Childminder in Cornwall

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 11/04/2014 24/01/2011

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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 establishes warm and trusting relationships with the children, which helps them to feel safe and secure.  The childminder provides a good range of activities that interest children and successfully promotes their learning and development.  The childminder establishes effective partnerships with parents. As a result, she knows children well and is able to meet their individual needs.  The childminder makes good use of the premises, garden and local places of interest to support children's learning.

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It is not yet outstanding because

 The childminder misses some opportunities to extend children's learning further, by identifying and celebrating difference and diversity.  The childminder provides fewer opportunities for children to explore and investigate natural and 'real' resources, in order to satisfy their curious and inquisitive nature.

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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 engaged in discussion with the childminder and children.  The inspector viewed the premises, toys and equipment.  The inspector and childminder undertook a joint observation of an activity.  The inspector sampled a range of documentation.

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Inspection activities

 The childminder observed interactions between the childminder and children.

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Information about the setting

The childminder registered in 2010. She lives with her partner and two children in St Austell, near Truro, Cornwall. On occasion, she works with her mother, who is also her assistant. Children use all areas of the childminder's home. Toilet facilities are on the first floor. An enclosed garden is available for outdoor play. The childminder also makes regular use of the park, beach, countryside and woodland walks. The family has a dog.

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Information about the setting

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. There are currently six children on roll in the early years age group, two also attend another early years provision. The childminder supports children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and children learning English as an additional language.

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

 enhance children's learning experiences further by positively promoting and celebrating children's cultural differences

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

 extend opportunities for children to develop their curiosity and inquisitiveness, through use of a wide range of realistic and natural materials and objects for exploration and investigation using all their senses.

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who attend

The childminder has a secure understanding of how children learn and develop. She obtains good levels of information about children's preferences, interests and abilities. This helps her to establish their individual starting points and plan a broad and balanced range of enjoyable learning experiences. As a result, she successfully promotes children's learning across all areas. The childminder provides good opportunities for children to make use of the indoor, outdoors and local environment for play and learning. She knows that children greatly enjoy outdoor play, so enables them to enjoy creative, exploratory and physical play in the garden. For example, children enthusiastically climb and slide, paint Easter themed pictures using the outdoor easel and pour and splash the water in the 'pirate ship'. Indoors they have a 'teddy bears picnic' together, which supports their personal and social development, as they share, take turns and learn the

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who attend

art of preparing and serving the pretend food. During this activity conversation flows as children ask the childminder, and one another, if they would like a biscuit and some tea, and talk enthusiastically about what they will do later. This promotes children communication skills and supports their language development well.

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who attend

The childminder offers a good balance of adult-led and child-initiated activities. The quality of teaching is good, as she interacts well with children to support, encourage and challenge them in their play. She asks open questions, provides additional resources and introduces new ideas to stimulate and maintain their interest. The childminder uses effective assessment systems to monitor children's progress. She takes photographs of children at play, writes short observations and collects examples of children's work. She shares these with parents regularly to celebrate children's individual achievements and to identify and agree appropriate 'next steps' for their development. These records also provide evidence to show that during their time with the childminder, children of all ages and abilities make good progress and acquire the key skills for future learning. Parents provide positive feedback through recently completed questionnaires. They express that

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who attend

they are very happy with the standards of care and education and feel fully included in their child's learning. There are children attending who have dual cultural backgrounds and learn English as an additional language. The childminder enables them to explore and celebrate their English heritage and celebrate familiar traditions. However, she has not fully encouraged these children to share and celebrate their additional culture and language with others. Therefore, there are some missed opportunities to use children's existing knowledge and skills to enhance their learning experiences further.

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

Children form a secure attachment to the childminder. As a result, they are happy and confident. They freely select favourite toys that are stored in low storage boxes; this promotes their increasing independence and sense of belonging. The childminder knows children well and therefore provides activities that truly interest and engage them. She is sensitive and attentive to their needs, which successfully promotes their well-being. Children follow the good examples set by the childminder and are well mannered, helpful and are learning to share and take turns. The childminder engages children in ongoing discussion about how to respect one another, take care of the environment and keep themselves and others safe from harm. For example, the childminder reminds them to move carefully from indoors to outdoors, so they do not trip on the step. She also encourages children to use the slide one at a time, to avoid collisions and falls.

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

The childminder's home is welcoming, comfortable and suitable for children's use. She displays information for parents prominently on the walls. Children have use of an appropriate range of furniture, toys and equipment to promote their safety and all-round development. There is a generally good range of stimulating activities available both indoors and outdoors. However, although children have use of some sensory resources such as seashells, there are few additional natural objects for children to investigate, such as pebbles, leaves, twigs and pinecones. In addition, the enjoyment of activities such as the 'teddy bears picnic' is slightly limited due to a lack of 'real' foods to taste and serve. Therefore, children do not benefit from plentiful opportunities to engage in sensory and exploratory learning experiences. The childminder actively promotes children's good health. She provides healthy snacks and drinks during the day and children sit together to

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

eat. Children bring their own packed lunch from home, which is stored and served hygienically. The childminder teaches children how to identify and manage their own personal care needs and understand why it is important to wash their hands before eating and after messy play. She also encourages children to benefit from plenty of fresh air and physical exercise. Through ongoing discussion, children are beginning to understand why these good practices impact positively on their growth and development. Good links with other early years settings are in place. This helps to support children in their move on to these settings and in to school.

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provision

The childminder has a good understanding of the learning and development and safeguarding and welfare requirements of the Statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage. She demonstrates a secure understanding of the local safeguarding procedures and is confident to follow these if required. Suitability checks are complete for all adults living and/or working on the premises. A thorough written risk assessment is in place and the childminder completes daily visual checks on the premises, toys and equipment. Children learn how to keep themselves and others safe, as they participate in regular emergency evacuation procedures. They also learn how to identify and manage everyday risk as they handle toys and equipment and move from the indoors to outdoors. Partnerships with parents, the local authority and local early years practitioners are effective. In turn, this makes a positive contribution to meeting the needs of the children.

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provision

This is because the childminder receives support in keeping up-to-date and shares good levels of information with others involved in children's care and education.

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provision

The childminder is able to successfully monitor children's ongoing development and assess their individual learning needs. She is also competent in her ability to plan and deliver a stimulating range of enjoyable activities. These include good opportunities to use the local environment, as they visit the beach, countryside, woodlands and visitor attractions. These opportunities enhance children's learning experiences further and help all children to make good progress towards the early learning goals. The childminder and her assistant regularly reflect on their practice to help them to evaluate their overall effectiveness. As a result, they identify appropriate areas for future improvement. This currently includes updating their knowledge and skills through completing additional safeguarding training. They also plan to enhance the outdoor play area further, to include more opportunities for creative artwork and the promotion of children's literacy skills.

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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 EY414041 Local authority Cornwall Inspection number 816415 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 6

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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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