Childminder in West Northamptonshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 13/03/2014 Not Applicable

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early years provision

This inspection: 2 Previous inspection: Not Applicable 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

 Teaching is good because the childminder understands how to promote each child's learning and she has high expectations for their achievements. This results in children making good progress given their unique starting points and capabilities.  The childminder works well with her co-childminder and she has a good knowledge of how children learn. All the required documentation is in place and she has begun to reflect on her activity with the children.  Children are safe because the childminder completes thorough risk assessments. She maintains close supervision of the children during their activities and she has a good understanding of how to manage any safeguarding issues that may arise.  The strong partnerships with parents contribute to each child having their individual needs met and ensures that parents are kept informed of their child's progress in learning.

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It is not yet outstanding because

 Young children's opportunities to challenge their developing physical skills are not fully maximised.  The childminder's self-evaluation of her own practice is not fully embedded in relation to fully involving the children's parents.

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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 living room, the playroom and in the garden.

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Inspection activities

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

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Inspection activities

 The inspector looked at children's assessment records and a range of the childminder's policies and procedures and other documentation.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector checked evidence of the suitability of the adults working with the children and took account of the childminder's self-evaluation form.

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Information about the setting

The childminder was registered in 2009 on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She lives in a house in Long Buckby, Northamptonshire. The whole of the ground floor, one bedroom on the first floor and the rear garden are used for childminding. She works with her daughter who is also a registered childminder in her daughter's home. The childminder attends a toddler group and activities at the local children's centre. She visits the shops and park on a regular basis. There is currently one child on roll who is in the early years age group and attends for a variety of sessions. She operates all year round from 7am to 5pm, Monday to Friday except for family holidays.

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

 extend the already good opportunities for young children to practise their physical skills, such as climbing, for example, by providing equipment and resources that are challenging and can be used in a variety of ways to support this specific skill

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

 strengthen the self-evaluation to take account of the views of the children's parents.

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who attend

The childminder has a good understanding of how children learn and she uses this knowledge to plan suitable activities for the children in her care. She supports young children to explore and to be curious about their surroundings. For example, toddlers enjoy being outside in the garden and move between their chosen activities. These include manipulating the play tools on the work bench. They clearly recall events from the past and imitate the actions of the tools before moving to the playhouse where they explore the tube on the toy vacuum cleaner. Later they become fascinated with another vacuum cleaner that has batteries. The children enjoy the vibrating sensation on their hands and watch as the small items inside move around. The childminder remains close by throughout the children's explorations and she teaches them through providing a running commentary about what they are doing and giving lots of praise and encouragement.

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who attend

However, there is scope to extend young children's opportunities to develop their physical skills, such as climbing through providing a range of resources that promote this skill.

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who attend

Children enjoy feeling a range of different textures. They let dry sand run through their fingers and smile up at the childminder when water is added and they are aware of the change in the feeling on their hands. The childminder responds sensitively, commenting on the sand being cold and wet. When the children climb into a large, low tray which contains dry cereal they explore this with their fingers and taste it. The childminder talks to them about the noise it makes as it gets crushed and they laugh together as the cereal gets stuck on their face and fingers. These experiences are helping children to learn about the world around them and the gentle interaction from the childminder gives them confidence to take part. Children who speak English as an additional language are well supported because the childminder discusses their needs with their parents and she provides resources including books and signs in English and their home language.

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who attend

The childminder works closely with the children's parents. She talks to them about their interests and achievements at home and uses this information to identify their starting points and to inform her planning of activities. Children are encouraged to be independent. For example, toddlers are given a spoon at lunchtime to feed themselves and they are able to choose freely from the abundance of play materials that are available to them. Children enjoy being around each other and they are enthusiastic to try out all the activities. This partnership and support to be independent contributes to children being well prepared for their move on to school when the time comes. The children's progress in learning is evident in the observations and photographs that are recorded by the childminder. She links the observations to the relevant areas of learning and identifies suitable next steps in learning for them.

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

Children are helped to settle in when they first start attending because the childminder manages this with their parents on an individual basis. She finds out information from parents about their unique routines and requirements for food and rest to ensure she manages these well. The children show a clear bond with the childminder and a sense of well-being in her company. Those children who sleep settle quickly and they wake happily, ready to play again after a cuddle with the childminder.

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

The childminder supports children to behave well because she provides them with suitable activities that provide appropriate challenge and they are interested in what they are doing. She is aware of suitable strategies to employ to manage children's behaviour as required. Children are safe because they are closely supervised by the childminder during their activities. She is skilled in ensuring that young toddlers have opportunities to take appropriate risks during their play and explorations. The childminder makes regular checks on children who are sleeping to ensure they are safe.

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

Children benefit from regular outside play. The garden is well appointed with a wide range of resources and play materials and they have space to run around and explore. Most of the children's meals are provided by their parents. The childminder provides healthy snacks for them following thorough discussion with their parents to ensure they have had the food before. Parents are provided with feedback about how much their child has eaten, their sleep times and nappy changes on a daily basis.

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provision

The childminder works very well with her co-childminder and this effective partnership contributes to each child's needs being well met. The childminder demonstrates a good awareness of the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the Statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage. For example, the adults working with the children have the required clearances in place, she has a clear understanding of her role in child protection and is well versed in what to do should there be concerns about a child's welfare. Risk assessments are completed and these are reviewed and checked regularly and emergency evacuation drills are carried out periodically. Children are provided with a great range of resources and play materials that are accessible and well maintained.

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provision

The childminder has a great deal of experience of working with children. She shows a good understanding of how to implement the learning and development requirements of the Statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage for the children in her care. She takes account of their individual needs and interests and ensures the activities and next steps are suitable and provide sufficient challenge to help them to continue to move on in their learning. The close partnership working with parents means that they are kept informed about the progress their child is making.

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provision

The childminder evaluates the effectiveness of her childminding service. She has made some adaptations since she registered according to the children's and family's needs and she has identified some areas for continued development. There is scope, however, to expand the self-evaluation to fully include the views of the children's parents.

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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 EY400908 Local authority Northamptonshire Inspection number 954068 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 1

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Name of provider

Date of previous inspection not applicable

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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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