Childminder in North Northamptonshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 08/03/2013 05/12/2011

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early years provision

This inspection: 3 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 3 The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision 3

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This provision is satisfactory

 The childminder provides a wide range of resources that are suitable for children at different stages of development. She generally supports children's learning as they choose favourite toys that are easily accessible to them in the playroom.  Children are happy, settled and confident because their emotional needs are met effectively by the childminder.  The childminder successfully identifies and minimises risks in her home. Children are safeguarded because the childminder is aware of her responsibilities to protect them from harm.

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It is not yet good because

 The childminder's practice with regard to promoting children's awareness of diversity is minimal. Children are not provided with sufficient opportunities to learn about their similarities and differences. Planning does not adequately ensure that children learn to value and celebrate different cultural, religious and community events and experiences.  Opportunities to plan for children's next steps in their learning are not always maximised by the childminder to ensure that children better than satisfactory progress.  Opportunities for children to explore, build, move and enjoy role play are not maximised because there is a lack of flexibility with regard to use of the outdoor play area throughout the year.

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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

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Information about this inspection

 scheduled more frequently where Ofsted identifies a need to do so, for example where provision was previously judged 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 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  scheduled 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 activities as children played in the ground floor play areas.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector looked at a selection of children's records, policies and procedures and a range of other documentation.

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Inspection activities

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

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Information about the setting

The childminder was registered in 1988. She is registered on the Early Years Register and on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She lives in Corby, Northamptonshire The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding. An enclosed garden is used for outdoor play.

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Information about the setting

The childminder is currently caring for one child in the early years age group. She is able to walk to a local school to take and collect children and attends local toddler groups with early years children. She cares for children all year round, generally all day Monday to Friday but also weekends if required.

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must:

 develop the educational programme for understanding the world by raising children's awareness of similarities and differences that connect them to, and distinguish them from, others.

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

 maximise the use of observation and assessment to refine the planning for the next steps in children's learning

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

 extend opportunities for children to play in the outdoor environment throughout the year to explore, build, move and role play.

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who attend

Children are making satisfactory progress. The childminder has a sound awareness of learning and development requirements and generally challenges children appropriately so that they make suitable progress. She observes children and records their achievements so that she is aware of their stage of development, but opportunities to plan for children's next steps in learning are not always maximised to ensure children make best progress. The childminder works satisfactorily with parents to ensure continuity for each child and is aware of the importance of working with other providers to ensure consistency. Parents are informed about their children's achievements and progress and they are asked to share detail on achievements observed at home. She supports children sufficiently so that they develop skills in readiness for nursery class and school. The childminder is aware of the requirement to provide parents with a progress check at age two and will complete

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who attend

The childminder supports young children appropriately as they develop their manipulative skills. Children learn about shapes as they complete an inset jigsaw puzzle, and they are able to match the square and the circle confidently. The childminder supports children's understanding of mathematical concepts well as they count the shapes and building bricks with one-to-one correspondence. The childminder builds a tower of three large bricks and asks children to add one more brick. Children do so carefully because they know that they may knock the tower down. They do so again and this time the tower begins to fall and so they happily knock it down. The childminder encourages children to recognise and name colours as she supports their play. Children make marks as they 'dab' crayons onto paper and they use good manipulative skills as they pick up small pieces to create collage pictures. They are learning to roll out dough and recognise the marks that they make in

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who attend

Children are happy as they confidently choose from a variety of toys set out in the play room by the childminder. Young children enjoy playing with toy trains and make 'choo- choo' sounds as they play. Playing with trains is a popular activity and children know that the magnet on each end of the train links the carriages together or pushes them apart. The childminder provides stimulating activities that enable children to explore and investigate. Books for young children contain different textures and sounds, they paint with their hands and with brushes, and discover the different texture of resources, such as pasta. They explore the outdoor area for 'bugs', such as ants and ladybirds and look at them closely with a magnifying glass. Children are able to climb and swing when they play in the garden; however, it is not used during winter months. Consequently, opportunities for children to enjoy a full range of activities through outdoor play are not fully maximised.

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who attend

The childminder takes children to the park periodically, but they do not generally explore the local community and their awareness of diversity is not sufficiently fostered by the childminder. As a result of this, children do not gain an awareness of similarities and differences that connect them to, and distinguish them from, others.

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

Relationships between children and the childminder are positive and children are happy and settled. Children's emotional security is initially addressed well because a settling-in period is agreed with parents. Children do not currently attend any other provision but the childminder is aware of the importance of preparing them for their transition into other early years settings and reception class in school. This is addressed satisfactorily by the childminder because children socialise when she takes them to visit other childminders and their children. Children gain an awareness of behaviour boundaries. Strategies for managing young children's behaviour include distraction and the childminder uses positive reinforcement in order to promote children's confidence and self-esteem. Children's independence is promoted appropriately. For example, they choose and easily select resources for themselves. Resources are safe and meet children's learning and

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

The childminder creates a welcoming environment for children and their parents. Admission information obtained from parents enables her to address children's individual care needs effectively. Information on the childminder's practice with regard to safety, illness and accidents is shared with parents. Children's good health is protected sufficiently because the childminder encourages them to be physically active, even though use of the garden is limited. For example, they practise skills as they play football and gain control of their bodies as they move to music. Children eat healthy food and they are developing an ability to attend to their self-care needs. Children's welfare is addressed effectively because the childminder ensures that the environment is healthy and safe. In discussion the childminder talks about how she teaches children to keep themselves safe. For example, she ensures that they know why they need to wear reins, why they must keep

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

away from the kerb whilst walking, and how to cross the road safely.

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provision

The childminder makes sure that her home is safe and secure. She is aware of her responsibilities with regard to safeguarding children and ensures that children are never left unsupervised with a person who has not been vetted. Parents are made aware of the childminder's safeguarding policy and the Northamptonshire Safeguarding Children Board procedures.

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provision

The childminder generally monitors the educational programmes sufficiently to ensure that children make suitable progress in their learning. At the time of the last inspection a recommendation was raised with regard to developing methods for observing and assessing children's learning. This has been addressed in the main by the childminder, although planning for next steps in learning is not yet fully embedded in her practice for all areas of learning. Actions and recommendations raised that link to safety have been addressed appropriately. In order to review and improve her practice she welcomes advice offered by local authority development workers. The childminder is aware of the revised Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage in order to meet children's care and learning needs appropriately. Her current priority for improvement is to develop her garden into areas so that children can choose different kinds of play activities. Resources

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provision

are well organised and are maintained in a good state of repair. Required documentation is kept up to date and in good order.

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provision

The partnership with parents is positive. Children's care and learning needs are met satisfactorily because communication with parents is good. The childminder requests feedback from parents on the service she provides through the implementation of a questionnaire. Written policies are provided for parents and most of them sufficiently reflect the service provided by the childminder. However, the equal opportunities policy contains information on how children learn about diversity that does not reflect the childminder's practice. The childminder is aware of the importance of obtaining as much information as possible about each child's individual needs from parents and agreeing with them how they can work together to meet these needs. She is aware of the importance of establishing links with other early years providers to ensure continuity of care and learning.

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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 action. 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 220811 Local authority Northamptonshire Inspection number 818180 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 1

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Telephone number

set out in the guidance ‘Complaints procedure: 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, which are usually the childminder’s 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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