variety of sessions. There are two school-age children who attend before and after school only and two children aged over eight years, also cared for before and after school only. The childminder operates all year round from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except bank holidays and pre-arranged family holidays.

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

 provide more opportunities for children to be independent at meal times. For example, give them opportunities to serve themselves and pour their own drinks.

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who attend

The childminder provides interesting and challenging experiences that meet the needs of all children attending. She has a good awareness of the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage and has attended additional training to support her understanding further. Children are reaching expected levels of development across the prime and specific areas of learning as indicated in 'Development Matters in the Early Years Foundation Stage'. Each child has an individual 'learning journey' which demonstrates, through written observations and photographs, the range of experiences which they take part in. The childminder ensures that the planned educational programmes provide opportunities for children to learn across all areas of learning and challenging and interesting activities are offered. The childminder observes and assesses children's learning and development well and demonstrates an awareness of where each child is in

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who attend

their learning. She incorporates children's next steps, as well as their likes and interests, to plan for their development and as a result children are interested and motivated in their learning.

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who attend

The childminder has an effective relationship with parents and they speak highly of her support. Written feedback demonstrates their confidence in leaving children in her care. For example, parents like the way in which the childminder ensures that the children's dietary needs are met, regardless of what their specific needs are. The childminder knows children well and provides a range of activities which appeal to their interests as well as ensuring each child is able to join in equally. For example, as children are making Christmas calendars for their parents, the childminder ensures that she provides two different options of how these can be made. For example, she offers them painting or sticking to enable all children to have the opportunity to join in. As a result, children choose the activity they feel most comfortable with and create individual designs for their parents.

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who attend

Children's language development is well supported for all ages by the childminder, who provides regular opportunities for them to communicate whether it be verbal or non-verbal interaction. This means that children's progress ensures that they have the key skills needed for the next steps in their learning. All children's speaking and listening skills are greatly encouraged as the childminder consistently questions them during their play, encouraging them to think further. For example, whilst building the train track the childminder encourages the children to explore different ways of laying the track which provide different shapes. They talk about the characters and the objects around the track as they compare these to trees and buildings they see on the way to school each day.

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

Children are building good bonds with their minded friends and form secure attachments with the childminder because they feel safe and secure. The childminder has established an effective key person role within her setting and she ensures that children's overall care and well-being is successfully promoted. For example, when children first start at her setting she reassures parents and children through settling-in visits. The childminder takes this time to get to know each family and finds out as much information about the children as possible. This ensures that they settle quickly, have their care needs met and are prepared for the transition from home to childminder. As a result, when children start and leave their parents they do so with confidence and are familiar in their surroundings.

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

Children respond well to the childminder because she takes time to talk to the children as well as listen to them. For example, children talk about what they have done at school or about the things they are going to be doing at Christmas time. The childminder listens, asks questions and in return answers their questions where required. An example of this is where children show interest in a range of imaginative characters. They create their own stories as they play and include the childminder as she asks questions about what the characters are doing. Children are fully involved, using their imaginations and are encouraged to explore the resources to extend this further.

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

Children's personal, social and emotional development is effectively supported as the childminder builds their self-confidence through consistent praise and encouragement. For example, as children count Christmas trees the childminder is there to support them. When they initially get their counting wrong, rather than point this out negatively, the childminder supports and encourages children to try again and keep trying until the child feels happy with the right number guessed. Children behave well because they are gently reminded of the boundaries within the childminder's home. They are fully encouraged with sharing resources and demonstrate genuine friendliness as they play together.

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

Children enjoy a healthy diet and have their individual dietary needs met because the childminder ensures that she follows parental and child preferences whilst taking on board allergies and religious requirements, where needed. For example, children eat a freshly made picnic lunch which consists of fresh meat or vegetables, salad items and juice. However, children have limited opportunities to be independent at mealtimes because the childminder prepares, arranges and serves the children's meals and snacks for them. Children enjoy regular activities which promote their physical development because the childminder plans opportunities for fresh air and exercise. For example, children walk to and from school on a daily basis and enjoy regular outings to the local park and farm. As a result, children are healthy, develop self-confidence and are developing according to the milestones for their ages and stages of development.

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provision

Children's learning and development is good because the childminder has established an effective understanding and implementation of the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage requirements. She demonstrates a secure understanding of the areas of learning and how children develop. The childminder is aware of the importance of self-evaluation and monitors and evaluates her setting in order for her to make improvements. For example, the childminder has improved arrangements for sharing information with parents and with other childcare providers delivering the framework. She regularly discusses her setting with parents and seeks their views and contributions to ensure that these are incorporated. The childminder is keen to develop her own training needs and aims to attend further courses to build on her current knowledge and understanding of child development.

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provision

The childminder demonstrates a good knowledge and understanding of her role and responsibility in relation to the safeguarding and welfare requirements. For example, she completes regular and thorough written risk assessments of her home and she ensures that children are protected from intruders by ensuring that doors remain secure throughout the day. The childminder is able to further protect children in her care because she has a clear understanding of the procedures to be followed in order to effectively safeguard children from harm.

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provision

The childminder has a positive relationship with parents and she regularly shares information with them about the children's routines and the activities they take part in. Parents communicate regularly with the childminder and feedback how they enjoy the two way flow of information which she promotes. They enjoy regular access to their children's learning journeys and are encouraged to offer their comments, helping the childminder to improve her setting. Relationships with other settings delivering the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage are good and established to ensure that partnership working is successful. The childminder links with the local pre-school and primary school and is aware of what the children are doing which enables her to extend the children's learning in her 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 EY256481 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 819757 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 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.

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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. 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

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Type of provision

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, safeguarding and child protection.

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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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