Childminder in Leicestershire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 13/05/2013 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 childminder is well organised and undertakes thorough observations, which are reflected in her planning and therefore, activities meet the unique needs of every child, ensuring that they make good progress in their learning and development from their starting point.  The childminder understands how children learn. She supports all children to make good progress through child-initiated and structured activities. The accessible resources are developed to meet individual children's interests and keep them motivated.  Children build secure attachments with the childminder. This ensures that they are settled and happy in the provision.  The childminder promotes children's self-esteem and confidence through her consistent use of praise and encouragement.  The childminder is keen to develop her service. She acts on advice and attends training to enhance her knowledge for the benefit of the children she cares for.

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It is not yet outstanding because

 There is scope to further develop partnerships with other settings that children attend to enhance their progress and promote continuity of care and learning.

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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 at the childminder's home.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector took account of the views of parents and carers, including the childminder's recent parent survey.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the childminder engage in a range of indoor and outdoor learning activities, play and daily care routines with the children.  The inspector held discussions with the childminder and children.

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Information about the setting

The childminder was registered in 2012 on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She lives with her partner and two children aged seven and three years in a house in Barwell, Leicestershire. The whole of the ground floor and facilities on the first floor and the rear garden are used for childminding. The family has a pet cat and a rabbit.

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Information about the setting

The childminder attends a toddler group and community activities. She visits the shops, garden centre, park and toy library on a regular basis. She collects children from the local schools and pre-schools.

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Information about the setting

There are currently seven children on roll, three of whom are in the early years age group and attend for a variety of sessions. She operates all year round from 7am to 7pm, 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 further the partnerships with other settings that children attend, to even better support their progress and continuity of care and learning.

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who attend

The childminder's home is warm and welcoming helping children to feel safe and secure when left in her care. They respond with obvious affection to cuddles and quickly settle to play with a range of good quality resources. The childminder knows the children well, providing toys and activities, which reflect their interests. The dedicated playroom provides opportunities, which help them to make good progress in their learning. Low- level storage units enable children to independently access a wide range of toys and resources and make active choices about their play.

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who attend

The childminder gathers valuable information from parents when children begin. This helps them to settle and enables her to provide individualised care in line with parental wishes. Children are confident and inquisitive learners, developing high levels of independence to enhance necessary skills for school readiness when the time comes. The childminder has a secure understanding of how children learn. She knows the children well and picks up on their interests to tailor activities to meet these. Children persevere to fit together and create figures using the potato head game. They develop mathematical skills as they count body parts and proudly present their finished figures. Outside at the sand tray, children fit a series of wheels together, pouring sand into a funnel at the top to activate these as the sand falls through. They work out to use the dry sand, stating that 'the wet sand gets blocked.' The childminder's skilful approach in standing back allows

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who attend

children to think critically and develop independent skills in problem solving. Literacy skills are enhanced as children recognise written labels and practise early writing skills with a range of resources, including wipe boards with pictures and examples of written text to copy. They access a range of books to share with the childminder, who encourages their language development as they retell stories and recall activities they have enjoyed.

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who attend

Children are currently recording the progress of sunflower seeds they each have planted. Measurements are taken as the shoots appear in indoor pots and children record their findings in individual growth diaries. The sunflowers will eventually be replanted outdoors, enhancing children's awareness of growing processes. They have also made bird feeders using fir cones as a base to encourage birds into the garden to extend their knowledge about nature. The childminder skilfully engages babies in activities, so that the efforts of older children are not interrupted. They crawl to access a range of age-appropriate toys, including an enclosed ball pool. Babies activate musical toys, bouncing rhythmically to the sounds they make. The childminder demonstrates how to turn pages in a musical photograph album, which babies copy, enhancing their natural curiosity to experiment and explore.

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who attend

The childminder gathers valuable information from parents about what children can do when they begin in her care to identify starting points in their learning. She completes observations to assess what children can do, supported with photographs to illustrate activities they have enjoyed. These are used effectively to develop progress towards the next stage in their learning and development.

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

Children move confidently around the home. Younger children play confidently, exploring their surroundings with growing interest to become inquisitive and active learners. They build secure attachments with the childminder because she discusses daily routines with parents before they begin, enabling her to tailor care to support their individual needs. This contributes to children's emotional well-being ensuring they make a smooth transition into the childminder's care and feel secure. This is enhanced as she maintains all required records and documents to maintain their care needs.

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

Children are confident and relaxed, happily giving and receiving cuddles. When necessary, they respond to interventions to keep them safe and acknowledge boundaries to promote positive behaviour. They listen carefully as the childminder explains why care is needed as they peer under the wheels at the sand tray, so this does not go in their eyes. She praises them readily to promote their self-esteem and acknowledge their response. Arrangements for personal hygiene are effective. Children acquire good habits through consistent routines and as a result, the risk of cross-infection is minimised. They use individual hand towels and anti-bacterial hand gel to 'get rid of germs.' Health is further promoted as children enjoy both indoor and outdoor play as part of their daily routine. The childminder is careful to provide meals and snacks in line with parental wishes and includes fresh fruit as children learn about healthy options.

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provision

The childminder has attended training events to increase her knowledge and skills in how to keep children safe and progress in their learning. She is currently attending training towards a qualification at level 3. The home is organised effectively to meet the needs of the children in her care, enabling them to engage in enjoyable activities. Documentation for the safe and efficient management of her service is established and reviewed. As a result, children make good progress and their safety and well-being are maintained.

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provision

The childminder has a good understanding of her responsibility to protect children from possible harm. She has attended safeguarding training to secure her knowledge of the procedures to follow should she have any concerns. Risk assessments ensure children remain safe indoors, outdoors and on outings. Consequently, children's safety and well- being is given high priority.

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provision

The childminder understands the importance of reflecting on her practice and has established a written evaluation document to identify her strengths and areas to improve. This enables her to develop her practice and act upon areas to further benefit children's learning and development. However, links with other settings that children attend, are not yet highly effective, in order to further enhance their progress and continuity of care and learning.

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provision

Relationships with parents are good and information is regularly shared. For example, daily discussions are held, which ensure a constant exchange of information, especially about activities that children have been involved in during the day. A questionnaire has been used effectively to gain their views, enabling them to play an active role in identifying and supporting further developments.

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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 EY446614 Local authority Leicestershire Inspection number 912759 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 4 Number of children on roll 7

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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

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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