Childminder in West Berkshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 14/03/2013 14/11/2008

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early years provision

This inspection: 1 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 1 The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision 1

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This provision is outstanding

 Children are exceptionally settled and happy in this homely child centred environment.  The childminder is inspirational, knowledgeable and proactive in constantly developing her skills and the opportunities to encourage children's progress.  All children make excellent progress because the childminder works in partnership with parents to understand and build on each child's individual interests and skills.  Parents report very positively about the excellent progress their children make in the childminders care, particularly with regard to communication and language.

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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 the premises and resources with the childminder.  The inspector observed the children and childminder at play.  The inspector examined records and documents provided by the childminder.  The inspector read comments from parents.  The inspector read the providers self evaluation.

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Information about the setting

The childminder was registered in 2003. She lives with her husband and three children in Thatcham, Berkshire. The children have access to the ground floor of the property for play and bedrooms for rest. There is a secure garden available for outdoor play. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She visits activities in the local community and can take and collect children from the local school and pre-school.

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

 increase use of the garden to provide more opportunities for investigations of the natural world, for example, provide different surfaces to explore and use chimes, streamers, windmills and bubbles to investigate the effects of wind.

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who attend

This early years provision meets the needs of the children exceptionally well and so they make very good progress in all aspects of their learning. The childminder's dedication and enthusiasm for her role is evident in all that she does with the children. Her knowledge of the individuality of each child enables the learning opportunities to be focused on developing each child's skills in a happy and enjoyable way. Her assessments of the children's progress are supported by her observations and photographs of the children at play. Parents' knowledge of their children is valued and helps this inspirational childminder to focus activities on children's experiences and interests. For example, the childminder knows a new baby has arrived in a family and so the young child has opportunities to play with baby dolls, nappies and share stories about babies. A child who enjoys cooking activities bakes some cakes and discusses with the childminder what should go in them

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who attend

taking into account people preferences. This enables children to use their knowledge, recall experiences and apply the knowledge in a new way. Children's communication and language, personal, social and emotional and physical development is all encouraged exceptionally well. This provides a firm base for the children to develop their mathematical and literacy skills, understanding of the world and abilities to use expressive art and design.

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who attend

The childminder models behaviour which encourages children's learning. For example, she shows the recipe book to the children increasing their awareness that the numbers and writing have meaning. They then look for the numbers on the scales as the various ingredients are added to the mixture. Adding ingredients provides the child with an opportunity to carefully spoon them into the mixing bowl. The childminder uses many mathematical words and concepts, which increases the child's awareness of their meaning. They talk about more flour, too much flour and take steps to take some out. This means children develop excellent awareness of mathematical language. Holding the food mixer with supervision provides the child with a very sensory experience as the mixture is blended. All these small aspects of the activity are accompanied by the childminders narrative which also includes open questions and opportunities for the child

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who attend

to verbalise observations and ask questions. The childminder listens and responds attentively encouraging understanding and learning. They talk about what will happen to the cakes in the hot oven. This helps the young child to understand how things change and also provides an opportunity to talk about safety. A rich variety of daily outings increase the variety of experiences the children undertake enabling them to meet other adults and children and learn about the community around them. This includes activities at the children centre, the library and local parks where they play and feed the ducks.

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

The childminder promotes children's well-being in an exceptionally nurturing and sensitive way. Settling in procedures are well developed and help to ensure that the child has a positive experience from the start. This helps children to feel confident in the environment and form a healthy attachment to the childminder. Familiar routines and expectations increase a sense of security and this in turn helps them to develop their independence and confidence to explore the resources available to them.

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

Children demonstrate an excellent awareness of healthy hygiene routines, which the childminder encourages through her attention to detail. For example, each child has their own coloured towel with their name embroidered on it. A young child is fascinated by this and keen to show off her towel as she uses it. By adding the child's name the childminder has increased the young child's awareness of what her name looks like in letters. Healthy nutritious food is offered to the children at regular times along with regular drinks of water or milk. This helps the children to measure their day as they know what will happen next and this contributes to their sense of security.

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

The childminder understands that children need to learn about dangers and so they talk about them and how to keep themselves safe in a way relevant to their understanding and abilities. For example, they learn about road safety on outings, the importance of being strapped in the booster seat at the dining table and that the oven is hot. Also, they learn to evacuate the premises swiftly in an emergency with the childminder.

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

The broad variety of high quality resources is suitable for the ages of children cared for. A selection is stored at the children's level to enable the children to easily access them and play independently. The childminder is flexible and well organised having resources to hand to extend and encourage children's interests. Resources and planned activities reflect the children's current interests and are changed as the children's interest alters throughout the day.

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

The garden provides a large safe play space where children develop their physical skills in a variety of ways although it is not currently used fully to increase their awareness of natural world. For example, by providing different surfaces to explore, natural places to hide or chimes, streamers, windmills and bubbles to investigate the effects of wind. However the children do visit an allotment and help tend vegetables and pick and taste them and they visit local parks.

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

The childminder demonstrates well developed understanding of the importance of helping children experience positive transitions to school and pre-school. They talk about what happens, role play schools, have stories about school and develop their independence skills. For example, by learning how to put on their own coats, shoes and clothes, and be able to recognise their own names. She encourages parents to take children on introductory visits to school to help promote this new experience in a positive way.

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provision

Leadership and management are inspirational. The childminder is focused on providing a very high quality care and learning provision for all the children in her care. She is constantly striving to develop her skills, knowledge and resources to enhance her provision and meet the various differing developmental needs of the children in new and interesting ways. The childminder has evaluated her provision clearly identifying her strengths and the aspects she intends to build upon. This indicates her proactive approach to continuous development. She attends training events, reads relevant literature and makes good use of advice from the local authority to enhance her continuous development.

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provision

The childminder clearly understands the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage framework and ensures all the relevant records are maintained. She has an excellent understanding of safeguarding and the role she plays in promoting children's safety at all times, including reporting any concerns to the local authority. She carries out comprehensive and informative risk assessments, which help to ensure that the premises, activities and outings are all managed safely.

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provision

The childminder has excellent communication with parents and this is enhanced by face to face conversations, a daily diary and opportunities to discuss the children's learning journals. Parents report very positively on the provision. For example one parent said, 'the range of activities the children undertake with the childminder and the quality of care she provides is fantastic'. These positive relationships enable the child minder to fully understand the children's individual care and learning needs and successfully meet them in partnership with parents.

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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 EY232309 Local authority West Berkshire (Newbury) Inspection number 814444 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 5 Number of children on roll 6

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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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