Childminder in Gateshead

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 08/05/2013 24/05/2010

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early years provision

This inspection: 2 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 2 The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision 2

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This provision is good

 The childminder has a good understanding of how young children learn and provides a wide range of opportunities to promote children's learning through play.  Children's self-esteem and confidence is encouraged through the childminder's consistent use of praise.  The childminder forms warm, caring relationships with children, this helps them feel happy, settled and secure.  Children's independence and behaviour is well promoted as the childminder encourages them to be self-reliant from an early age.  The childminder safeguards and promotes children's welfare effectively as she provides a safe, clean and stimulating learning environment that meets children's individual needs and helps them make good progress.

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It is not yet outstanding because

 Communication with parents about children's overall learning and progress is not maximised at all times.  Opportunities to share and receive information on how children are progressing and developing in her care and with other providers that children attend 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 toured the premises with the childminder.  The inspector observed activities in the home.

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Inspection activities

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

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Inspection activities

 The inspector looked at children's 'learning journeys', evidence of first aid training, public liability insurance, and risk assessments of the indoor and outdoor environment and a range of other documentation.  The inspector spoke with the children present and read letters from parents.

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Information about the setting

The childminder was registered in 2001 on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She lives in Gateshead with her husband and her son aged 12 years. She uses all the ground floor, the bathroom and toilet on the first floor and the enclosed rear garden for childminding. She lives close to a number of local amenities, including shops, parks and schools. The family have a pet dog. She attends a local childminder group and parent and toddler group. She visits local parks on a regular basis. She collects children from the local schools, pre-schools and nurseries.

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Information about the setting

There are currently 10 children on roll, six are in the early years age group who attend for a variety of sessions and four are school-age children who attend before and after school. She is open all year round from 7.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, except for family holidays.

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

 enhance the existing positive communication with parents so that children's development and progress is shared in a more consistent way to help maximise learning at home

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

 explore different avenues to share what you do with children and how they are developing in your care with other providers and settings where children attend to maximise learning opportunities.

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who attend

Children's progress in their learning is good because the childminder knows how to plan interesting activities for the individual child. Regular routines are followed, such as attending the childminder network group and parent and toddler group so that children learn to mix with others. Observations of children's play are recorded, both in writing and with a photograph, and are carefully matched to the seven areas of learning. This information is used well by the childminder to assess where each child is in their development which helps her to effectively plan suitably challenging activities which means they are well prepared for their next stages in learning, such as a move to school. The childminder also gains information from parents about what children do at home and uses this effectively in activities to support children's interests and progress. Children are active learners and are involved in and concentrate on their chosen activity

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who attend

for increasing periods of time. For example, they play happily with jigsaws which show opposites and read a story book. They draw with crayons where they name the shapes they draw, such as a circle. The childminder plans a range of adult-led and child-initiated activities, ensuring that activities are also open ended which means that children choose what they would like to do with a particular resource and express their own ideas. Children are confident talkers explaining what they are doing during the activity, ably supported by the childminder. For example, the childminder asks children about what colours they are using and praises them when they say the colour. She helps children as young as three to count to 10 and beyond. This results in children who are challenged in their activities.

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who attend

Babies receive lots of affection and cuddles from the childminder as she talks to them gently and makes sure they have lots of stimulus to keep their attention and interest. She makes sure that they are physically and emotionally secure so that they can feel free to explore, touch, feel, chew and listen with a variety of clean and well-maintained baby toys. She encourages their movement as they learn to control their bodies, shake a tambourine and play with other musical toys. This means that babies are developing very well with the childminder.

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

Children are happy, settled and confident in the childminder's care as she is responsive, attentive, caring and very affectionate with them. The well-organised settling-in procedures allow children to feel comfortable from the start of their placement. Children visit the home so that the childminder can get to know the child and so that children can become familiar with the environment. This results in a smooth transition from the child's home to the childminder's care. The childminder is supporting children's progression well because she provides a stimulating learning environment to cater for their all-round development and emotional well-being. Toys and playthings are easily available so that children can help themselves and they choose what they would like to play with. This results in children becoming independent. The childminder helps them to learn to care for themselves from an early age, for example, three-year-old children can put on their own

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

coats, know to wash their hands after using the toilet and help tidy up their toys.

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

The childminder has a calm and consistent manner with the children. She helps them to understand how to behave well by following what parents do at home and by using consistent methods, such as helping children learn manners and right from wrong. The childminder promotes children's health well. She provides a healthy and nutritious diet, for example, lunch of mince, potatoes and vegetables with gravy is a favourite for some children. They have fruit and drinks and develop an understanding of healthy eating and how to make healthy choices as they talk about what is good for them. Children use the back garden, visit the park often and walk the dog so that they develop large muscle skills. They use swings, slides and tunnels and practise moving in different ways and at different speeds. Books, cultural dolls and resources, such as jigsaws that reflect disability, help children to comment and ask questions about aspects of their familiar world or the

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

natural world. They also celebrate different festivals and cultural events, visit museums and art galleries. This results in children who are curious and investigate the world around them.

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provision

The childminder has a good understanding of her responsibilities for meeting the safeguarding, welfare, learning and development requirements. She has written policies and procedures in place which she follows to ensure children's welfare is effectively safeguarded and promoted. Parents have access to these policies and procedures to keep them informed about the care of their children. The childminder is suitably trained in local child protection procedures and knows what to do if there are signs and symptoms that would alert her to possible abuse. The childminder carries out a daily check of the home and garden to make sure that there are no hazards for children while in her care. This is supported by risk assessments for outings that she regularly updates when possible hazards are identified. This results in children being cared for in a very safe environment.

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provision

The childminder has made a strong commitment to improving her knowledge of good quality childcare. A wide variety of courses have been attended since her last inspection. She attended training on the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage. This has helped her organise her service to meet children's development needs through play. She has also developed her assessment so that she clearly identifies where children are at to help plan for their future progress. The childminder considers and sets clear goals and targets to secure future improvement. She asks parents and children about her service, activities, outings and food provided so that they can be involved. The actions and recommendations raised at the last inspection have been addressed. The childminder now assesses each child's development soon after they start which enables her to plan effectively for them. Her continual assessment of their development each time she plans

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provision

ensures that children access a broad range of experiences.

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provision

The childminder understands the importance of working in partnership with others involved in children's care and learning. She has shared information and her assessments about children's progress with other settings children attend but has not been offered additional information to further support children's learning in her setting. This means that although she has established partnerships she is not able to consistently maximise opportunities for children to progress even further.

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provision

Partnerships with parents are strong. Detailed discussions are held with the childminder prior to children starting so that she can find out about their routines. They discuss children's interests so that she can plan around their needs. The childminder keeps them up-to-date on their child's day through discussions which reassures parents about how their child is getting on and what they are doing that day. This provides a general overview of their child's progress and development, however, detailed information about children's progress in learning is not shared to further support and extend children's learning at home. However, the childminder is perceptive about the children's needs and has helped parents access services needed as well as helping them with routines, such as toilet training. They think highly of her and especially appreciate how happy their children are in her care.

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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 500938 Local authority Gateshead Inspection number 819318 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 10

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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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