Orbell, Geraldine Marie

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 29/08/2013 21/02/2011

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early years provision

This inspection: 2 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 2 The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision 2

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This provision is good

 Children are happy and settled in the childminder's care. Activities and routines are adapted to meet the needs of the different ages of children who are cared for at various times during the week and after school. Children have many varied opportunities to use good quality toys and resources in the playroom and play house. Children's play and learning needs are well met.  Children are keen and active learners. The childminder provides interesting outings and play opportunities to extend children's social skills. Children have very good language and communication skills that enables them to take part in new experiences with confidence.  The childminder maintains and regularly reviews documents and records to ensure the safety and well-being of the children. She has very good links with the families she cares for having provided consistent care for some of them over many years.

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It is not yet outstanding because

 Partnership working with other settings is not fully developed to ensure children benefit from a shared understanding between all those involved in promoting children's learning to a higher level.  The views of parents and children are not always used to the best effect in strengthening the drive for improvement and focusing on how to further raise children's levels of progress.

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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 talked to the children about the dinosaur colouring activity. She watched as they played with the bricks.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector watched children freely access the toys in the playroom and play space in the dining area. She observed children have their mid-morning snack.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector talked to the childminder about the daily routines, and she looked at documents supporting the welfare requirements.  Views of parents were taken from letters of reference and questionnaires.

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Information about the setting

The childminder was registered in 2004 on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She lives with her husband, one adult child, and school-aged child in Bricket Wood, near St Albans, Hertfordshire. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding, and there is a downstairs cloakroom. Children have use of a designated playroom and large play house in the garden. There is an enclosed garden for outside play. The family have two dogs.

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Information about the setting

There are currently four children on roll, in the early years age group, who attend for a variety of sessions. The childminder also provides care for school-aged children. She operates all year round from 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except bank holidays and family holidays.

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

 improve partnership working with other providers, schools and professionals so that children continue to receive the support they need to make progress in their learning and development

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

 develop further the self-evaluation process by more effectively including parent's and the children's views in order to enhance continuous improvement.

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who attend

The childminder provides interesting and age-appropriate activities and outings for the children who are cared for on a part-time basis and who attend other early years settings. Children's likes, interests and previous experiences are recorded, and the childminder plans activities, outings and free play opportunities based on this information. Children's progress is monitored through effective assessments and regular discussion with parents. Photographs and observations in the children's learning journals show they enjoy taking part in a wide range of activities in the home, at activity centres, parks and play areas. Effective assessments and plans for the next steps in the children's development are well thought through. These records are used as the basis for the progress check at aged two years. However, when children attend other early years settings, the childminder does not have sufficiently strong links to consistently extend and support the children's developing

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who attend

skills. Information from pre-school and nursery groups are not always used effectively to enable her to give children the continued support they need to ensure they make consistent progress in their learning and development.

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who attend

Older children are keen and enthusiastic learners. They are confident in making choices about what they want to do and ask for the colouring pencils and paper from the art cupboard. Children are given time to select different colours and use a favourite colouring book with clear dinosaur shapes. This gives them opportunities to practise their finer pencil control in readiness for writing. Stickers are also available so children can adapt and be creative with their artwork. The childminder asks appropriate questions to extend and support children's understanding of colour and shapes. She helps the children to use the felt tip pens, asking them to put the lids back on when they have finished. When asked why they should do this the children show a good understanding of how the lids keep the pens clean and they can use them again later. Their language, conversation and response show they are working well above the expected outcomes for their age.

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who attend

The playroom provides children of all ages with a well-resourced, comfortable area to play and explore. Children are encouraged to bring toys into the open plan dining area so they can share and be part of a combined play experience. Young children are beginning to enjoy the challenge of selecting large construction bricks and putting them together with good verbal support from the childminder. Other children show good physical skills as they manipulate the bricks to build interesting shapes, and they are shown how to put the bricks together to make a free standing tower. The childminder consistently supports children's efforts with praise and helps when needed. School-aged children's play needs are met to a good level as they use the well-resourced large play house in the garden. This enables them to play with computer games and use age-appropriate resources.

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who attend

Regular outings are an important part of the weekly routines. Trips to activity sessions, children's farms and parks provide children with new experiences and helps them to learn about the wider world. The childminder plans effectively to provide children of all ages with a broad educational programme. Children are gaining the skills and taking part in a range of interesting activities and events, which supports their learning and prepares them for nursery and school.

