Childminder in Medway

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 28/02/2014 07/12/2010

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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 develops close caring relationships with the children and their parents, which helps them all to feel safe and secure with the care she provides.  Children enjoy a variety of stimulating experiences. They are motivated to learn and to acquire new skills and therefore make good progress.  The childminder is committed to improvement, resulting in an environment that is evolving to improve outcomes for the children.

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It is not yet outstanding because

 Occasionally, the childminder does not give children time to think and answer to enable them to think for themselves and solve problems independently.  Opportunities for children to investigate and explore the natural world outside are not extensive.

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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 and interactions between children and the childminder in her home and garden.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector had discussions with the childminder and the children throughout the visit. Parents' views were also taken into account.  The inspector sampled a range of documentation.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector assessed children's progress in relation to their starting points by looking at their developmental records.

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Information about the setting

The childminder registered in 2010. She lives with her husband and three children in Strood, Rochester, Kent. The whole of the ground floor of the childminder's house is used for childminding and there is an enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder drives to local schools to take and collect children. She also attends local activity groups with them. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and on both the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register. Currently she has four children on roll. Of these, three are in the early years age range. The childminder holds an early years qualification to level 3.

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

 enhance opportunities for children to extend their learning, plan activities and solve problems through the use of effective questioning

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

 provide more outdoor learning opportunities to enable children to explore the natural world.

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who attend

Children benefit from the stimulating learning environment the childminder provides both indoors and outside. They enjoy a variety of activities and outings to promote their learning, social and interaction skills. The childminder uses her knowledge of children's interests and their level of development to plan next steps for them. For instance, she has planned how to develop physical skills such as using scissors, following a child's expression of an interest in cutting. She has a file for each child in which she keeps observations, assessments and a photographic record of their activities. The file includes the required progress check for two- year-old children. The childminder works closely with parents and carers to discuss how to extend children's learning. For example, they cooperate in teaching them to put shoes on correctly, to learn to use the toilet and in teaching them about the concept of time.

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who attend

The childminder provides range of musical instruments for the children to use and they have fun experimenting with these. She encourages them to sing, dance and clap out rhythms and they enjoy doing so. She teaches children the names of the instruments such as 'harmonica' and 'melodica' and they take turns to demonstrate their skills in making up tunes. Children also enjoy creative activities such as sticking and cutting. The childminder helps to develop their language by commenting on what they are doing. For example when they are sprinkling the glitter from a container she uses the word 'sprinkle' and asks them about the colours they are using. Although she asks them about what they might like to do next, the childminder does not always use opportunities to extend children's thinking fully. For example she explains to children that the paper is difficult to cut because it is wet rather than asking for their ideas. However, the children are very

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who attend

confident in asking for the things they need, such as specific toys they cannot find. In addition, they ask the childminder to explain things they do not understand such as 'why is that there?' and 'what is that?'

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who attend

The childminder takes children to the local libraries regularly where they enjoy play and rhyme sessions and they also choose books each week. In addition the childminder provides a good range of books, both stories and non-fiction. These support a current topic of interest such as 'Dinosaurs' along with posters, films and small world toys. The childminder promotes literacy well by introducing letters, sounds and rhymes and by demonstrating to children how to write these. The visits also help children to learn about their own communities. They learn about the wider world through the use of posters, books and multicultural toys. The childminder has identified this as an area she intends to develop further.

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who attend

The childminder teaches children early mathematics through everyday play and routines. Children enjoy counting rhymes and songs. They also count in daily activities such as climbing stairs, counting buttons and jumping on the trampoline. They enjoy water play and sand outside which helps to develop mathematical concepts such as capacity and measure when they are pouring and modelling. They enjoy sorting and matching, looking at shapes and identifying numerals on the clock. They are developing good skills in this area of their learning.

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who attend

The children particularly enjoy the outside area. The childminder is still developing this, but this is in the early stages. Consequently, there are fewer opportunities for children to dig, to grow things and to investigate the wildlife. Overall children are making good progress. They are keen to learn and they are acquiring the skills they will need to help them to prepare for school.

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

Children have a strong bond with the childminder. As a result they are happy and secure in her care. She supports their self-help skills very well. They gain confidence and a sense of belonging as she encourages them to be independent in their dressing and personal care. The childminder is always on hand to assist them when necessary. She also encourages them to choose toys independently during play.

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

The childminder has a consistent approach to behaviour management and children are clear about her expectations. They behave well. The childminder is a good role model. She encourages them to be polite and they spontaneously sing a song which reminds them to say 'please and 'thank you'. She also promotes hygiene well so that the children know that it is important to wash their hands regularly.

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

The childminder provides children with healthy food and they learn to help themselves to snacks such as fruit cheese and crackers. They discuss what they are eating and drinking. The childminder supports their communication skills and their understanding, speaking to them about the different types of food. She promotes independence by encouraging children to feed themselves, help to prepare the food and to pour their own drinks when they are ready to do so.

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

The childminder keeps the environment safe with daily safety checks and regular risk assessments. She explains this to the children so that they can learn to keep themselves safe, assessing risk and discussing matters such as taking care in the garden. They use the outdoor area daily so that they can enjoy fresh air and exercise. The childminder encourages children to be active. They enjoy the swings, slide, trampolines and trikes. This helps to develop their physical and coordination skills. They also play with balls, rolling, throwing and kicking. In addition to developing their physical skills, the childminder teaches them how to take turns and how to play cooperatively with others.

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

As the childminder takes the children to several activities in the community, children experience a variety of social situations. They learn to adapt to the different environments and daily routines and they are able to talk about their experiences. Parents comment that this is a very positive aspect of the childcare the childminder offers as it increases children's confidence in social situations.

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provision

The childminder provides a supportive environment where children learn and develop. She has a good understanding of the learning and development requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. She uses a tracking process to highlight areas where children need support and discusses these with parents in order that they can support learning at home.

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provision

The childminder understands the importance of meeting all safeguarding and welfare requirements and need to protect children from harm. She is alert to signs which may indicate that a child is at risk. The childminder has a good knowledge of the procedures to follow and is confident to implement them, should the need arise. She has a good standard of hygiene, and carries out daily safety checks in order to minimise hazards. She also has checklists and risk assessments for the regular outings she organises for the children.

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provision

The childminder carries out self-evaluation of her practice in order to identify areas to develop. She attends a local childminders' group where she receives professional support and exchanges ideas with colleagues.

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provision

The childminder works closely with other childminders and the local pre-schools and schools in order to establish good networking relationships. Parents are very happy with the service she provides. They feel fully involved in their child's learning and they say that the childminder seeks their views when she makes decisions about the care she provides. They describe her as 'very dedicated and reliable.' They say that their children are 'very happy and sometimes do not want to go home!'

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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 EY411182 Local authority Medway Towns Inspection number 816367 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 9 Number of children on roll 4

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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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