Childminder in Swindon

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 12/11/2013 09/01/2013

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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 requires improvement

 The childminder provides a busy play environment where children can independently direct their own play.  Children receive lots of praise for their efforts and achievements, which supports their development of self-esteem and confidence.  Children experience warm relationships with the childminder, which helps them to feel secure and settled. The indoor environment is welcoming and attractively resourced.  Children become confident in different social situations and learn to play cooperatively with others through many trips and outings to various groups.

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It is not yet good because

 Assessment arrangements to help plan to meet children's individual needs are not fully developed.  The childminder does not consistently maintain accurate accident records.  The childminder's arrangements for assessing outings are not robust to consider all potential hazards and risks.  Younger children have fewer opportunities to freely explore an exciting range of natural or sensory materials and resources to promote their learning and curiosity.  Information about children's progress and their achievements at home are not consistently shared with parents to secure continuity in their learning.

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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 activities in the kitchen and the main room.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector sampled children's learning records, assessment documentation and a selection of policies and children's records.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke with the childminder at appropriate times throughout the inspection.

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Information about the setting

The childminder registered in 2005. She is registered on the Early Years Register and on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder lives with her three school aged children in the residential area of Shaw, in Swindon. The whole of the house is used for childminding and there is an enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder currently cares for 13 children, nine of whom are in the early years age group. The childminder takes children to groups, the local shops, and parks on a regular basis. She also takes children to and from local nurseries and schools.

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must:

 improve knowledge of the learning and development requirements in order to consider the individual needs, interests, and stage of development of each child and use this information to identify their next steps; and plan a challenging and enjoyable experience for each child in all of the areas of learning

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must:

 ensure accurate accident records are consistently maintained, including any injuries and first aid treatment.

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

 extend the educational programme for understanding the world, by providing younger children with a range of natural and sensory resources and materials to promote learning and curiosity

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

 increase procedures for monitoring and assessing risks to children's safety on outings to and from school, and review these risk assessments regularly

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

 extend partnerships with parents to promote exchanging and sharing of information to help them to fully support, contribute and extend their child's ongoing learning and development.

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who attend

The childminder mostly takes her lead from the children and generally builds on their interests. This helps to support children's learning experiences. The childminder has an appropriate understanding of the children's starting points and changing interests. However, she does not use assessment to accurately plan relevant activities to challenge individual children fully, or promote the children's next steps towards their learning and development. Nonetheless, the childminder is beginning to implement the progress check for two-year-old children and shares this information with parents.

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who attend

The childminder supports the promotion of children's communication and language skills. She talks to children calmly and responds well to their attempts to express themselves. Through interactions in their chosen activities, for example, the potato head figures, the childminder increases young children's awareness of different concepts, such as colours and names for parts of the body. Children generally hear some relevant mathematical language during their play and enjoy basic counting and exploring matching shapes and puzzles. Children have fun playing with interactive toys, as they delight in pressing buttons and making different sounds. Children explore their surroundings and play with the resources with ease. Children show pleasure in acting out imaginative play scenarios, making beds for their dolls and pretending to put them to sleep. The childminder allows children time to confidently explore the environment, where they are supported to develop

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who attend

their own play. However, the childminder does not make the most of opportunities to strengthen younger children's exploration of sensory skills in the home; for example, using a range of natural materials for them to investigate. Through their play they learn to respect different cultures and consider how people celebrate individual traditions all over the world.

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who attend

Overall, children are making satisfactory progress, which generally helps support foundations for their future learning and development. The childminder recognises the value of working in partnership with parents and provides them with suitable information about the early years provision. She provides parents with feedback about their children through regular discussions and daily diaries. However, systems for collecting and sharing developmental information with parents is less robust. As a result, parents cannot always fully contribute to their child's continuous learning and development.

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

Children appear happy, as the childminder is responsive to their needs. She supports them emotionally when they show signs of hunger or tiredness. Children begin to develop responsible behaviour by helping to clear away their toys. The childminder is gentle in her approach; she praises and encourages children's achievements and efforts. This further encourages their positive behaviour and helps to promote children's self-esteem and confidence. Children develop social skills as they mix with other children, and this is further supported by attending various toddler groups. The childminder generally promotes inclusion through supporting the children's choices of activities. Some children have been attending the setting for a long time. This means the childminder knows most of the children well and treats them with equal concern. The childminder's home is generally well resourced and overall there is a wide selection of

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

toys and equipment. Resources in the main playroom are stored appropriately and many are presented at the children's height. Children develop confidence in exploring their surroundings. They enjoy finding out what they can do. However, there are fewer opportunities and natural resources to fully promote younger children's curiosity and sensory skills. Nonetheless, younger children are mostly interested in what is available and what the older children are doing. The childminder supervises children appropriately and conducts checks on the home to minimise children's access to any potential hazards. This contributes to children's well-being and helps to make sure that children are safe indoors. However, the childminder does not take reasonable steps to consider all safety hazards when working with another childminder to collect various children from school. This poses a risk to children's safety.

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

Children learn about healthy eating practices as they eat an appropriate diet, mainly provided by their parents, and discuss healthy choices. Children are encouraged to be active as they make frequent trips to the local schools, playgroups and parks with the childminder, as the outside learning environment is not currently available. There are appropriate times for younger children to eat, sleep and rest. There are sound hygiene practices in place, which promote children's health and well-being.

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provision

This inspection took place following concerns raised about safeguarding practice, ratios, outings, record matters and changes that must be notified to Ofsted. The inspection found the childminder to be working alone and within her ratios, with the exception of offering continuity of care to siblings. She also has an agreed arrangement, whereby she works with another childminder to collect children from different schools. The inspection found the childminder has a suitable knowledge of safeguarding practice overall and notifies Ofsted appropriately. The childminder also maintains suitable attendance records and obtains parental consents for outings and school collection arrangements. However, there are some concerns relating to records of children's accidents because the childminder is not keeping these records consistently up to date. This means parents are not always made aware of children's minor accidents. As a result, the childminder is not meeting all

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provision

the safeguarding and welfare requirements for the Early Years Register or for the Childcare Register. Therefore actions have been raised to address this.

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provision

The childminder generally takes necessary steps to ensure she safeguards children. However, she has not considered all safety measures, when collecting another childminder's children from local schools. Nonetheless, the childminder has a secure understanding of safeguarding issues. She is aware of the procedures she should follow should she have a safeguarding concern. The childminder regularly reviews many risk assessments around the home to ensure that any potential hazards are minimised. This allows children to play safely indoors.

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provision

The childminder has a generally satisfactory knowledge of the learning and development requirements of the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage. Children direct most of their own play with the childminder offering advice and making suggestions. The childminder organises her resources to ensure that children are supported to be independent. She uses her general observations to organise flexible and fun activities for most of the children in her care. However, planning and assessing activities in order to support children's next stages in their learning and development is not well embedded. Despite this, the childminder demonstrates a willingness to improve her practice. The childminder has a positive attitude to strengthen her practice through self-evaluation and she recognises where there are areas for development. She understands the importance of improving her practice for the benefit of the children. For example, she attends training

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provision

courses in first aid and safeguarding children to update her skills.

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The Childcare Register

The requirements for the compulsory part of the Childcare Register are

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actions)

The requirements for the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are

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To meet the requirements of the Childcare Register the provider must:

 keep records of accidents which occur on the premises where childcare is provided (compulsory part of the Childcare Register).  keep records of accidents which occur on the premises where childcare is provided (voluntary part of the Childcare Register).

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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 EY303948 Local authority Swindon Inspection number 938469 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 13

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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

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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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