Childminder in Dudley

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 20/11/2013 20/04/2009

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early years provision

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

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This provision is good

 The childminder has a good range of teaching skills and a good understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage. She plans purposeful play and a good balance of adult- led and child-initiated activities in order to support children's learning effectively.  Close partnership with parents means the individuality of children, including young babies, is recognised and fostered by the childminder.  The premises, with a dedicated playroom, are welcoming, and resources are organised efficiently to enable independence in the choice of activities.  The childminder is committed to improving the quality of education and care through continuous self-evaluation. Consequently, children settle well and are involved in a range of activities which they enjoy.  The childminder has a robust understanding of safeguarding procedures which helps to protect the children in her care.

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It is not yet outstanding because

 Opportunities have not been fully embraced for children to extend their learning by inspiring them to explore and experiment with a wide range of sensory experiences.

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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 compulsory part 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 activities in the living room and kitchen.

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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 children's assessment records, planning documentation and a range of other documentation.  The inspector took account of the views of parents and carers.

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Information about the setting

The childminder was registered in 2008 on the Early Years Register and the compulsory part of the Childcare Register. She lives with her partner and one child aged 15 year in Brierley Hill, West Midlands. A bedroom and bathroom on the first floor and the whole of the ground floor of the property are used for childminding purposes. This includes a dedicated playroom. There is an enclosed garden available for outdoor play. The family has a pet cat.

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Information about the setting

The childminder currently has three children on roll who are in the early years age range. She also offers cares to three children aged over five to 11 years. She takes and collects children to and from local schools and pre-schools and makes use of local facilities, such as toddler groups, parks, shops and the library.

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Information about the setting

The childminder holds a level 3 qualification in early years childcare and education. She operates all year round from 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, with the exception of family holidays. She receives support from her local authority.

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

 enhance children's learning by providing them with opportunities to use their skills and explore ideas through a wide range of sensory experiences.

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who attend

The childminder has a secure understanding of implementing the learning and development requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. She has high expectations of children based on accurate assessment of their skills on entry to the setting. This helps her plan activities which meet their next steps in learning, sustain the progress they make and quickly close any identified gaps. This also prepares children for a smooth transition to other settings when the time comes. The childminder arranges good play opportunities for children to make progress across all prime and specific areas of learning and development. Their individual interests, preferences and ages are taken into account in the planning. Good maintenance and organisation of equipment and toys enables children to use their initiative and follow their natural curiosity as learners. Consequently, they are content and confident in the stimulating and familiar surroundings. The childminder regularly shares

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who attend

children's learning and development with parents through learning journals, daily notes and verbal communication. She encourages parents to share what they know about their child and become actively involved in learning by sharing their child's achievements at their own homes.

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who attend

The childminder interacts with children, including babies, in a positive manner. She chats with them constantly about what she is doing or what is happening while she is changing their nappies, preparing their food or playing with them. Therefore, they enjoy babbling and increasingly experiment with using sounds and words to communicate. Younger babies happily join in, copying some words and actions, and enjoy being with familiar adults and peers. The children's skills are further supported through story and singing sessions, making marks and writing for different purposes, including reading and writing their own names. They clearly enjoy the childminder's active involvement in play and have good fun singing their favourite songs, such as 'row, row, row the boat' and 'wind the bobbin up', moving their whole bodies to the sounds and copying actions. A good variety of colouring materials and a selection of resources are supplied to help children explore

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who attend

and develop their creative skills, including making rockets, bird feeders, poppies or collages with dried leaves. All children sit beside the childminder, taking part in group games with enjoyment and responding with interest. However, during activities, there is scope to encourage children to get a sense of different textures or to explore what happens when they mix different things together, such as, icing sugar, water and different colours.

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who attend

To supplement children's numeracy skills, the childminder provides a wide range of opportunities for matching numbers, comparing sizes and counting. For example, they match and sort shapes and colours, sing number rhymes and count everyday objects in their surroundings. Children happily repeat some numbers while the childminder counts during play. They become aware of their local community and are able to interact with other children, as the childminder arranges visits to a variety of pre-school settings, parks, a zoo and a library. Their understanding of nature is enriched through interesting topic activities, including how a caterpillar changes into a butterfly. Children grow a variety of flowers, vegetables and herbs. The childminder encourages children to understand and respect the values and differences of others, as they celebrate festivals all through the year. Children dress up, taste relevant foods, read relevant stories and take part in

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who attend

associated artwork while they celebrate these festivals. A wide range of resources is available depicting positive images of diversity.

