Childminder in Oxfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 16/08/2013 18/01/2011

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early years provision

This inspection: 3 Previous inspection: 2 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

 The childminder demonstrates that she is able to provide a suitable range of activities to help children make progress in their learning.  The childminder shows that she has a secure understanding of the observation, assessment and planning process to support children's development.  The childminder explains how she supports children's understanding of positive behaviour, healthy lifestyles and safety procedures.

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It is not yet good because

 The childminder is not actively supporting parents in guiding their children's development at home.  The childminder does not take steps to obtain the views of parents in order to inform self-evaluation procedures and further development.  The childminder has some suitable strategies in place to support children when transferring to new settings, but these are not fully established.

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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 discussed aspects of practice with the childminder throughout the inspection.  The inspector looked at all areas of the premises used by children.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector sampled a range of documentation, including the childminder's training records and children's development records.

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Information about the setting

The childminder registered in 2008. She lives in Bicester, Oxfordshire, with her husband and three children. She uses the ground floor of her home for childminding, together with a first-floor living room for sleeping. There is an enclosed garden available for outdoor play. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and is caring for four children in the early years age range. She is registered on both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register and is caring for four older children. There were no children present on the day of the inspection. The childminder offers care on a daily basis, before and after school, and during school holidays. She walks to the local school and other early years facilities to take and collect children. The childminder is a member of the 'TRIO' Childminding Network.

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must:

 develop ways to support parents in guiding their children's development at home, such as providing ideas for activities or suggesting useful strategies.

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

 develop processes to obtain the views of parents in order to inform self-evaluation procedures and further development

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

 develop strategies to support children when transferring to new settings, such as enabling them to act out their feelings during imaginative play or providing information about their progress to their new carers.

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who attend

The childminder is able to explain how she provides a suitable range of activities and a welcoming learning environment to help children make progress. She states that children enjoy outdoor play to promote their physical skills, such as playing with footballs or engaging in parachute games in the garden. She explains how she helps to promote children's emerging literacy and language skills, through discussion, sharing books and providing opportunities for early writing. She states that she supports children's social skills through encouraging sharing, turn taking and playing games. She demonstrates that she supports children's understanding of the world around them by taking them to the local children's centre so that they are able to meet people from different backgrounds. She explains that she provides a variety of creative activities, such as painting, cooking and making mosaics to promote children's imaginations.

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who attend

Since the last inspection, the childminder has taken steps to improve her observation, assessment and planning processes. She now keeps a record of children's starting points in learning when they first attend, together with information about their routines and preferences. She explains that she uses this knowledge to help plan initial activities to suit individual children. She maintains records of her observations of children's progress with ideas for their next steps in learning. She also keeps assessment tracking sheets to show children's overall progress. Written comments from parents show that they are happy with their children's development. Records show that children are making suitable progress and that the childminder is helping them to be ready for the next stages of learning. The childminder demonstrates that she has paperwork ready to carry out the required progress check for two-year-olds.

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who attend

The childminder states that she provides parents with appropriate information about their children's time with her, through discussion, daily diaries and sharing children's development records. However, she is not actively supporting parents in guiding their children's development at home. She states that she does not see this as her responsibility, although it is a legal requirement of the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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

The childminder demonstrates that she is able to promote children's behaviour appropriately. She states that she rewards children's good behaviour and encourages good manners. She explains that she helps children to respect people from different backgrounds, through imaginative play and using books and dolls reflecting positive images. She demonstrates that she supports children's understanding of safety, such as the importance of not running indoors. She illustrates how she provides children with a healthy diet by providing nutritious cooked meals, such as beef casserole or spaghetti bolognese. She explains that she helps children to learn about the importance of healthy lifestyles by looking at books or encouraging them to identify healthy and unhealthy foods in magazines.

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

The childminder has some strategies in place to support children when transferring to new settings, but these are not fully established. She states that she prepares children by enabling them to make appropriate progress in their learning but she has not fully considered the bigger picture. She has not considered sharing information about children's progress with their new carers, which reduces opportunities to promote continuity. In addition, she does not have well-established strategies in place to support children in feeling comfortable about change.

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provision

Overall, the childminder demonstrates a sufficient understanding of most of her responsibilities in meeting the legal requirements of the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage. She has a suitable understanding of safeguarding children procedures and has attended appropriate training. She is aware of possible symptoms of children at risk and has a policy in place to follow if she has concerns. She is able to explain her policy for behaviour management and she states that she shares her policies with parents to illustrate her practice. She keeps appropriate documentation, such as records of accidents, and maintains a suitable first aid qualification. She demonstrates that she is able to provide suitable premises where children can play safely. She explains that there are no changes to persons living in the household and therefore all adults have appropriate background checks through Ofsted.

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provision

The childminder shows that she is able to monitor and evaluate her educational programmes and assessment procedures appropriately. She demonstrates that she is able to make some positive changes, such as researching activities to support the learning of younger children. She explains that she identifies areas for further development, such as pursuing a level 3 qualification and extending the process for detailing children's next steps in learning. She shows that she has successfully met actions and recommendations from the previous inspection.

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provision

The childminder demonstrates an adequate approach to partnership working, although there are some gaps in her practice. She demonstrates that parents can make comments in children's daily diaries and talk to her about any concerns. However, she is not actively seeking feedback from parents to inform her self-evaluation processes or supporting them effectively in guiding their children's development at home. Strategies to support children when transferring to new settings are not fully established.

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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 EY385980 Local authority Oxfordshire Inspection number 927809 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 5 Number of children on roll 8

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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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