Childminder in Essex

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 01/05/2014 02/11/2011

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early years provision

This inspection: 3 Previous inspection: 2 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 3 The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision 3

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This provision requires improvement

 The childminder takes children on a range of outings within the local community, such as parks. Children benefit from this as they learn about the wider world and enhance their physical skills.  The childminder's home is very clean. She minimises risks so that children are able to learn and play in a safe environment. Children's safeguarding is well supported through close supervision and a range of policies and procedures.  Children develop strong bonds with the childminder and they demonstrate a sense of belonging. This contributes significantly to their well-being.  The childminder has secure and effective partnerships with parents which support her in meeting the children's needs and ensure she knows the children well.

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It is not yet good because

 The childminder has failed to notify Ofsted of an allegation of abuse or harm to a child in her care. This is a breach of legal requirements.  The childminder is not consistent in her use of information gained from assessments of children's learning to accurately plan for their individual next steps. This means the quality of teaching is variable.  The childminder does not use self-evaluation and reflective practice consistently in monitoring her practice. This results in areas for improvement not being clearly defined.

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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 while they were engaged in activities in the living room.

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Inspection activities

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

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Inspection activities

 The views of parents were taken into account from written documentation they had provided.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector discussed the delivery of the Early Years Foundation Stage with the childminder.

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Inspection activities

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

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Information about the setting

The childminder was registered in 2004 and is on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She lives in a house in Basildon, Essex. The whole of the ground floor, a bedroom and the bathroom on the first floor and the rear garden are used for childminding. The childminder has a pet dog. She visits the shops and park on a regular basis and takes children to and from the local schools. There are currently 12 children on roll, one of whom is in the early years age group and attends for a variety of sessions. The childminder operates all year round from 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except Bank Holidays and family holidays. She is a member of the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years.

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must:

 develop the educational programme by using observation and assessment of children's achievements consistently to plan for their individual next steps in learning.

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

 extend the use of reflective practice to accurately identify all areas for improvement and to monitor and improve practice in the quality of teaching.

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who attend

The childminder understands her role and responsibilities to meet the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. She is working with development workers to extend her understanding of child development and how young children learn. The childminder has a secure knowledge of each child in her care and this enables her to support individual children's learning through play. For example, young children play on the floor, supported by the childminder. She provides toys that are suitable for the younger children, including those that move and make sounds as the children play with them. The childminder is playful with the children, supporting them to move around in the play space safely and confidently and to make choices from resources.

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who attend

The childminder has started to complete observations and assessments of the children and is developing ways to use these to plan activities and learning experiences. However, this information is not currently well used for planning for next steps in learning, and this results in opportunities to extend children's learning being missed. The childminder gathers details from parents when children start, which gives her a clear understanding of their needs and interests. This information is used to develop care routines and to provide children with activities and experiences that follow their interests. The childminder has systems to assess the children's stage of development, which enables her to check their progress from their individual starting points. She is promoting children's communication and language through her interaction with the children. She gets down to their level, gives them lots of eye contact and uses gestures and facial expressions to aid communication.

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who attend

She describes what the children are doing as they play and talks with them about the toys they choose. The childminder speaks clearly and models language for the children to copy. For example, very young children are encouraged to use their voices both to practise words and to express their needs.

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who attend

The childminder recognises that the outdoors provides a wealth of learning opportunities for children and ensures they are taken out frequently. The childminder takes the children to local parks where they can build their confidence and develop their physical skills as they run, jump, climb and balance. In the childminder's home children's large physical skills are well supported as they move easily around the room. For example, younger children are able to practise pulling themselves up to stand using stable and secure furniture. Children of all ages are learning what they can and cannot do while developing skills to assess risks for themselves. The childminder carefully supports the children as they develop and practice new skills. She enables children to develop wider friendships as she takes them on outings and arranges activities with other childminders.

