Childminder in Durham

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 28/01/2013 20/04/2009

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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 provides a friendly and welcoming setting were children feel safe and secure. Children's learning is supported as they have developed close relationships with the childminder and her co-childminder.  The childminder demonstrates a good understanding of her responsibilities with regard to the welfare and safeguarding requirements. Consequently, children are cared for in an environment that promotes their safety and well-being.  Children have good opportunities to make progress in their learning and development as the childminder supports them well. She ensures children participate in a wide range of activities both inside the home and through visits to different places of interest.  The childminder has a positive approach to continuous improvement. She works closely with the local authority advisors and her co-childminder to develop the service they provide.

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It is not yet outstanding because

 Children are sometimes distracted by constant background noise. This does not fully support them in concentrating on the activities they are doing.  Resources to provide opportunities for children to explore different textures and natural products are not readily available. This does not further encourage children to develop their exploration and sensory skills.

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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 had a tour of the premises and observed children playing.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector looked at children's learning journeys, a selection of policies and children's records.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector took account of the views of parents through completed questionnaires.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke with the childminder at appropriate times throughout the inspection.

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Information about the setting

The childminder was registered in 2005 on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She works with her daughter who is also a registered childminder from her daughter's home in Consett. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding. There is a garden available for outdoor play. The childminder attends the local shops and parks on a regular basis. She collects children from the local schools and pre-schools. There are currently six children on roll, three are in the early years age group who attend for a variety of sessions and three are school-age children who attend before and after school. The childminder is open all year round from 6.30am to 6.30pm Monday to Thursday except for family holidays.

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

 enhance opportunities for children to concentrate and channel their attention by keeping background noise to a minimum, with particular regard to not having the television on at all times and using it only for particular purposes

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

 provide further resources to enable young children to explore and engage in heuristic play, such as tins, boxes, pegs, materials and strips of beads.

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who attend

Children are making good progress towards the early learning goals as the childminder and her co-childminder provide a good range of activities for children which cover all areas of learning. The childminder knows the children in her care very well and has a good understanding of their individual development. Each child has an individual learning file in place which includes observations of their learning and regular progress reports. These are used to plan activities which are based on children's individual learning and interests. The childminder and her co-childminder have developed good relationships with parents. They meet with parents regularly to share children's learning files and encourage parents to contribute towards children's records. This supports parents in being well informed and involved in their child's ongoing learning.

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who attend

Children's communication skills are fostered well due to the positive interaction used by the childminder. For example, she talks to children about what they are doing and uses open-ended questions to support their learning. Fully engaged in their play the childminder sits on the floor and encourages children to try and dress their dolls. This helps younger children begin to develop their physical skills as they try to manipulate clothing and fasten buttons. Children show an interest in books, for example, they independently select their favourite stories and sit quietly to 'read' to themselves. Regular visits to the library further supports children's interests in reading and books. The provision of pencils and crayons enable children to regularly practice their emerging writing skills. Children develop their creative skills as they enjoy dressing up and messy play activities, such as, making play dough, painting and sticking and gluing. However,

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who attend

there is scope to provide a wider range of sensory resources for young children to explore, such as beads, tins and different materials in order to further stimulate young children's senses.

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who attend

A variety of appropriate resources along with planned activities, such as celebrating the Chinese New Year raises children's awareness of diversity and the wider world. They also have a growing awareness of the world around them as they take part in community fundraising activities such as 'teddy bears picnics' and go on walks to collect leaves and search for insects. Children's physical skills are developing well. They move confidently around the setting and independently access a wide range of age appropriate resources. These are stored at low level in the designated play room; this allows children to make confident choices about their play. However, during the inspection the television was constantly switched on. This results in some children being distracted which affects their ability to concentrate and channel their attention clearly to their activities.

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

Children enjoy their time at the setting. They have developed close bonds with the childminder, her co-childminder and other children. For example, they give babies cuddles and kisses. Children are confident and happy with in the childminder's care. They approach her for cuddles and she recognises when they are tired; gently cuddling them as they fall asleep. These positive attachments she has with the children are supported by effective settling-in procedures which means that children's transition between home and the childminder's setting are supported well. The childminder uses clear and age- appropriate boundaries for managing children's behaviour. This helps them develop an understanding of acceptable behaviour, such as the importance of sharing and being kind to each other.

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

Children develop a good understanding of how to keep themselves safe through planned activities with the childminder. For example, they practise fire drills and discuss road safety. Children's good health is supported well. The childminder and her co-childminder provide a wide range of healthy and homemade meals for children; this has a positive impact on children's well-being. Planned activities such as making their own pizzas and growing vegetables in the garden raises children's awareness of healthy lifestyles. Children's good health is further supported as they have regular opportunities for fresh air, for example, they play in the garden, go to the park and go on trips to the farm and the beach.

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provision

The childminder has completed safeguarding training and as a result, has a secure understanding of her responsibilities to protect children from harm. A good range of policies and procedures are in place which effectively underpin the childminder's practice. Parents receive copies of such policies at the start, this means they are well informed about the service provided. Written risk assessments are in place for the setting, and outings. These are combined with effective procedures such as using cupboard locks, supervising children at all times and using high-visibility jackets on outings to further protect children's safety and well-being.

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provision

The childminder is committed to working closely with her co-childminder to develop her understanding of the learning and development requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. The childminder and her co-childminder meet weekly to discuss children's observations and plan activities for the next week, this ensures that planning is based on children's next steps and that all areas of learning are covered. No children in the early years age range currently attend any other settings. However, the childminder demonstrates a good understanding of the importance of sharing information with other providers in order to support continuity of learning and care for children.

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provision

The childminder and her co-childminder demonstrate a positive attitude towards reflecting on their practice. They have begun to make use of the Ofsted self-evaluation form and work closely with their local early years advisor to identify areas for development. This is combined with effective procedures to gather feedback from parents to further help to evaluate their setting. All actions and recommendations raised at the previous inspection have been addressed, this demonstrates a positive attitude towards continuous improvement.

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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 EY312016 Local authority Durham Inspection number 820398 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 3 Number of children on roll 6

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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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