Childminder in North Yorkshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 15/08/2013 21/01/2013

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early years provision

This inspection: 3 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 3 The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision 3

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This provision is satisfactory

 Children receive balanced, nutritious meals and snacks and regular opportunities for fresh air and physical exercise. As a result, children's health is suitably promoted.  The childminder provides a safe, clean and generally stimulating learning environment that meets children's individual needs and helps them make satisfactory progress.  The childminder understands her role and responsibility in regard to safeguarding children. Policies and procedures are written and shared with parents, promoting consistency.

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It is not yet good because

 The childminder does not have written permission from all parents to take children on outings. This means that parents' wishes are not always taken into account and a legal requirement is not met.  The monitoring and evaluation of practice lacks rigour and does not take account of the views of parents or children to improve practice.  There is room to do more to help young children understand that words have real meaning, for example by labelling storage and displaying signs.

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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 had a tour of the rooms used for childminding and viewed the toys and equipment as well as the garden.

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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 a selection of policies, children's records and learning journals.  The inspector took account of the views of parents through written questionnaires.

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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 husband, her daughter aged 12, and her son aged 18 years in Catterick, North Yorkshire. All areas of the ground floor and the first floor main bedroom and bathroom are used for childminding. There is a rear garden available for outdoor play. The family has two dogs.

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Information about the setting

The childminder takes children on outings and to activities in community settings. She takes and collects children from the local school.

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Information about the setting

There are currently three children on roll, two of whom are in the early years age group. Children attend for a variety of sessions. No children were present at the time of the inspection. The childminder operates all year round from 7.30am 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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must:

 obtain written parental permission for children to take part in outings.

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

 enhance the methods for evaluating and monitoring practice and consider the views of parents and children to help identify and prioritise targets for improvement

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

 enhance the amount of print in the environment, such as labelling on storage, signs and posters, to further encourage children to learn about the links between pictures and words.

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who attend

The childminder has a satisfactory knowledge of how children learn through play and through discussion, provides a range of activities based on children's interests. She observes children when they first start to find out about their starting points, as well as having detailed discussions with parents to help her find out about children's needs. The childminder completes a written assessment of where each child is in their learning every three months. She explains that she observes children during their activities and describes how she uses these and her suitable knowledge of child development to identify next steps in children's learning.

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who attend

Children have the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities and experiences. The childminder explains that she helps children with their communication and language skills, through introducing and explaining new words. For example, the childminder describes children talking about 'quacks' and 'moos' when looking at books and on walks in the local environment. The childminder states she carefully explains to them that the animals are called 'ducks' and 'cows'. Each child has their own plastic drawer containing any items sent from home along with a photo of their family. The childminder describes how children enjoy looking at these and how she uses them to encourage children's conversational skills. The childminder describes how she organises her home to ensure that children can explore and play freely, with resources being easily accessible to enable children to select their own toys and activities. However, some opportunities to extend children's

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who attend

understanding that words have meanings have been overlooked, such as labelling storage and using signs.

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who attend

The childminder provides craft activities, which gives children the opportunity to join things together and combine materials, such as pasta and paint. She states that she takes children to a variety of community groups and soft play areas to help develop their social skills. The childminder sets out her garden so that children can develop their physical skills in a variety of ways as the childminder describes children crawling through tunnels, using sit and ride toys and climbing. All of these activities give children a suitable range of skills in readiness for nursery or school when the time comes.

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who attend

The childminder describes how she discusses children's progress and achievements with their parents. She shares children's written diary sheets and verbal information on a daily basis about what their children have been doing while in her care. Parents are encouraged to add their comments to help with the childminder's future planning. Parents' written comments state they are 'thoroughly happy', 'child has lots of opportunities doing different activities throughout the day and it's great to see her learning new words' and 'daily reports are great to read'. No children currently attend any other settings at the moment. However, through discussion the childminder has a satisfactory awareness of the importance of sharing information to promote continuity in children's learning.

