Childminder in Somerset

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 31/01/2013 02/01/2009

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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 are confident in the childminder's home. They develop positive relationships, and older children display friendly and sensitive attitudes to each other's needs.  Children are motivated to learn. They access good resources and demonstrate satisfaction in their own achievements.  The childminder and her assistants work well together to meet children's individual needs and provide good support.  Children learn to think of ways to solve problems and reach a goal because the adults provide good role models.

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It is not yet outstanding because

 The childminder does not make full use of activities to promote children's literacy development.  Children do not always develop good hygiene practices in their daily routines.

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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 children in the indoor environment with the childminder and both her assistants.  The inspector took account of the parents' written views left for the inspection.  The inspector looked at children's development records and the planning.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector sampled the written policies and procedures, and the information for parents.  The inspector took account of the childminder's self-evaluation.

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Information about the setting

The childminder registered in 1992. She lives with her husband and one of their adult children, they both work as her assistants, in the city of Wells. There are local shops and a park within walking distance of their home. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding, as well as a bathroom and bedroom on the first floor. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play and an outbuilding for the children's sole use. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register, and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder is currently caring for 12 children aged one year to eight years, mostly on a part-time basis. The childminder is working towards an early years qualification at level 3 and one of her assistants holds a relevant qualification at level 3.

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

 improve the programme for literacy development by support children in a) hearing and saying the initial sounds in words b) linking sounds to letters and c) noticing rhyming words

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

 extend children's awareness of the importance of healthy practices with particular regard to hygiene before meal times.

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who attend

The childminder has a good knowledge of the way children learn through their play and provides good support. Parents comment on having good opportunities to contribute to their children's learning, which benefits children further. The childminder gains good information from parents to enable her to understand children's initial starting points. She then makes regular observations to assess children's development and plan effectively, which ensures they make good progress in all areas overall. The childminder uses children's interests to motivate their learning. For example, children look out of the window and talk about the birds eating the nuts. Later the childminder and her assistants plan to make bird feeders with all the children. Consequently, they develop positive attitudes in preparation for their future learning and school.

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who attend

Children develop good communication skills because the childminder continually encourages them to initiate and contribute to conversations. The childminder and assistants respond well to young children babbling happily. This encourages them to want to communicate and develop an awareness of turn taking in conversations. They demonstrate their understanding, such as pointing to the highchair and bouncing up and down when the childminder asks if they want their snack. Children enjoy stories and listen with interest. They persevere with a jigsaw puzzle and with the help from an adult they use the picture to complete it. They name the items and learn letters of the alphabet. The adults praise children for remembering new vocabulary and attempting new words. They give children time to think of responses, for example when asking the name of the person who looks after animals on a farm. However, the adults do not make full use of activities

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who attend

to support children in linking sounds to letters or noticing rhyming words.

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who attend

Children are active learners, benefiting from real experiences and then exploring their knowledge through role-play or small world toys. Children make links across their learning. For example, one child notices the sunlight reflected on the wall. They then notice a picture of a city lit up at night and talk about the moon and electric light. Another child comments that it is not bedtime until the moon comes out. The adults provide good role models so that children see that learning is life long and there are different ways to solve a problem. For example, when a child wants help opening a packet the assistant shows that they too are struggling. They talk about different ways they could manage and children suggest scissors.

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

The childminder plans very effectively for children's well-being so they are very confident in her home. Parents comment on how the good settling in procedures enable both the parents and the children to feel secure. They suggest that their children are at ease because the childminder mirrors the care they receive at home. The childminder encourages them to welcome and involve each other. Consequently, children play well together. The childminder skilfully supports them in preparation for their transition to nursery or school. As a result, children behave well, they help to tidy up and take care of the environment.

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

Children develop some suitable practices to develop a healthy lifestyle. They help themselves to their drinks and have generally nutritional foods. Children have regular opportunities to be outside and learn the importance of exercise. The childminder encourages the children to think about if they are too hot or too cold, so they make decisions about suitable clothing. Children are confident to ask for the toilet and an adult escorts them upstairs. They wash their hands afterwards. However, children do not routinely wash their hands before eating. The childminder recognises signs when a baby is tired and gently rocks them to sleep in her arms. She carries out hygienic nappy changing procedures to protect young children's health. The childminder keeps daily records of children's personal care and shares these with parents. Children demonstrate some good practices to keep themselves safe. For example, one child asks the childminder to push

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

their chair closer to sit safely at the table. They regularly practise the emergency evacuation procedures and road safety.

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

Children move freely around the premises, indoors and outdoors when the weather allows. They choose from the good range of resources and initiate their own learning. Consequently, they are very proud of their achievements. For example, one child holds up their picture and declares it is fireworks. Older children involve the younger ones. This enables children to learn from each other. Babies notice what the older children are doing and are eager to join them. The older children sensitively offer them toys and ways of being involved. For example, they encourage them to explore the bottles filled with glitter, coloured water and seeds. The childminder values all the children's backgrounds and encourages children to have a positive awareness of each other's differences. This builds all the children's confidence and self-esteem.

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provision

The childminder has a good understanding of her responsibilities to meet the learning and development requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. The weekly plans show how the childminder uses the continuous provision, as well as individual plans for each child incorporating their interests. She has a good system for monitoring the educational programme to help all children progress to the early learning goals. There is a good focus on supporting children's key areas of development to enable them to make good progress in all areas. The childminder has researched the requirement for two-year-old progress checks and prepared a system to use.

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provision

The childminder meets the safeguarding and welfare requirements well. She and her assistants work well together. They deploy themselves effectively so that children receive good supervision and support. For example, one plays with the baby, while another helps children complete a puzzle and another makes observations. The childminder gently soothes a baby to sleep and an assistant gets their pram ready. They effectively implement the written policies and procedures, and share these with parents to help safeguard children. The childminder has a good understanding of child protection procedures and has very good documentation for guidance. The childminder carries out good risk assessments so that children can play safely, while developing independence and good physical skills. Both the childminder and one of her assistants have a first aid qualification.

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provision

The childminder develops very positive partnerships with parents. Parents comment on receiving good information and invaluable support. They particularly mention how the assessments provide a useful tool to see how their children reach their goals. The childminder regularly meets with parents to discuss their children's learning and share the assessment records. The childminder actively gains parents' feedback and carries out self- evaluation to identify priorities for improvements. For example, she is in the process of converting an outbuilding as a physical playroom, so that children can use large equipment in inclement weather. Children now access a good range of multi-cultural resources and the childminder has built strong links with other settings sharing care. These contribute to meeting children's needs. The childminder continues to assess her own development and is currently working towards an early years qualification, in order to

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provision

ensure good quality provision for children.

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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 142301 Local authority Somerset Inspection number 814026 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 12

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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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