Childminder in West Berkshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 31/01/2013 30/11/2009

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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 have good relationships with the childminder. As a result they are confident and enjoy learning through play.  The childminder engages well with children and proactively promotes all areas of development. This in turn assists children in becoming confident and capable learners.  The childminder has good systems in place to promote children's safety and well-being.  The childminder uses consistent and clear boundaries for behaviour management so that children develop a suitable understanding of acceptable behaviour.

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It is not yet outstanding because

 The childminder does not yet fully involve parents in helping her evaluate her practice.  Children's have fewer opportunities to use number words in their everyday activities

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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 the children and childminder engaged in activities.  The inspector sampled documentation, policies and learning journals.  The inspector took account of parents' views through supporting letters of her care.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector engaged in conversations with the childminder her practise and spoke with the children when appropriate.

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Information about the setting

The childminder registered in 1992. She lives in Thatcham, Berkshire, close to shops, parks, schools and public transport links. The ground floor of the childminder's home is used for childminding and one room on the first floor is used for sleeping purposes. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder is registered on the Early years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She is currently minding five children in the early years, on a full and part-time. The childminder walks to local schools and pre-schools to take and collect children. She is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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

 encourage children to talk more about maths in everyday situations. For example through number games

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

 improve opportunities for parents to contribute to any evaluation of the setting.

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who attend

Children are confident in the childminder's care and relaxed within her home. They enjoy a wide range of activities, which support their learning and development very well. Children settle quickly to freely chosen activities and enjoy dressing up, exploring with programmable toys and creating objects out of the construction.

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who attend

The childminder takes account of the children's interests when planning activities. This helps support their next stage of learning. Her method for recording children's development is good and clearly shows how they are achieving. This information is shared with their parents which positively involves them in their children's development. The childminder has a good understanding of the required assessments on children and she has good quality written 'progress checks' at age two for the children in her care.

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who attend

Children use a variety of tools and materials in play. For example, they use cutters to make shapes with dough and create pictures from crayons. Children enjoy playing with games and puzzles to develop their mathematical skills. They enjoy working out how items fit together and concentrate well as they interconnect the pieces to make a plane. They show keen interest and focus well, which effectively contributes to good concentration skills for future learning. Children practice their counting skills as they count the number of frogs on the hand puppet. In addition they confidently name the colours of the flexible people. However, they do not always have sufficient opportunities to talk about and explore different mathematical words.

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who attend

Children benefit from the support of the childminder throughout their self-chosen activities. Their communication and language is effectively promoted through consistent questioning and discussions. Children approach the childminder confidently throughout the day. They are confident in using programmable toys. This effectively supports their investigation skills, as they explore how the toys make a sound or music.

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

Children benefit from a welcoming and inviting play environment, which they can confidently explore. There is a good range of readily available toys and resources, which are attractively laid out for the children to access easily. All children are settled and happy with the childminder. They have secure relationships with her and respond enthusiastically when she joins in their play. Children's behaviour is good overall. All children including younger toddlers respectfully share and have good manners, due to the childminder's consistent support and boundaries.

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

Children develop good social skills through regular trips and outings, such as children's centres. In addition, the childminder takes children to the local adventure lake and play parks, which help to promote their physical development and self-confidence. This helps to prepare children for their next move such as to pre-school and school.

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

Children's health is promoted well. Parents provide their child's lunch but the childminder offer healthy snacks and drinks. Accident and medication forms are in place and parental consents are obtained before any medication is administered. Children learn about their own safety, through regular discussions and play. For example, when using tools in dough activities and when talking about people that help us. The childminder is careful to follow good hygiene practices throughout the day. She promotes children's awareness of how they can meet their own welfare needs by giving them gentle reminders, such as, 'do you need a tissue'. This promotes the children's health and self-care needs overall.

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provision

The childminder has a good awareness of her responsibilities in meeting the learning and development and welfare requirements. She has a good understanding of safeguarding procedures; the signs and symptoms of child protection and the routes of referral. This enables her to act in the interests of the children if she had a concern about a child's welfare.

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provision

The childminder's home is clean and well maintained. The childminder ensures that the home is safe and secure and uses daily risk assessments to minimise hazards to children. For example, safety gates ensure that children cannot access the stairs and doors are locked to prevent access to the garage. The childminder has undertaken recent safeguarding training and has an up to date first aid certificate. This enables her to act in the interest of the children if they are involved in an incident or accident. Parents have access to the childminder's policies and procedures and these are in line with the requirements. The childminder regularly updates the children's learning journals. She shares these with parents who are fully aware of how their children are developing. The childminder has good procedures in place to evaluate her practice and the care and education she offers to the children. However she does not fully involve parents in this

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provision

process. Despite this, the childminder accurately identifies her strengths of activities on offer and has a clear vision for the future to pursue further training in the future. The childminder has a good relationship with parents and exchanges regular feedback with them at the beginning and end of the day. In addition, she is fully aware of the importance to liaise with other providers and professionals, and does this reliably to maintain consistency in care.

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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 506083 Local authority West Berkshire (Newbury) Inspection number 814303 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 8 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. 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

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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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