Childminder in Buckinghamshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 17/12/2012 27/01/2009

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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

 Children increase their skills in communication because the childminder promotes their development of language through careful questioning and by role modelling language.  The childminder supports children's independence by allowing them to complete tasks for themselves and praising their efforts.  The childminder has a secure understanding about how to support children's well-being and safety as she knows her responsibilities and regularly updates her knowledge through training.  The childminder works with the childminding team to evaluate her practice and make improvements, taking into account the views of parents and children. As a result, areas for development are identified and addressed, which benefits the care and education of the children.

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It is not yet outstanding because

 At times, children do not fully explore creative materials and resources or have their spontaneous play fully extended.  There is scope to further develop opportunities for parents to contribute information about their children's learning at home.

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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 compulsory part of the Childcare Register. This report includes a judgment about compliance with the requirements of that register.

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Inspection activities

 The childminder and children were observed playing inside, in the garden and during snack time.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector took into account self-evaluation documentation, relevant policies and procedures and required documentation.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector looked at children's development files, home/setting books and photographs.  The inspector toured the areas used for childminding, including the outdoor area.

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Information about the setting

The childminder was registered in 2008 on the Early Years Register and the compulsory part of the Childcare Register. She works with two other registered childminder's, one of whom is her mother, who provides care at the same premises. She lives with her parents, two adult sisters and teenage brother in a house in the village of Eaton Bray. The whole of the ground floor except the conservatory is used for childminding. Children have access to an enclosed garden. The family has two cats, two rabbits, some fish and seven chickens as pets. The childminder attends toddler groups and visits local parks on a regular basis. She collects children from the local schools and pre-schools.

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Information about the setting

There are currently a total of 22 children on roll, 11 of whom are in the early years age range. The childminder is responsible for four of these children, who attend for a variety of sessions. A total of eleven school-aged children attend before and after school on various days. The childminder is open all year round 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:

 allow children to consistently and spontaneously explore a range of materials for drawing, writing to increase their enjoyment of creative activities

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

 develop further opportunities for parents to contribute information about children's learning at home, to further enhance assessments of their learning.

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who attend

The childminder provides a warm and welcoming environment for children. She has a good awareness of how children learn and develop and is able to provide activities that support their development and enhance learning. For example, she helps children to make angels out of paper plates, which the children colour and decorate with excitement. This helps children to develop their physical skills as they pick up small sequins using their fingers. Children develop their large muscles by exploring the local parks as they climb, balance and jump. Children are able to choose what they play with because equipment and toys are stored in a playroom that children go to when they wish. This helps them to lead their play and make choices about what they do. Although children have good access to most toys, at times activities are tidied away before children end their interest. For example, children enjoy using pencils and sticking shapes on to paper, but leave the table

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who attend

to play with something else, when they return to the table and look for the activity, it has been put away. This limits the flow of their play and ability to be spontaneous in their creations.

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who attend

The childminder increases children's independence by giving them lots of choices, this supports their ability to become active learners as they think for themselves. The childminder has a good understanding about how children learn language and communicate effectively. She supports their development of speaking and listening by asking them open-ended questions and repeating words back to them. This means that children are gaining essential skills in order to enable them to become capable communicators. Children feel secure in the childminder's care because she develops close relationships with them and their families. This helps their confidence to grow as they explore the toys and activities on offer and return to the childminder for reassurance. Children learn about how to get along with others because the childminder encourages them to work together to tidy away toys. As a result, they are learning important social

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who attend

skills, such as sharing and turn taking, which are important in readiness for school.

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who attend

The childminder is aware of the importance of working in partnership with parents as she shares photographs and children's progress in a variety of ways. As a result, children enjoy continuity of care. However, there is scope to further develop opportunities for parents to contribute information about their children's learning at home, for example, into children's development files, in order to ensure that assessments of children's learning are precise and more sharply focused. The childminder's own observations and assessments of children's learning and development ensure that children make good progress. The childminder uses children's individual needs and interests to form the next steps in their learning. Consequently, children are enthusiastic and experience consistent challenge as the childminder has high expectations for all children.

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

Children enjoy a clean environment where the childminder pays particular attention to their health and well-being through reducing the risk of the spread of infection. She is knowledgeable about the symptoms of common childhood illnesses, which means that she can support children who become unwell and advise their parents about exclusion periods. Children enjoy a healthy, balanced snack and lunch which helps them to understand the importance of healthy eating. They understand that fresh air is good for them because the childminder encourages them to go outside in all weathers. Children have an understanding of where their food comes from because there are chickens in the garden that provide fresh, daily eggs, which the children collect. Children learn about the need to be considerate towards animals as they eagerly take responsibility for feeding the pet rabbits. They know about maintaining their hygiene because the childminder encourages

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

them to wash their hands after they touch the animals and before they eat.

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

Children go for regular walks within their community to places such as local parks and toddler groups. This helps them to become familiar with the local environment. Children's confidence and increasing independence, along with their regular trips to the local school and pre-school, helps to prepare them very well for their move into the next stage of their learning. The children share fond relationships with the childminder, who is aware of their needs and offers gentle, caring support. For example, they climb onto the childminder's lap for a cuddle when they feel tired. This shows children feel safe, secure and settled.

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provision

The childminder has a good knowledge about how to keep children safe because she undertakes appropriate training. This means that she is aware of the signs and symptoms that might cause her concern about children's welfare. She is aware should she have a concern, of the channels open to her to report these, and is confident in the procedure she has in place. She further supports children's safety by conducting an assessment of all the areas where children play. She is aware that children might put their fingers into the rabbit hutch and it may bite, so she reminds children how to hold the carrot to reduce this risk. The childminder knows what action to take should children have a minor accident requiring first aid because she attends regular training to keep her knowledge and skills up to date.

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provision

The childminder is aware of how children learn and develop best because she is familiar with documentation that outlines the stages of development and conducts accurate observations. This means that she has a secure understanding of what children can do and as a result she helps support children to make good progress. The childminder works as part of a group of three childminders and each shares good practice. This helps to build a productive working team who support each other and are keen to better meet the needs of children. Self-evaluation is a further tool that the childminder uses to reflect upon her practice. She identifies areas for improvement through the support of childminding support workers and from questionnaires that parents complete. She also asks children about what they enjoy doing. The childminder has fully addressed recommendations from the previous inspection. This means that the childminder has a good capacity to further

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provision

The childminder builds strong partnerships and working relationships with professionals who also provide care and support for children and their families. This helps to make sure that the childminder is aware of what children's individual needs are and how she and her co-childminder's, can best support them. Partnerships with parents are effective as the childminder uses a variety of ways to communicate with parents, such as through daily diaries and by making calendars with photographs that chart children's achievements throughout the year. This helps parents to feel a part of their children's care and as a result, they are confident and complementary about the care that children receive.

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The Childcare Register

The requirements for the compulsory 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 EY363330 Local authority Central Bedfordshire Inspection number 821072 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 4

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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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