Childminder in Cambridgeshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 06/08/2013 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

 There is a very good partnership with parents that helps to ensure the needs of all children are effectively met. Settling-in procedures, in particular, are very effective in ensuring children develop secure attachments to their carer.  The childminder has a well-organised home, where children move around safely and freely make choices from a good range of toys and equipment.  Children make good progress in their learning and development because the childminder provides a broad range of interesting and challenging activities that reflect their individual preferences and learning needs.  Children benefit from daily healthy exercise and enjoy frequent visits to play parks and soft play areas, all of which effectively promotes their confidence and their physical control and coordination.

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It is not yet outstanding because

 The childminder's garden is not used fully to support children's investigations of the natural world.

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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 played and their interactions with the childminder.  The inspector looked at the areas of the home used for childminding.

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Inspection activities

 A range of documentation was examined, including policies and procedures, children's records and the childminder's self-evaluation.

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Inspection activities

 The views of parents were taken into account through testimonials and questionnaires.

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Information about the setting

The childminder was registered in 2013 on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She lives with her partner, adult child and one child aged eight years in Sawston, Cambridgeshire. The whole of the ground floor and the bathroom and two bedrooms on the first floor are used for childminding. There is an enclosed back garden for outdoor play.

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Information about the setting

The childminder is currently caring for three children in the early years age group, one of whom attends on a full-time basis. In addition, she also offers a breakfast club for school- age children and walks them to the local primary school. The childminder operates all year round from 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for public and family holidays and one week at Christmas. She supports children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. The childminder visits local shops and parks and attends toddler and activity groups in the village. She is a member of the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years, is part of an accredited childminding network and is working towards a childcare qualification at level 3.

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

 develop the use of the garden to offer children more spontaneous and planned opportunities to experience the natural world and explore natural materials in an outdoor environment.

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who attend

The childminder collects ample information from parents when their children join the setting. This helps to ensure she has a good understanding of children's interests and starting points from the outset. She makes regular observations of children's achievements, and has begun to summarise these to ensure children make good progress towards the early learning goals and are developing the skills needed to be ready for the next stage in their learning, especially school. The childminder creates attractive and informative learning journals that clearly show what children enjoy and can do. She shares these effectively with parents and asks for their comments, which gives them an active role in their children's learning.

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who attend

The childminder uses her capable knowledge of child development to effectively promote children's good progress in all the areas of learning. She talks to children during their play, encouraging their explorations and giving them confidence. She supports younger children's emerging communication and language well as she reads to them and introduces them to songs and rhymes. Children love to play enjoyable games with the childminder and her children, such as 'peekaboo'. Children's understanding of numbers and mathematical language is effectively developed through practical activities, such as counting objects and identifying shapes in nature. The childminder introduces younger children to counting songs, and counts out loud during everyday activities so they learn to link number with objects. The childminder makes effective use of shape sorters and electronic devices, such as musical books and play tables, to enhance children's

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who attend

The childminder encourages children to use their senses in enjoyable ways. For example, she makes up sensory bottles so younger children can observe lots of different shapes and colours. Children use paints often, and use their fingers and hands to make colourful prints. Older children explore arts and crafts to develop their creativity with varied media, such as 'junk' modelling, glue, rice or pasta. Babies explore the differences in their food as they feed themselves and develop their understanding of texture, colour and smell.

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

Children demonstrate secure emotional attachments to the childminder. They play happily in her care and it is clear that they are content. The childminder is warm and friendly with them, and this increases their sense of security and belonging. The childminder offers parents flexible opportunities to settle their children into the setting. The time taken to get children used to the childminder and her family is dependent entirely on the child's own emotional needs. As a result, transitions between home and the setting are exceptionally smooth and give children a positive bias towards their future transitions. The childminder has clear rules and boundaries so children know what to expect. Older children are involved in creating their own rules, which helps them develop a sense of responsibility. The childminder gives younger children lots of attention, and ensures they each have equal opportunities to participate in the activities. As a result, children's behaviour is good.

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

The childminder provides children with a clean and comfortable environment. Resources are organised effectively and clearly labelled so children know where things are. This enhances their independence and enables them to follow their own interests. Prominent displays of children's photographs give them a good sense of belonging and build their self-esteem. The childminder provides a range of resources and activities that help children learn about their own and other cultures and countries. Children's understanding of differences and similarities is further extended as they look at their own families and lifestyles, or places they have visited.

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

Children enjoy daily outdoor exercise that promotes their healthy lifestyles very well. The childminder makes good use of the varied and interesting outdoor spaces close to her home. She encourages children to extend their physical skills and develop their strength and coordination on large play equipment. She takes younger children to activity groups and soft play areas so they develop an enthusiasm for new, active experiences. This develops a healthy attitude towards taking acceptable risks as they grow in confidence. Visits to local groups enable children to develop relationships with other children and socialise in larger environments, which effectively supports the next stages of their learning, including school. Although children have occasional use of the childminder's garden, it is not used fully as an effective learning environment. In particular, opportunities that enable children to explore nature and natural materials in the outdoor

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

environment are overlooked. As a result, their understanding of the world is not fully realised.

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

The childminder provides children with varied and healthy, nutritious meals to support their good health. In partnership with parents, she introduces children to new foods to extend their eating experiences. Younger children are encouraged to be independent and feed themselves, which supports their physical development well. The childminder introduces children to high standards of hygiene at an early age. For example, babies are given flannels and bowls of soapy water so they learn about thorough hand washing through enjoyable activities. Children learn to keep themselves safe because the childminder teaches them about safe practices, such as walking alongside her and waiting to cross roads together. These practical skills support them effectively as they prepare for the next stage in their learning.

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provision

The childminder has a thorough understanding of the procedures to be followed if children are at risk of abuse or neglect. She has clear safeguarding policies and keeps the contact details of relevant child protection agencies accessible, which helps her to keep children's safety to the forefront of her practice. Children play in a safe and clean environment because the childminder implements effective risk assessments and makes daily checks of her home. She supervises the children closely as they play to further ensure their safety.

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provision

The childminder has made a strong start to her childminding business. She has worked hard to implement and effectively meet the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage framework. She is enthusiastic about professional development and has recently begun to study for a recognised childcare qualification. She meets with other childminders and seeks guidance from local authority advisers. The childminder has completed an initial evaluation of her practice, and regularly asks parents and the older children for their ideas and opinions. All of this helps her to accurately review and develop the quality of her provision.

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provision

The childminder monitors children's learning and development closely using appropriate guidance and by summarising their achievements. This helps her to ensure all children make good progress towards the early learning goals. The childminder is proactive in her support for children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities. She works closely with parents and other involved agencies to support their children's additional needs, and identifies new training and strategies that help her to offer more effective support. For example, she has attended baby signing classes. The childminder engages well with parents and provides them with daily feedback of their children's activities and routines. Parents indicate they are very happy with the quality of the care and learning. They say the childminder is professional and well organised, and praise her warmly for her reassuring and positive nature. The childminder is aware of the

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provision

benefits of partnership working to support children who attend more than one setting. Although none of the children currently attend other settings, she has obtained information from previous providers to help her offer continuity of care and learning. She has developed links with the local primary school so she can complement and extend older children's learning as appropriate.

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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 EY458541 Local authority Cambridgeshire Inspection number 905752 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

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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