Childminder in North Northamptonshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 11/03/2014 21/03/2013

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early years provision

This inspection: 2 Previous inspection: 4 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 teaches young children the key skills they will need to support their future learning well. She thoroughly understands how children learn best and what their interests are, enabling her to provide suitable opportunities for them to make good progress.  Children are looked after in a safe environment. The childminder has a thorough understanding of child protection issues and makes sure that everything the children may come into contact with is risk assessed and made as safe as possible.  The childminder knows how to manage her business well and ensures that documents and records are kept up to date. She maintains the security of her setting and the safety of the children by being vigilant.  The childminder constantly reflects on her practice, attends training and seeks support to enable her to provide the best possible care and learning for the children placed with her.

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It is not yet outstanding because

 There is scope to enhance the links with other early years providers to ensure that relevant information is consistently shared.

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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 children engage in free-choice play and discussed these observations with the childminder.  The inspector looked at children's assessment records and planning documentation.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector checked evidence of suitability and qualifications of the childminder and talked with the childminder about her self-evaluation and improvement plans.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector took account of the views of parents and carers from information included in the childminder's documentation.

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Information about the setting

The childminder was registered in 1991 and is on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She lives in a house close to the centre of Corby, Northamptonshire. The ground floor of the childminder's house is used for childminding and there is an enclosed rear garden for outdoor play. The family has a pet cat and two fish ponds.The childminder is currently caring for three children, of whom one is within the early years age group and attends a variety of sessions. The childminder takes children to and/or collects them from Exeter primary school and nursery. The childminder provides flexible out of school care all year round from Monday to Friday, except bank holidays and family holidays. She holds a relevant childcare qualification at level 3.

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

 strengthen the partnership working with other early years providers to better support continuity of learning by sharing assessments that reflect the levels of children's confidence and learning in different environments.

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who attend

The childminder teaches young children the key skills they need to support their future learning well. She thoroughly understands how the children learn best enabling her to provide suitable opportunities for them to make good progress in all areas of learning. The childminder gives children time to think about what she has asked them and then follows up their responses with supportive language or actions. For example, as children feed the fish in the outdoor pond, but find them hard to see, a discussion follows about the sun shining on the water causing a reflection.

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who attend

The childminder observes children as they play and makes sure they are making progress across all areas by tracking their learning in line with expected developmental milestones. She does this to make sure children gain the skills they need to be ready for the next stage in their learning. The childminder shares information verbally with parents each day they attend or if this is not possible, she completes a communication book for them to read about their child's time with her. Parents, in return, keep the childminder updated with any experiences or happenings in the child's life at home.

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who attend

Children benefit from playing in an environment that is rich in opportunities for conversation and discussion. They are well supported in developing their communication and language skills as they are listened to and given the time to think about what they want to say. Books are easily accessible and feature in the children's routine, as do opportunities for mark making. For example, chalk boards are positioned around the garden and children enjoy using the giant chalk sticks to write their messages. During school holidays, children visit local groups with the childminder, which enables them to socialise with children of a similar age and to playing in different environments.

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

The childminder works hard with parents to settle children into her home because she understands how important it is to support the transition from home to her setting. Parents and children are invited to visit to ensure both parties are happy with the arrangements and the environment. There are warm and caring relationships evident between the childminder and the minded children that make them feel valued and secure. Children's behaviour is managed consistently well. They learn to share and take turns and older children learn to be considerate to the younger children. For example, they help the younger children to join in with their games. Children are treated respectfully by the childminder and they thrive on the encouragement and praise they receive.

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

Children are looked after in a safe environment. Although children are encouraged to consider theirs and others safety as they play, the childminder makes sure that everything they come into contact with is risk assessed and made as safe as possible. For example, the childminder has clear rules for using the trampoline. The children follow these rules carefully. Children's personal care skills develop as they learn about the importance of hand washing at certain times. They learn to put on their coats and find and use a tissue when they have a runny nose. Children walk to and from nursery and school and have lots of opportunities to play in the childminder's well-equipped garden, which means they get lots of fresh air and exercise.

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

The childminder takes into account children's dietary needs and parental and children's preferences when planning and preparing snacks and meals. She encourages children to try different fruits and vegetables often making it into a game as they try to identify what type of fruit they are eating. Children enjoy eating things they have made themselves such as, the strawberry ice lollipops they find in the freezer from the last time they visited the childminder. Children's medical needs are known to the childminder. She holds a current paediatric first aid certificate and is confident to deal with minor accidents or illnesses. She is fully aware of the requirements for administering medicines and maintains a log, signed by parents.

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provision

Children are looked after in a safe environment. The childminder has a very good working knowledge and deep understanding of her role and responsibilities in relation to the safeguarding and welfare requirements. In addition, she has a thorough understanding of child protection issues and her procedures cover the use of mobile phones and cameras in her home during childminding hours and the safe collection of children. The childminder makes parents aware that she works alone and that she has undergone suitability checks with Ofsted so they can be assured of her suitability to work with children.

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provision

The childminder has a good understanding of the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage and provides activities to support children's development in all areas of learning. She knows how to manage the business side of her provision to ensure that documents and records are kept up to date and that the security of her setting and of the children is maintained. Policies and procedures are reviewed and updated regularly and are shared with parents so they can understand how her provision operates. The childminder completes a regular review of children's development and learning and shares it with parents, although she is not currently sharing it with other early years providers that children attend. She receives regular details of the reviews and assessments completed by other early years providers and notices that these do not always agree with her own. This means that vital information about children's learning may be lost.

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provision

The childminder constantly reflects on her practice, attends training and seeks support to enable her to provide the best possible care and learning for the children placed with her. She takes into account any comments from children and parents and uses these when reviewing her practice. The childminder has many years' experience of caring for children of all ages and in the last few months has worked hard to familiarise herself with, and follow the developments in the requirements for the Early Years Foundation Stage. She has received training to enable her to access information electronically and she intends to continue to develop this resource to support 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 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 220829 Local authority Northamptonshire Inspection number 927209 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 3

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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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