Freeman, Annette

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 18/06/2013 09/03/2010

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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

 Opportunities for children's speech and language skills to develop are good. They are fully encouraged to repeat, copy and learn new words during activities and story times. Observation, assessment and planning systems are well organised to ensure that children are developing and are reaching expected levels of development.  Children are happy, settled and build effective bonds and attachments with the childminder, who provides a warm and welcoming environment.  The childminder demonstrates a clear understanding of her roles and responsibilities in protecting children. Household checks are complete and policies and procedures are regularly reviewed and shared with parents. As a result, the safeguarding and welfare requirements are met and children are protected.  Partnerships with parents and relationships with other providers are good. As a result, children receive a consistent approach in their learning and development.

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It is not yet outstanding because

 There is scope to develop children's understanding of healthy lifestyles, with reference to learning about the importance of good health and hand washing.  Self-evaluation does not consistently take into account the views of parents and children when devising plans for improvement.

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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 all downstairs rooms and the outside area.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke with the childminder and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection and looked at feedback included in parent questionnaires.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector looked at a selection of policies, procedures and children's learning journals, which contained photos of children joining in with different activities.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the childminder.

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Information about the setting

The childminder was registered in 2008 and is on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She lives with her husband and two children aged seven and 11 years in a house in Letchworth, Hertfordshire. The whole of the childminder's home and the rear garden are used for childminding. The family has a dog, a cat and two guinea pigs.

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Information about the setting

The childminder attends toddler groups and activities at the local children's centre and she visits the shops and park on a regular basis. She is able to collect children from the local schools and pre-schools.

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Information about the setting

There are currently two children on roll, both of whom are in the early years age group and attend for two days per week. The childminder operates term time only from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except bank holidays and family holidays. 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:

 develop children's understanding of healthy lifestyles with regard to their awareness of the importance of good health and hygiene

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

 develop self-evaluation further to ensure that the views of parents and children are routinely used for implementing continuous plans for improvement.

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who attend

Children benefit from the childminder's knowledge and understanding of the Statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage. Their speech and language skills are encouraged fully as she promotes opportunities for them to speak and be listened to. The childminder provides good examples of clear speech and repeats herself to encourage younger children to copy and repeat new words. For example, during a water and sand play activity in the garden the childminder repeats various new words which children soon begin to copy. As a result, children are reaching expected levels of development.

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who attend

Observations are completed on a regular basis and used to assess each child's learning and development along with guidance documents, such as Development matters in the Early Years Foundation Stage. The childminder ensures that she plans a range of activities covering the prime and specific areas of learning and takes into account children's likes and interests. Additionally, their next steps are drawn from observations and incorporated into the planning. As a result, children are engaged and motivated in their learning and development and their readiness for school is promoted.

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who attend

Children's physical development is encouraged as they have access to a range of resources in the childminder's garden and home, they use a range of utensils in the water and sand tray and develop their scooping and pouring skills during outside play. The children clearly enjoy this activity and as they empty some of the water out of the tray the activity is extended with them jumping in the water puddles, laughing and giggling. The childminder has a friendly relationship with parents, where good communication is promoted. Together they support each other in settling-in children and share information on a regular basis. The childminder encourages parents to give them as much information as possible enabling her to develop children's learning and progress from their initial starting points. The childminder knows children well and she provides activities which will challenge them effectively. For example, as she knows that children enjoy books she

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who attend

provides a range with different, more advanced wording in so that children hear new words and begin to understand and repeat these.

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

Children are developing good relationships with the childminder. They are clearly happy in the warm and welcoming environment as they are quick to settle on arrival. Children leave their main carers with ease and the childminder has developed close bonds with the minded children. As a result, their well-being is promoted. The childminder takes time to get to know parents and families and encourages positive transitions with regular settling- in opportunities before children start. This promotes children's feelings of security and helps them to settle with ease. Additionally, parents feel secure and happy to leave their children.

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

The childminder has an effective behaviour management policy which ensures that positive behaviour is encouraged. She uses gentle age-appropriate boundaries, such as discussion and distraction and promotes the use of praise and encouragement to raise children's self-esteem and confidence. This means that children's personal, social and emotional development is strong and they learn about acceptable behaviour. Children learn about sharing and taking turns during the planned and spontaneous activities. For example, during outside play two children want the same doll and pushchair. The childminder is quick to diffuse any issues by explaining to children that there are two dolls and two pushchairs. As children both decide they want the same one the childminder encourages them to wait and take turns, successfully. Children learn about their own safety and their understanding of risk is promoted. For example, the childminder clearly

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

explains why the play house door must be left open to protect children's fingers, in case the wind blows it closed.

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

Children learn about the importance of a healthy diet as they eat a range of healthy snacks. The childminder provides healthy and balanced meals but is also happy to store and prepare food supplied by the parents, if they choose. Children are regularly encouraged to wash their hands after touching pets, playing in the garden or before they eat and there are posters displayed in the bathroom to support this. However, there is limited discussion around the importance of a healthy lifestyle, or why children are washing their hands. Children have good opportunities for fresh air and exercise because they visit the local parks and attend various children's centre groups. As a result, they are provided with a range of experiences which support their growing independence and confidence away from their main care setting. Consequently, children's transitions from childminder to pre-school are good.

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provision

The childminder demonstrates a good knowledge and understanding of her role and responsibility in protecting children in her care. She has completed additional training to ensure that she is up to date with current procedures. Additionally, she completes a daily risk assessments of her home and any outings planned for children to take part in. She has a range of clear policies and procedures which are reviewed yearly and shared with parents, to ensure that they are kept fully informed of changes to her setting. Furthermore, all household members have been checked to ensure that they are safe and suitable, further protecting children in her care. Consequently, the safeguarding and welfare requirements are met. The childminder monitors and evaluates the activities she plans and the observations she makes to ensure that she continually meets the learning and development requirements. She demonstrates a good understanding of the

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provision

educational programmes and provides a wide range of interesting activities for children to enjoy, and subsequently learn from.

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provision

The childminder takes into consideration the views of parents and children, through questionnaires and discussions. However, when evaluating her setting she does not consistently take into account these views when devising plans for improvement. As a result, practice is not clearly targeted to consistently help children reach the highest levels of achievement. Partnerships with parents are good and the parents comment on happy their children. They like how well-thought out the activities and experiences are, which their children take part in. Relationships with other settings delivering the Statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage are promoted. For example, when children attending her setting also attend pre or primary school, the childminder discusses themes and topics with staff to support children's continuity of learning. Current minded children do not attend other settings at present.

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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 EY400069 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 879374 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 5 Number of children on roll 2

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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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