Childminder in Hartlepool

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 22/03/2013 Not Applicable

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early years provision

This inspection: 2 Previous inspection: Not Applicable 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 build secure attachments with the childminder. As a result, they smile and show obvious delight and pleasure when they spend time with her.  Children are engaged in activities and are looked after in a safe environment. The childminder knows how to keep children safe and promotes safety in the home; helping children to learn about risks.  The childminder uses observation and assessment to effectively identify where children are in their learning. She uses information gathered to plan successfully for the next steps in children's learning, helping them to make good all-round progress.  Relationships with parents and families are very good. Daily dairies and discussions keep parents and the childminder very well-informed about the children's recent experiences and events.

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It is not yet outstanding because

 The opportunities for children to make more use of the outdoor area to develop their understanding of the natural world and how things grow are not fully explored.

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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 in the living room, designated playroom and garden.

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Inspection activities

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

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Inspection activities

 The inspector looked at children's learning journals, the childminder's self-evaluation form, action plans, a selection of policies and children's records.

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Information about the setting

The childminder was registered in 2012 and is on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She lives with her partner and two children aged six and two years in a house in Hartlepool. The whole of the ground floor and the rear garden are used for childminding.

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Information about the setting

The childminder attends a toddler group and activities at the local children's centre. She visits the shops and park on a regular basis. She collects children from the local schools and pre-schools. There is currently one child on roll in the early years age group. Children attend for a variety of sessions. She operates all year round from 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except bank holidays and family holidays. 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:

 provide children with further opportunities to learn about the natural environment, for example, by providing opportunities for children to plant seeds and grow vegetables.

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who attend

The childminder has a good understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage and uses this well when supporting children's individual learning needs. She provides a wide range of experiences and opportunities covering all areas of learning and, as a result, children make progress according to their starting points. A learning journal is in place for each child. The childminder carries out regular observations of children and takes photographs as evidence of what children are achieving. This information is used effectively to provide activities and experiences to meet children's individual needs.

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who attend

Parents complete sheets on the individual needs of their children, which covers information on their likes, interests and starting points. This helps to support their smooth transition into the setting. The childminder completes daily diaries and has daily discussions with parents about their children's day, which provides them with information of their child's routines and what activities they have been involved in while they are in her care. This ensures that parents are very well-informed about the children's care and learning. Young children enjoy being outdoors and are fascinated by the chimes, streamers and windmills in the childminder's garden. This helps develop their early awareness of the effects of the wind. However, there is scope to develop the use of the outdoor area further, to enhance their understanding of the natural world and how things grow. Playing with toys that fit together, such as shape sorters and puzzles, encourages young children

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who attend

to problem solve and they learn about numbers as the childminder counts to them as part of their everyday experiences. This effectively promotes their mathematical skills. The childminder talks to the young children, making good eye contact encouraging them to react to interaction by smiling and making sounds. This helps to develop children's early communication and language skills very well.

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

Children are learning good personal hygiene through consistent routines, for example, washing their hands before meals and snacks. They have their own individual towels to dry their hands, which helps to prevent the spread of infection. Children have daily access to the childminder's garden; and also enjoy trips to the local parks, and play areas. They have free access to slides and push along resources, which encourages children to be active. This helps to develop children's awareness of how exercise can be part of a healthy lifestyle. Children are regularly involved in emergency evacuation drills, which helps them learn how to leave the home in case of an emergency. It promotes children's awareness of how to keep themselves safe.

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

Children are able to settle quickly in the safe, secure and caring environment. They build secure attachments with the childminder. As a result, they smile and show obvious delight and pleasure when they spend time with her. The childminder supports children in their transition into other settings and shares information with the staff and build links to ensure consistency. The childminder provides a designated playroom where resources are freely available and she organises these to enable children to explore and make choices about their play. Children behave well and older children are involved in making the house rules. This helps to develop their understanding of rules and boundaries and sets the behavioural expectations in the setting. The childminder provides lots of praise and encouragement, which promotes children's self-esteem and confidence.

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provision

The childminder has a good understanding of her responsibilities in meeting the learning and development requirements within the Early Years Foundation Stage. Educational programmes are used to challenge and support all children to make good progress towards the early learning goals.

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provision

Partnerships with parents are good and robust systems are in place to ensure continuity of care, learning and development. A daily exchange of relevant information makes sure parents are very well-informed about activities children have been involved in. The childminder demonstrates a strong understanding of the benefits of sharing relevant information with other practitioners to ensure continuity of care and learning. Children are safeguarded, as the childminder has a secure understanding of safeguarding issues, signs and symptoms and knows whom to contact with any concerns. A wide and relevant range of policies and procedures are in place and shared with parents, which keeps them informed of the service provided. Daily checks and risk assessments are completed, which further helps to protect children's safety.

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provision

The childminder is very keen to develop her provision. She is working with local authority advisors to develop her knowledge and skills. The Ofsted self-evaluation form and action plans identify areas within her own practice that can be addressed and which helps improve the quality of care for the children. The views of parents and children are sought and used to identify areas for further development, which promotes opportunities and experiences for all 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 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 EY448803 Local authority Hartlepool Inspection number 885241 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 4 Number of children on roll 1

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Name of provider

Date of previous inspection not applicable

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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

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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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