Alexina Jane Perrett

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 23/08/2013 01/02/2010

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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

 Positive relationships are developed with parents. This helps children feel safe and secure. Information is shared verbally, on a daily basis, keeping parents informed about what their children have done.  Children's welfare needs are satisfactorily met. Nappies are changed promptly and children are given cuddles and reassurance when they are upset.  A calm and peaceful atmosphere is provided. This helps children to enjoy an appropriate range of activities which promotes their learning and satisfactory progress towards the early learning goals.

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It is not yet good because

 Parents are not provided with regular, consistent guidance on how they can promote learning at home. As a result, children miss out on further opportunities to support their development.  Children's transitions between the childminder and other childcare settings are not fully supported as the childminder has not yet established strong relationships with other providers of the Early Years Foundation Stage.  Self-evaluation is not sufficiently rigorous or challenging. The views of parents and children are not included. As a result, plans to bring about improvements are not secure and lack ambition.

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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 childminder and her co-minder interacting with children.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector reviewed documentation, including self-evaluation and training certificates.  The inspector spoke to parents and/or carers to seek their views of the service.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke to children and reviewed evidence of progress in their learning records.

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Information about the setting

The childminder has been registered since 2009. She lives with her husband and their adult daughter in Lowestoft, Suffolk. She works with her daughter, who is also a registered childminder and her husband who is registered as an assistant. Both childminders share equal responsibility for running the childminding business. The whole house, with the exception of one bedroom, is used for childminding. There is an enclosed garden for outdoor play and bathroom facilities are upstairs. The family have pet cats, guinea pigs and a hamster.

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Information about the setting

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. There are currently 12 children in the early years age range on roll, and a further 12 children over the age of five years. The childminder collects children from local schools and pre-schools. The childminder is a member of the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years and receives support from the local authority.

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must:

 provide regular and consistent information to support all parents in guiding their child's learning and development at home.

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

 improve self-evaluation to include the views of parents and children and to promote careful monitoring and self-challenge, which will ensure a quality learning experience for children that continually improves

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

 improve relationships with other providers of the Early Years Foundation Stage to fully support children in making a smooth transition between one childcare provider and another.

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who attend

Children have their needs met and make appropriate progress in-line with their ages and stages of development. This means that they are gaining a suitable range of skills to promote their readiness for school when the time comes. The childminder, and her co- minder, get to know each child well. As a result, they provide activities and resources which meet children's interests and are developmentally appropriate. Learning records for each child include photographs and written observations of what children have done. This helps the childminder plan future activities and monitor children's progress in all areas of learning. Planning is carried out by daily discussion between the childminder and her co- minder. This helps them to be flexible in meeting children's changing needs.

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who attend

Parents have frequent opportunities to view children's learning records. Parents are encouraged to contribute their comments about achievements at home and, when provided, these are also included in individual learning records. However, the exchange of information with parents does not consistently include guidance and encouragement on ways they can support learning at home, to ensure that children get well-targeted and consistent support in their all-round development.

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who attend

Children have free access to all areas of the ground floor and the garden. The low-level , open storage of most toys means that children can see and access them independently. The childminder also set out others immediately when children request them. Children can choose to play indoors or outdoors and this helps them to extend their learning. For example when children no longer wish to put puzzles together, they go outdoors to construct sandcastles.

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who attend

The childminder supports children's learning satisfactorily. The childminder and her co- minder talk to children at their level, encouraging them in what they are doing. An older toddler is supported in talking about colours and shapes as they thread with a chunky cord, while older children are encouraged to independently solve the problem of laying the picnic blanket out flat. Children develop confident communication skills. They follow age- appropriate instructions, for example to help set up the skittles for their friend. Older children talk in detail about events at home and improve their vocabulary as they learn the names of different plants and insects in the garden.

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who attend

Children have daily opportunities to interact with others of varying ages. This helps them to develop their social skills and to form positive relationships with others. The childminder intervenes, if necessary, to negotiate turn taking or encourage consideration towards the feelings of others.

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

The childminder and her co-minder share the care of all children equally. As a result, children build secure attachments with key adults and this helps their emotional development.

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

The childminder ensures that she is aware of children's individual needs, including any dietary or medical requirements. Both her and her co-minder have completed training in first aid so they have the appropriate knowledge and skills to be able to respond appropriately in the event of an accident. They are both attentive to children's needs. They change nappies promptly whenever needed and quickly pass babies their beakers when they indicate they are thirsty.

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

Snacks and meals are provided regularly throughout the day. Children enjoying choosing from a variety of fresh fruit at snack time, helping them learn about healthy eating. They have free access to their own beakers throughout the day, helping to promote independence and health, as they learn to respond to their body's needs. Daily activities, such as moving the guinea pig into its pen, provide opportunities to discuss hand washing. This helps children understand the reasons for good hygiene.

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

Frequent walks to school or the park, or climbing and sliding in the garden, help children learn about the benefits of regular exercise. They also learn how to keep themselves and others safe, by waiting their turn on the slide or finding a safe place to cross the road. Walks to school are also used to prepare children who are yet to start school. They become familiar with the environment and the childminder points out new teachers and friends to them, helping to reduce any anxiety about starting school.

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provision

The inspection took place following a concern that the childminder was left alone with six children in the early years age-range. The childminder confirms that this incident happened for a short period of time on one occasion. Following this incident the childminder has reviewed her emergency procedures and identified the action she will take to ensure that the correct ratios are always maintained, including in unforeseen circumstances. The childminder takes equal responsibility for all aspects of practice with her co-minder. Self-evaluation of the service they provide has been completed together. However, this is not sufficiently robust. It does not include the views of parents and children, or set challenging, yet achievable targets, in order to drive continuous improvement.

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provision

The childminder keeps her training updated. This includes training in first aid and safeguarding, which helps her to protect children and keep them safe. All areas of the home are risk assessed on a regular basis, along with all trips and outings. This ensures potential hazards are identified and removed or minimised. Safety equipment, such as a stair gate and baby monitor helps the childminder to protect children.

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provision

The childminder is aware of her duty to support children's learning and development and to ensure they make suitable progress towards the early learning goals. A progress check at age two is completed and is shared with parents and health visitors. This helps ensure early developmental milestones are being reached, or highlights the need to access professional services, such as speech therapy.

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provision

Positive relationships are developed with parents and carers. The childminder shares verbal information daily and uses text and telephone to communicate during the day as and when needed. The childminder is in the process of developing relationships with other providers of the Early Years Foundation Stage. However, these are not yet sufficiently developed to fully support a smooth transition for children, between childcare settings. The childminder does however, share relevant information with future class teachers to support children's smooth transition into school.

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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 EY398930 Local authority Suffolk Inspection number 928440 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 24

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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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