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

The childminder effectively promotes children's personal, social and emotional well-being through interesting opportunities for development. She supports and encourages children's self-confidence. Consequently, they relate well to her and show an interest in the activities available. They receive warm and positive attention from the childminder, who spends time talking to and actively playing with them. They clearly enjoy her company, as her approach to them is calm and friendly. Children have established a secure bond with the childminder and sit alongside her to take part in a variety of activities with interest. Close partnership with parents and positive interaction with the childminder ensure that children's needs are well met, they quickly become familiar with their new environment and form secure attachments to the childminder and her family members. The childminder provides good support to prepare children for transition to

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

other settings through talking, introducing the idea of uniforms, reading relevant stories and providing appropriate play opportunities.

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

The childminder supports children well in developing an understanding of the importance of physical exercise and a healthy diet. A wide range of resources in the child-friendly garden help children to develop their physical skills, including climbing, stretching, sliding, balancing and catching. In suitable weather, the childminder arranges free-flow access to the garden. Children regularly play at their local park and go for walks in the local area and to and from school. All through the day, plenty of indoor opportunities are provided for babies and older children to enhance their skills of coordination, control, manipulation and movement. Children develop a good understanding of healthy eating, as they enjoy nourishing options, including the fresh fruits offered to them at snack times. Drinks are readily accessible for all children throughout the session to ensure they are hydrated appropriately. Babies' home routines of sleeping and eating are well adopted to promote

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

their health. Children learn why they need to wash their hands before eating and after using the toilet, as well as after playing outside. Younger children know how to dispose of the used wipes in a bin. The childminder employs effective measures in respect of any pet to ensure hygiene is observed.

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

Children are happy and confident, as the childminder values their individuality and praises their achievements and good behaviour. Her approach is calm and consistent. She teaches and encourages them to be safety conscious without becoming afraid. For example, they take part in regular fire drills and learn about road safety and stranger danger through themed projects. Children behave well, demonstrating an understanding of the set boundaries and expectations within the home, responding positively to guidance from the childminder. Their social skills are well supported through group games and visits to other childminders and a variety of pre-school settings in the area.

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provision

The children are protected from harm or neglect because the childminder has a good knowledge and understanding of her role in safeguarding. She has attended the relevant training and is able to put appropriate procedures into practice should she have concerns about a child. The childminder conducts effective risk assessments and takes action to manage or eliminate hazards to ensure safety indoors and outdoors. All equipment, toys and areas used for children are safe, clean and secure.

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provision

The childminder has implemented a rigorous and effective system of self-evaluation. It includes listening carefully to the views of children and parents, and ongoing support from her childminding network group and local authority. The active involvement of parents is encouraged through questionnaires to elicit parental views and preferences. All recommendations raised during the previous inspection visit have been met successfully. The childminder is proactive in accessing training to continually improve her knowledge and skills. She attends various relevant courses and has attained a level 3 qualification in early years. Consequently, she has a secure knowledge of the current educational programme to ensure a broad range of experiences are provided to help children progress towards the early learning goals. She has incorporated children's profiles into the careful monitoring of their progress. All required policies and procedures, documentation and

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provision

records are well maintained and readily available for inspection and for parents.

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provision

The childminder encourages parents and carers to share appropriate information about their children's learning and welfare needs. She informs parents about their children's development through daily communication and sharing learning journals regularly. The childminder provides activities which parents and carers can pursue with their child at home, and therefore, ensures progression and continuity of learning. Parents report that they are very happy with the care and education their children receive, as the childminder provides a variety of activities. Currently, there are no children who attend any other settings. However, the childminder demonstrates good awareness of how to develop partnerships with other professionals, such as school and nursery staff, for a smooth transition and to fully promote continuity and progression.

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The Childcare Register

The requirements for the compulsory 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 Requires improvement The provision is not giving children a good standard of early years education and/or there are minor breaches of the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. It will be monitored and inspected within twelve months of the date of this inspection. 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

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Grade Judgement Description

the Early Years Foundation Stage. It will be monitored and inspected again within six months of the date of this inspection. 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 EY378730 Local authority Dudley Inspection number 878777 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 6

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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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