Childminder in Warwickshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 03/02/2014 03/07/2012

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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

 Children make good progress from their starting points, as the childminder has a good knowledge of the learning and development requirements and plans exciting and worthwhile activities.  There is a strong partnership with parents and carers and they are involved in their children's learning, as the childminder ensures there is effective sharing of information each day. This means that children's needs are met.  The childminder has a very good awareness of safeguarding and child protection and implements very effective policies and procedures so that children are safe.  Children are happy and secure in the welcoming, family environment. They are provided with healthy snacks and meals and enjoy being active in the garden or at the park.  There are very effective links with other early years providers and children's schools, so that the childminder shares ideas and best practice and supports all children very well.

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It is not yet outstanding because

 There is further scope to enhance the already well planned garden so that children can use the space more easily, particularly with regard to their use of bikes.

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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 children engaged in a range of learning activities, play and daily care routines with the childminder.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector looked at children's assessment records, planning and a range of other documentation.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector looked at and discussed the childminder's self-evaluation process and improvement plans.  The inspector spoke to the childminder and the children throughout the inspection.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector took account of the views of parents and carers and children, including recent letters from parents containing their comments on the provision.

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Information about the setting

The childminder was registered in 2012 on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She lives in Coleshill, Warwickshire with her husband and two children aged three and six years. The childminder is open all year round from 7am to 7pm Monday to Friday except for bank holidays. Access to the house is over a small step. She uses the whole of the ground floor and a first floor bathroom for childminding. There is an enclosed garden for outdoor play, in which the family has three pet rabbits.

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Information about the setting

The childminder attends local playgroups, visits the shops and park on a regular basis and collects children from the local schools and pre-schools. There are currently five children on roll, two of whom are in the early years age group and attend for a variety of sessions. Three are school-age children who attend before and after school. The childminder is a member of Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years.

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

 enhance children's use of the outdoor area by developing this further, so that they can ride wheeled toys and use the space more easily.

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who attend

The childminder has a thorough knowledge of how children play and learn, which means she plans exciting learning opportunities in which children are engaged and interested. She obtains detailed information from parents about what children know and can do and about their interests. This information, alongside her own observations and assessments of children, provides her with clear starting points from which to plan the next steps in each child's learning. This means they all make good progress at their own levels. Parents are very well informed about children's progress, as the childminder speaks to them each day and emails them information and photographs about the children's progress and the activities they take part in. She encourages them to support children at home, so that they work together in helping children to achieve the next steps in their learning. The childminder records detailed observations of children so that she can assess their levels of

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who attend

progress in order to identify and address any gaps in learning. She plans individual, guided sessions for children each week so that she can focus on what they need to do next for each area of learning.

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who attend

Children access a wide range of resources easily from low-level shelves or from the floor. These are suitable for all the age groups the childminder cares for and children make independent choices in their learning. Babies enjoy reaching for their favourite toys, as the childminder encourages them to move and stretch on the rug in preparation for learning to crawl. They sit on her lap to look at books and explore cuddly toys as they gurgle happily and show interest in their surroundings. Toddlers choose toys from the small playroom and tip out a large bag of plastic bricks with which to build towers. They laugh at the 'horn on the bus' sounds as the childminder sings 'the wheels on the bus.' Children join in and copy the actions. The childminder extends children's sentences and vocabulary well, as she encourages children to repeat words and phrases. Toddlers are learning to use the words they know to communicate, such as, 'where we going?' or 'coat on'.

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who attend

Children go on plenty of trips to two local parks, shops and toddler groups. This means they socialise with other children to develop these skills well and they find out about nature and their environment on their outings. Children develop their physical skills well as they use the large equipment at the park and through their use of balls, bean bags and many activities in the garden. They have opportunities to use wheeled toys, but this is not always easy, as there is a gravelled surface in the childminder's garden. She plans to improve this so that children can run around and use the bikes more easily.

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who attend

Children learn about a range of other countries, cultures and festivals, such as, Chinese new year, Diwali, Christmas and Easter. The childminder teaches them about the story behind Chinese new year and they draw pictures of the animals, find out which ones represent the year they were born and have Chinese food for lunch. She teaches children some basic words in French and Spanish and they try different foods, so they are aware of other cultures. Children learn about the pet rabbits in the garden and grow flowers and fruit so that they learn about living things. They are all well prepared for school or for the next stage in their learning, as the childminder builds on their learning through all their activities and routines and they become used to making independent choices in their learning.

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

Children are very happy and secure in the childminder's care, as she provides a welcoming, family environment. She encourages parents to share detailed information about children's likes, dislikes, needs and routines so that children have consistency of care. A diary is shared between the childminder and parents, so that they can communicate daily information about children's welfare, current interests or their achievements at home. They work together on behaviour management and routines so that children feel emotionally secure. Parents stay for settling-in sessions with children until they become used to the childminder and their new environment. They meet her children and husband, so that they all get to know each other and parents feel confident to leave their children in the childminder's care. Children form close bonds with the childminder, as she is very caring and meets all their needs.

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

Children choose which spring bulbs and vegetables they want to grow in the garden and enjoy eating the tomatoes and green beans. This helps them to learn about where their food comes from and about healthy lifestyles. The childminder provides children with healthy snacks and meals and they have water, milk and juice throughout the day. Children learn to be independent in their self-care routines, as they are encouraged to feed themselves and the childminder practises good hygiene in her food preparation and nappy changing. Children have regular fresh air and are active in their play so that they have healthy lifestyles.

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

Behaviour is very good, as the childminder manages this sensitively and appropriately for children's ages. She reminds them not to climb on the furniture and to be gentle with each other. Toddlers stroke a baby's foot and offer toys to play with, which shows they are kind and thoughtful. Children manage risks safely on their trips to the park and when they feed the ducks and swans. The childminder explains that the birds can sometimes be aggressive when they have chicks, so children are careful. The childminder has good links with local schools, so when the time comes for children to move to school, she will manage this smoothly so that children and parents are secure.

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provision

Effective policies and procedures for safeguarding children are followed by the childminder. She carries out daily risk assessments for the premises and when she takes children on trips, so that any potential hazards are minimised. The childminder supervises children very well and the premises are secure. She practises fire drills with children each month so that the older ones know what to do in the event of an emergency. She keeps careful accident and medical records so that children's health is well protected and she has recent training in paediatric first aid and child protection. The childminder and her husband are suitably vetted and she has rigorous procedures in place for the collection of children so that they are safe.

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provision

The childminder organises all aspects of her provision very effectively. She reflects on her teaching and planning regularly, so that children's well-being and progress is carefully monitored. She has support from the local authority and a childminding association, which helps her to monitor her planning and to keep up-to-date with current guidelines in childcare. The childminder is very well motivated and evaluates her provision very well, as she focuses on specific areas for improvement, so that children continue to receive a very good standard of care and learning. The input of children and parents is included in the self-evaluation process, as their views are regularly invited so that all their needs are met.

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provision

Links have been established with local schools and other early years providers, including a children's centre, so that the childminder can enlist additional support for any children who may need this. She belongs to a childminding group, so that she benefits from the sharing of training, ideas and best practice in order to make continuous improvement in her provision. She speaks to children's teachers each week and knows what they are learning at school, so she can complement and extend this.

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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 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 EY438846 Local authority Warwickshire Inspection number 870578 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 4 Number of children on roll 5

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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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