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

Through discussion the childminder demonstrates that she thoughtfully helps new children to settle in her care. She offers settling-in visits so that children get to know her and her home. She works closely with parents to ensure she knows children's needs and can meet these. The childminder talks about children in an affectionate manner. Through discussion the childminder demonstrates that she uses appropriate methods to manage children's behaviour. She uses simple explanations and discussion, along with distraction techniques. Children's health is well promoted. The childminder maintains high standards of hygiene throughout all areas used for childminding. Toys and resources are washed and effective procedures are followed for nappy changing. Consequently, the risk of cross-infection is minimised. The childminder shares her menus with parents, giving them written details of what children have had to eat. The written record of these show children are provided

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

with healthy snacks and meals and they are encouraged to try a range of fruit and vegetables. Fresh drinking water is readily available throughout the day.

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

Children have mostly daily opportunities to develop their physical skills and enjoy the fresh air. They regularly visit local parks and play areas. Although, the childminder verbally informs parents that she is taking children on outings, she has not gained written permission from all parents for children to go on these outings and this potentially impacts on their safety and well-being. The childminder describes how she guides children on how to keep themselves safe, for example, she explains to babies the importance of being securely strapped into their buggies. She talks to older children about what to do should they need to evacuate the home and on outings and she supports them to walk safely and to use appropriate car seats.

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

The childminder provides a welcoming environment and makes sure that appropriate resources are available for children to access in the conservatory and living room. Low- level coat pegs are used by the childminder to encourage children's independence skills as she describes them hanging up their own coats on their labelled peg. Toys and play materials are mainly stored in plastic drawers and boxes. The childminder states that she encourages children to choose what they want to play with and supports their decisions by being flexible when she plans activities. She follows children's lead and if children are not interested in what she has planned she adapts the activities. This enables children to complete activities they enjoy and promotes their well-being. Children attend sessions at local community groups, with the childminder describing how this helps them to develop their social skills and mix with others to prepare and support children's move into other

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provision

This inspection was brought forward following a complaint from a parent. Ofsted carried out an unannounced visit to the childminder and found that aspects of the safeguarding and welfare requirements were not met. An action was set to rectify this. Following the visit, Ofsted issued a low-level warning letter as the childminder had failed to notify them that she had a student on a placement. The childminder's daily record of children's attendance was also not up to date.

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provision

This inspection found that the childminder has taken effective steps to address the actions that were imposed. The student is no longer on a placement and the childminder is fully aware of the need to inform Ofsted if this situation ever arose again. On the day of the inspection there were no children present as they were all on holiday. However, the childminder's daily record of attendance was easily accessible to her and she could demonstrate how she suitably maintains this and completes it on a daily basis.

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provision

The childminder has a satisfactory knowledge of how to provide a suitable environment in line with the welfare, safeguarding and learning and development requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. She generally maintains records, policies and procedures, which are required for the safe and efficient running of her provision to meet the needs of the children. Consequently, most of the required information is in place to underpin the care and welfare of the children. Through discussion the childminder demonstrates a suitable commitment to safeguarding. She has attended safeguarding training and has a current first aid certificate. She has a suitable understanding of the signs and indicators of abuse and knows how to liaise with appropriate agencies if she has a concern about a child. She carries out risk assessments for the home and resources and any outings she takes children on. The written records of these successfully identify dangers and the

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provision

appropriate steps the childminder takes to eliminate risk and keep children safe and secure. The childminder also explains how she monitors the educational programme to ensure children are making satisfactory progress in their learning.

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provision

The childminder demonstrates a commitment to improving the quality of her provision. In discussion, she has identified her priorities for improvement but her self-evaluation lacks some rigour. This is because it is based largely on her own professional development and does not take account of the views of parents or children. The childminder has secured funding and enrolled on a level 3 childcare course later this year. Through discussion she has taken appropriate steps to address the action raised at her recent last inspection and is able to describe where children are at in their learning.

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provision

The childminder talks about her partnership with parents in a positive manner and arrangements are in place to exchange relevant information about the children's general welfare and care. They receive information about their child's day both verbally and through the daily diary sheets. Parents also text her when on holiday to keep her informed about what the children have been doing. The childminder shares her policies and procedures with parents, so they are aware of her childminding practices. However, not all written parental permissions are in place to ensure that children are cared for in accordance with their parents' wishes.

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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 EY449456 Local authority North Yorkshire Inspection number 927104 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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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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