Childminder in Suffolk

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 23/04/2013 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

 The indoor and outdoor child-focussed learning environments provide interesting and stimulating activities that engage children and build on their interests; consequently the children are active and interested learners.  A high priority is placed on supporting children's language and literacy development. The childminder effectively supports the children to make good progress in these areas of learning.  The childminder is sensitive to children's thinking and learning when deciding when to interact and when to value the child's independent play.  Children build secure attachments with the childminder. This ensures that they are happy and settled in the provision.

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It is not yet outstanding because

 There is scope to further enhance children's development in the expressive arts through increased attention to music making and singing.  Ways of incorporating parents views about improvements for the future, have yet to be embedded, in order to further enhance the childminder's self-evaluation of her provision.

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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 and garden.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector and the childminder shared conversations at appropriate times throughout the inspection.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector looked at professional development records, a range of policies and other documentation.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector took account of the views of parents from information provided by the childminder.

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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 adult son. They live in Haverhill, Suffolk. The whole of the property is used for childminding. There is an enclosed garden for outside play. The family has a cat. The childminder is able to take and collect children from local schools and nurseries. The children visit the park and library.

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Information about the setting

There are currently three children on roll; of these two children are in the early years age group and attend for a variety of sessions. The childminder is able to provide care throughout the year. She is a member of the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years.

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

 provide further opportunities for children to develop in the expressive arts through music making and singing

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

 build on self-evaluation by further developing the way that the views of parent's are incorporated to assist in identifying areas for improvement.

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who attend

The children enjoy playing in the garden and move freely between the garden and the living room. The garden has a wide range of stimulating and interesting activities. For example, the children had planted sunflower seeds the day before inspection. They use the water from the tray to fill containers to water their pots containing the seeds. They know that the sunflowers require water and sunshine to grow. The children can accurately identify the petals, stem and root of a plant. They are developing an understanding of growth and change over time. They show care and concern for living things. The childminder is successfully teaching the children about plants and growth. She is sensitive to children's thinking and learning, deciding when to interact and when to value children's independent play. The childminder ensures that the children experience interesting and enjoyable activities outside and have good opportunities to develop their physical skills.

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who attend

The childminder is skilled in developing learning opportunities by building on children's interests. She bakes bread and cakes with the children and she has set up a cafe for them to enjoy role play and make believe. They sell their cakes using toy money and a cash register. Menus are available and there is a customer feedback form. The childminder takes care to provide encouragement and praise, she supports the development of children's self-esteem and confidence. The childminder is skilled at listening to children and building on their interests to extend their learning.

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who attend

The childminder places a high importance on supporting children's language and literacy development. The children make good progress in these areas of learning. She makes good use of the local library and the children enjoy choosing their library books. The childminder listens carefully to the children and talks to them about a wide range of topics, often using their interests as a basis of the discussion. The childminder has some large attractively illustrated books to capture the children's interest, imagination and foster a love of reading. The books are easily accessible to the children and they enjoy choosing a book to look at. The children confidently pick up and handle the books. They show interest in illustrations and print both in books and in the environment. They know that information can be relayed in the form of print. The children are successfully being helped to develop early reading skills.

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who attend

The childminder assesses the children's stage of development and learning by listening carefully and observing them playing and then adjusting the activities as required to enhance learning. The childminder records observations of the children playing and these together with photographs, samples of work and her assessments are shared with parents. Therefore, parents are kept well informed about their children's learning and progress. The childminder plans to cover all areas of learning, however, music making and singing are less well addressed than other areas. The children are successfully functioning as expected for their age and are making good progress. The childminder ensures that the children are acquiring the necessary skills and a positive disposition towards learning so they are ready to benefit when starting school.

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

Children independently access the toys and resources that they want to play with. The childminder successfully encourages the children to be independent and to manage their own personal needs, such as, going to the bathroom. The children feel safe and secure in the childminder's care and behave well. They form close attachments to her. The childminder encourages and praises the children and in this way she is helping to develop their self-esteem and confidence.

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

Children are encouraged to develop healthy lifestyles with visits to the park and outdoor play in the garden. Here they learn about physically challenging their own abilities and taking supervised risks. They also enjoy playing in the fresh air and this benefits their good health. Children learn the importance of basic personal hygiene and ensure their hands are clean before eating and after using the toilet. Water is available throughout the day so the children do not get thirsty.

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

Children show that they feel settled and at home in the care of the childminder. The children are sensitively helped to settle in when they join the setting. Initial visits are arranged to gradually enable the children to get to know their new environment. Parents provide information about their children so that the childminder is aware of their likes, dislikes and any particular needs. These procedures contribute to the children quickly and happily settling with the childminder. The childminder takes the children to the nursery attached to the school that they will eventually transfer to. This gives the children experience of mixing and playing with a wider range of children and they become familiar with the school buildings and environment. These experiences ensure that the children are well prepared for the next stage in their learning and for transition to school.

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provision

The childminder is experienced in working with young children and has a very good understanding and knowledge of how children learn. She provides a rich and varied educational programme, which builds on children's individual interests and helps them to make good progress in their learning.

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provision

Partnerships with parents are very well established and the childminder keeps parents well informed about their children's progress and development. She has a clear understanding of her responsibility to work in partnership with other childcare providers and professionals to enhance learning opportunities. The childminder liaises with the nursery teacher at the local school and maintains links with other childminders. She has sought advice from the local authority's early years development adviser.

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provision

The childminder has a good understanding about safeguarding children and understands her role in protecting them. The children are carefully supervised. A range of policies and procedures are in place to promote the welfare and safety of children. These policies underpin the management of the setting. The childminder carries out risk assessments for the house and garden. She has updated her knowledge of child protection and has the relevant contact numbers should she become concerned about a child in her care. The childminder has a first aid qualification and has been suitably vetted to work with young children.

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provision

The childminder is committed to providing high quality learning experiences for all the children. She is self-critical and keeps her provision under review. She has recently completed a self-evaluation of her setting where she has identified strengths and areas for improvement. However, ways that the views of parents are incorporated to assist in identifying areas for improvement are less well-embedded.

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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 EY448020 Local authority Suffolk Inspection number 881510 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 3

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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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