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who attend

The childminder clearly has secure relationships with parents, and provides detailed daily reports. Parents are welcomed into the childminder's home daily and she takes these opportunities to share information about children's well being. They are encouraged to share information about what the child is doing at home so that childminder can build a complete picture of each child. This helps children to feel settled and emotionally secure, and parents to feel fully confident in the childminder's care. The childminder's good support of children's confidence and self-esteem ensures they are well prepared for their next stage of learning and for moving on to school.

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

The childminder develops warm and caring relationships with the children. This is demonstrated through a strong sense of belonging and the close attachments the children have with the childminder. The childminder works closely with parents to settle children, supporting them to feel confident in her home. She gathers detailed information from parents about children's care and what they need for their comfort. This ensures that children separate well from their parents and there is a happy, smooth transition between home and her care. Children seek comfort from the childminder and she provides cuddles to support their emotional security. The childminder recognises when children are tired, hungry or require their personal needs attending to, and responds quickly to keep them comfortable. They enjoy to play with her and easily express their need for her attention. This ensures children's personal, social and emotional development is successfully

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

supported. The promotion of children's health is well supported and good standards of cleanliness are maintained throughout the childminding areas. Children's physical development is supported through outdoor play at local parks and in the childminder's garden. This allows the childminder to provide physical challenges and to support children's good health as they are playing in the fresh air. Children are supported to develop an understanding about healthy eating as the childminder provides a range of well-balanced snacks. Younger children's meals and snacks are all provided by parents, and the childminder works with them to support changing diets as children grow. The childminder talks to the older children about hand washing routines and encourages them to ensure they are well used. Younger children's personal needs are sensitively met by the childminder's careful attention.

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

The childminder builds children's self-esteem and confidence by praising their efforts and achievements. She successfully helps children to develop confidence as they are encouraged to learn skills to help them to be as independent as possible. For example, the younger children are encouraged to feed themselves at snack time and to choose independently from the range of resources provided. The childminder explains how she involves older children in following road safety procedures on outings and school runs. This ensures they are developing an understanding of how to keep themselves safe. Children's behaviour is well supported through the calm and well-ordered routines the childminder puts in place.

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provision

The inspection was brought forward as a result of concerns being raised with Ofsted relating to the childminder's knowledge about notifying Ofsted about significant events and other potential issues. At the inspection it was found that the provider had not notified Ofsted of an allegation of serious harm or abuse to a child or notified Ofsted of the action taken in respect of the allegations within the prescribed time period. The provider is aware of the requirement to notify Ofsted but on this occasion did not based on advice from an outside agency.

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provision

The childminder is working closely with the local development workers to support her in developing her service and professional development. She has a secure understanding of her responsibilities in meeting the safeguarding requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. She demonstrates that she has an awareness of child protection issues and has a safeguarding policy in place. The childminder is the only adult in the home and suitable person checks have been carried out for her. Risk assessments are thorough and identify potential dangers to children and how these will be minimised, both in the childminder's home and on outings. Children are well supervised and younger children are given constant supervision; this means children are able to play and learn in safe environments. Record keeping is well organised and an appropriate range of policies and procedures support the safe and efficient management of the provision. The childminder

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provision

records accidents and incidents well, and all records are shared with parents so they are fully informed. The childminder supervises children well and carefully supports their safety. She is developing the use of self-evaluation to help her identify any weaknesses and make plans for improvement. For example, she has developed a system of written records to track each child's progress and to support her to plan effectively. She has an adequate system in place to ensure the educational programme supports the prime areas well and is developing her systems to plan for specific areas. However, reflective practice is not sufficiently well used to monitor practice, and as a result, teaching opportunities are sometimes missed.

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provision

The childminder recognises the importance of working closely with parents to ensure that children are securely settled and have consistency of care. Parents are welcomed into her home and kept well informed about their child's day through daily conversations and detailed written records. This means that parents know what their children have been doing and how they can support them at home. Parents give exceptionally positive feedback about the service, and the current families have used the childminder's service for siblings over a number of years. There are currently no children on roll who attend other early years settings. However, the childminder understands the importance of establishing good links with professionals from other settings when the time is right.

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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 EY279541 Local authority Essex Inspection number 966001 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 12

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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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