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

Children form strong bonds with the childminder and the other children who are cared for. Information gained from parents through the 'All about me' form is used to ensure children's individual likes and needs are recognised and met. Children are confident to talk about what they are going to do later in the day and refer to other children who are cared for and ask where they are. The opportunity to talk about a birthday party, to look at the names on the invitations and predict what will happen supports the children's sense of self-esteem. Good personal skills are promoted by the childminder who consistently talks to the children to support their social development.

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

Children learn about a healthy lifestyle through the everyday routines. They are beginning to learn about the importance of exercise and fresh air as part of maintaining a healthy body. Children of all ages enjoy regular exercise as they have opportunities through the week to play in the park or are taken to indoor soft play sessions. This enables them to practise their recently acquired skills; to climb, use trampolines, climbing walls and ball pools. Young children who are early walkers are supported around the home to develop their balance and confidence with good support from the childminder. When parents prepare food from home, the childminder provides healthy fruit snacks. School children have healthy and nutritious tea provided for them if required. Young children enjoy their fruit snack; they sit nicely in the high chair and eat well, with good physical skills as they pick up the fruit pieces with great skill.

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

Children understand what is expected of them as the childminder has a consistent approach to the simple rules which extends their understanding of their own personal safety. Children are reminded to take care as they bring toys from the playroom to the dining area. Outings to the community are an important aspect of the children's weekly routines. Hi-visibility vests are worn by the children when being taken to the park, woods and large play areas. The childminder talks to the children about their behaviour and safety. She instils common sense rules such as not going out of view of the childminder and being aware of where they are playing so as not to wander off.

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

The childminder plans activities and events to promote and extend children's personal, social and emotional skills to a good level. She works closely with parents in supporting children as they get ready to move onto school. Children are confident, and they look forward to taking part in new experiences such as starting school, with a strong sense of self awareness and self-esteem.

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provision

The childminder is aware of the importance of reviewing and maintaining documents for the safety and wellbeing of the children in her care. She has a good understanding of the requirements of the Statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage. Children are protected because the childminder has consistently updated her knowledge of safeguarding through training, and she uses the Local Safeguarding Children Board documents as the basis for her policies and procedures.

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provision

This inspection was bought forward due to an incident that occurred, which meant an Ofsted Regularity Inspector visited the childminder to ensure the welfare requirements were met. The childminder was issued with a 'Notice to Improve, with three actions to ensure she continues to meet the requirements. The incident occurred as a school-aged child and the childminder's own child became separated from the childminder, when at the Local Park. The Police were called and the children were found playing nearby. The childminder took appropriate action, she informed Ofsted and the local authority and has reviewed the lost child policy and risk assessment process for outings. At inspection, the childminder demonstrated how she continues to meet the welfare requirements to effectively manage children's safety. She has effective procedures for monitoring and maintaining the safety of children at all times. There is an effective risk assessment and

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provision

she maintains a daily record of the names of the children being cared for on the premises and their hours of attendance. The childminder ensures the behaviour of the older children cared for does not have a negative impact on the children in the early years age group. Children are learning about their own personal safety when they are out in the community, they understand the importance of staying within sight of the childminder. High visibility jackets are used to enable the childminder to oversee children playing in the park. Robust risk assessments and procedures are in place to ensure the children's safety in the home and on outings.

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provision

The childminder has developed strong links within the community. She is aware of the services provided by the children's centre to support children and families. She consistently updates and improves her understanding of early years through the centres training opportunities. She has good links with the local childminder's network for support and shares experiences and play ideas.

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provision

Partnership with parents is strong. The childminder shares information on a daily basis and uses a diary for the younger children. Text messages and photos are shared to keep parents informed about the routines and activities the children have taken part in. Letters of recommendation are available as evidence for the inspection and are shown to new parents. The childminder has developed a web page to share information, such as, routines, play opportunities and a summary of her policies. Parents' views are sought through a questionnaire. This shows they are extremely pleased with the care and play opportunities the children take part in. However, the information gained from this detail is not always used to best effect within the overall evaluation process to enable her to consistently focus on promoting children's progress to the highest level. The childminder strives to improve the service she provides. She reflects on her practice by using a

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provision

document provided by the local authority development team. She has identified areas that work well, and has action plans in place that identifies areas of practice and resources to be improved. She takes positive actions to raise the quality of her practice.

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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 130034 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 927988 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 10

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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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