Childminder in Barnet

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 24/04/2013 08/05/2009

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early years provision

This inspection: 2 Previous inspection: 2 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

 The childminder is effective in promoting children's learning through play. She prioritises children's individual well-being.  The childminder is well organised and keeps to set routines to help children feel secure. She is vigilant regarding children's safety.  The childminder makes good use of both the indoor and outdoor play environments to provide a wide variety of learning experiences for children.  The childminder is keen to continually improve her practice and is engaged in training leading to a national vocational qualification.

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It is not yet outstanding because

 The childminder does not always liaise with parents regarding children's next steps of learning to encourage them to further promote their children's development at home.

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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 children as they participated in indoor and outdoor play.  The inspector observed children taking part in an adult-led activity.  The inspector viewed the childminder's documentation.  The inspector talked with the childminder.  The inspector took parents' views into account.

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Information about the setting

The childminder registered in 2008. She is a member of the National Childminding Association. She lives with her husband and two school aged children in a house in Finchley in the London Borough of Barnet. Children are cared for in the downstairs rooms of the house and have access to a secure back garden. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. Currently she is minding three children, all of whom are in the early years age group.

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

 extend the working partnership with parents by sharing with them the next steps of learning for children to encourage parents to extend their children's learning at home.

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who attend

The childminder is very aware of children's individual needs and focuses her attention on catering for the needs of every child in the group. She spends her time with children helping to promote learning through their play. She sets out a variety of resources to interest children, allowing them time to explore independently as well as with her support. For example, children enjoy playing with a train set and toy vehicles indoors. When going outdoors they are especially excited at the chance to play with bats and balls.

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who attend

The childminder interacts effectively with the children. She suggests different activities and offers help when required, for instance, when children are learning to hit a ball with a bat. The childminder continually talks with children encouraging them to use language to communicate. She enhances children's enjoyment through her involvement in their play and this helps to maintain their interest.

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who attend

Children feel very much at home. They are curious about the different play activities and eager to join in. They develop close relationships with each other and play happily, sometimes on their own and sometimes with others. They often have fun with the childminder when playing games, such as peek-a-boo. They learn to take turns with the outdoor equipment and to respect the needs of others. As a result they develop good social skills and learn to play harmoniously with others. This helps to maintain a calm, and happy atmosphere. The childminder makes good use of her own and the children's different cultural and religious backgrounds to help them learn more about diversity in a wider world.

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who attend

Children respond with interest as the childminder talks to them, making comments and asking questions. Younger children copy her words and phrases, which they then learn to use in their own speech. The childminder offers good support to children who speak English as an additional language. She learns some words and phrases in their home language so that she can speak to them in both languages. This helps children to gain self-confidence and learn to communicate with her in English. Overall children are making good progress towards the early learning goals, given their individual starting points.

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who attend

The childminder supports children in learning the names of letters of the alphabet, and numbers, during play activities. She helps children to extend these skills, when they are ready, through the use of books, games and puzzles, which encourage children to think and solve problems. In this way she helps to prepare children well for their future learning at school. She organises a variety of creative activities and these encourage children to express their own ideas as they explore different media and materials. All children produce a large scrap book of their artwork, which they take with them when leaving the setting.

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who attend

The childminder provides opportunities for children to learn about natural and living things. For example, when children plant seed potatoes the childminder directs them to look closely at the potatoes and to think about what they will need to enable them to grow. Children learn that seeds need to be set in soil and have to be watered after planting. The childminder follows up children's own interests by planning activities around these interests, for example, organising opportunities for children to find out more about wheels. She is energetic in her approach and children respond enthusiastically. Consequently children become active learners with an open attitude to new learning experiences.

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

The childminder offers children good opportunities to enjoy outdoor play. Children really enjoy playing in her garden and benefit from being in the fresh air. They develop new physical skills as they learn different ways to use bats and balls. They gain more control of their bodies as they move around the garden, for instance, running and jumping or riding wheeled vehicles. The childminder provides different resources to interest them outdoors, for example, a tray of sand and toy animals or small water shooters. In this way she builds on children's natural curiosity, encouraging them to investigate further.

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

Children are offered healthy snacks, such as fresh fruit, and always have a drink available. The childminder encourages parents to provide healthy lunches for their children. This helps children to become aware of the importance of healthy eating. The childminder organises snack and meal times well so that children are able to concentrate on their food. She is firm in her approach to managing behaviour and consequently children are very aware of their boundaries. This encourages children to behave in ways that keep themselves and others safe. Younger children rest or sleep as part of the daily routine. This prevents them from becoming overtired during the day and means they are refreshed and ready to play and learn. Older children then benefit from time spent with the childminder on more focused learning activities. Children become increasingly independent and confident. The childminder encourages older children to make their own decisions. She is on hand to help

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

younger children with tasks, such as hand washing, whereas older children do this independently.

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

The childminder is very aware of the care needs of differently aged children. She provides suitable resources for babies, and for older children, so that all children develop skills appropriate to their stage of development. The childminder is calm and attentive towards children. She maintains good eye contact with children, especially younger ones who need reassurance. Consequently children feel emotionally secure in her care. They delight in the choice of activities available and quickly settle on arrival to their chosen play activities.

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provision

The childminder has good procedures in place to promote the safeguarding of all children. She carries out regular risk assessments and safety checks to ensure that potential risks are minimised at all times. She makes children aware of possible dangers, for example, when walking to the nearby school she reminds children to hold hands to keep themselves safe.

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provision

The childminder has recently attended training in safeguarding issues and has a clear understanding of what to do if she has any concerns relating to child protection. She has organised her home so that children have easy access to a variety of play resources within a safe environment. She is particularly attentive to good hygiene and teaches children to adopt good hygiene practices themselves.

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provision

The childminder makes good use of self-evaluation to reflect on her practice, with a view to which areas she can improve. She has worked hard to create a suitable environment for all children in her care. This has involved the provision of a new toilet area and the careful re-arrangement of different facilities so that children can play, eat and sleep according to their needs. She has appropriate policies in place and these are shared with parents so that they are well informed about her provision.

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provision

Since her previous inspection the childminder has attended various training courses to extend her knowledge of childcare, for example, she has attended training in special educational needs and risk management. She is at present working towards a level 3 national vocational qualification. Her commitment to on-going training helps her to maintain a good capacity for continual improvement. In addition she takes opportunities to seek advice from early years professionals and other childminders.

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provision

The childminder talks with parents every day and keeps a diary for each child with notes on each day's events. In this way parents are kept up to date about their children's care and learning experiences. The childminder displays photographs and children's artwork in the play room so that parents can see what children have been doing. Parents are asked to contribute to the childminder's starting points for each child's learning journey. This helps her to plan for children's next steps in learning right from the start.

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provision

The childminder writes regular progress reports on the children and shares these with parents. She realises the importance of completing children's two-year-old checks, for which she sets up meetings with parents to discuss their children's progress. However, she does not include specific targets for children, based on their next steps of learning, so that she can encourage parents to work with her to help children progress further at home.

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provision

The childminder makes sure that her practice is inclusive. She ensures that any concerns about children are followed up appropriately, for instance, by seeking advice from a speech therapist. She develops close bonds with children and consequently they are very happy in her care. She keeps to a daily routine that helps children feel secure and meets their care needs. This also enables her to give particular children some individual attention at times, for example, when younger ones are resting. Parents state that they are very satisfied with the childminder's provision for their 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 EY374356 Local authority Barnet Inspection number 838141 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 3

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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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