Childminder in Bracknell Forest

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 23/04/2014 22/01/2009

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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 has a good understanding of child protection and safeguarding. She has clear risk assessment processes and demonstrates safe routines in the home and on outings.  The childminder has increased her level of record keeping to meet the regulations and to demonstrate her knowledge and understanding of promoting children's learning.  The childminder closely supervises children to maintain their safety and she responds with dedication to meet their individual needs for food, drink and daily care.  The childminder continually communicates with children and very appropriately encourages their developing speech and language skills.

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It is not yet outstanding because

 The childminder has not yet fully developed thorough systems to enable all parents to contribute to children's learning records to promote continuity between learning at home and with the childminder.

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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 viewed all areas of the home and garden.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the children and the childminder during activities and daily routines.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector gained evidence through discussion and through viewing a range of documentation.  The inspector provided feedback and gave the inspection judgements.

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Information about the setting

The childminder registered in 2001 in her former home and now lives in Sandhurst in Berkshire. She lives with her husband and three children. The family has a dog. Children remain on the ground floor only for all activities and daily routines. The home has a ground floor toilet. There is a secure rear garden for outdoor play with a deck/patio and steps down to the main garden. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She is currently caring for nine children on a part-time basis and four of these children are in the early years age group.

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

 encourage parents to contribute to children's learning records to promote continuity of children's learning and development between home and the childminder.

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who attend

The childminder demonstrates a strong knowledge of how to promote children's learning and development throughout their play and during daily routines. For example, she fully supports the physical development of babies who are just becoming mobile. She instantly recognises their capabilities in crawling and reaching items and she places toys on the floor to encourage movement. She effectively uses rattles to increase children's interest level by making sounds. She provides interactive toys that children learn to press as well as natural everyday items for babies to handle and investigate. The childminder continually engages with children and strongly believes in encouraging their speech and language development through constant interaction. She encourages children to make eye contact and clearly pronounces words and uses repetition frequently. In this way, children learn to pronounce new words and the childminder effectively praises children to develop

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who attend

their confidence and extend their vocabulary.

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who attend

Children sit with the childminder to read books, they learn to turn the pages and talk about the pictures. The childminder uses musical instruments to link with the pictures in the book. She is very aware of younger children's shorter concentration span and she responds by changing activities swiftly. Children show an interest in the number puzzle and the childminder encourages them to feel the number shapes, to say the number name as well as fitting the puzzle pieces together. She effectively combines several areas of learning in one activity and this clearly promotes younger children's progress and early learning. The childminder positively develops children's interest in the wider locality through regular outings. She encourages children to look at the natural world around them and find bugs and insects when they walk in the woods. She increases their understanding of the world through visiting local parks and open play areas. The childminder uses her ability to

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who attend

recognise children's individual interests. For example, when younger siblings want to take part in homework after school, she encourages them to practise writing and forming letter shapes. She often provides cooking activities and children learn many skills by helping to make biscuits together. Children often develop their own pretend play and wear hard hats when they use the play tools for building. These examples show how the childminder effectively encourages children's development across all areas of learning, to narrow any gaps in their achievements.

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who attend

The childminder competently gains information from parents at the start of caring for each child and this enables her to understand each child's initial development level. She uses her observations to learn about their characteristics and their ongoing abilities. The childminder continues to record descriptive observations of children's play and she capably uses these to assess children's progress. These records help the childminder to plan for children's next steps in their development. The childminder also uses this system to write clear progress reports for parents when children reach the age of two years. She includes daily diaries for parents to ensure they are regularly up-dated on their children's progress. However the childminder has not yet developed thorough systems to encourage all parents to see and contribute fully to children's ongoing learning and maintain the continuity between home and the childminder.

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who attend

The childminder competently prepares children for their ongoing learning through liaising with nurseries and pre-schools who share children's care. She encourages children to learn about the daily rules and routines and she praises children frequently to increase their self-esteem and confidence. This results in younger children beginning to understand how to develop independence skills.

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

The childminder visits children in their own home before the childcare arrangements start. This practice enables her to establish positive relationships with children and promote their emotional development from the start. The childminder responds fully to children's needs, including those for rest and sleep. She shows care and affection to comfort and settle children. She ensures babies are safe and securely strapped into highchairs or pushchairs. Older children sleep comfortably on the settee protected with cushions. The childminder diligently watches and listens to children at all times to ensure their safety.

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

The childminder leads younger children's play through suggesting activities and instantly finding new resources. She participates fully in play and care routines and in this way the childminder has increased children's sense of belonging and developed a close bond with children. The childminder has competently learned about children's preferences and interests and she uses her knowledge to prepare for children's needs. For example, she recognises when crawling babies need opportunities to explore on the floor and she explains to other children about taking care and moving safely around babies at all times. She also encourages children to remove their outdoor shoes to maintain the cleanliness of the floor and she regularly washes the toys babies like to handle and chew. The childminder includes regular routines for hand washing before meals and helps younger children as required. These frequent routines clearly maintain a hygienic environment for

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

babies and children and enable them to learn the importance of cleanliness for promoting their health.

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

The childminder responsibly follows all routines for feeding children according to parents' requests. She provides healthy food and frequent drinks to meet the needs of children attending and she attentively feeds younger children whilst maintaining dialogue with older children. The childminder encourages older children to understand the rules and boundaries of sitting at the low table to eat sandwiches and manage their own drinks. She soundly praises children's efforts and their ability to feed themselves. She encourages polite responses to develop children's understanding of good manners. Consequently, the childminder is positively promoting the importance of following regular routines for a healthy lifestyle. She successfully includes boundaries to help children develop and understand about positive behaviour.

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

Children move freely and select resources from the wide range available. They have ample floor space in all areas of the open-plan sitting room and the conservatory and this provides babies and toddlers with opportunities for movement. Older children freely access the garden and follow the organised routines for using the trampoline safely. The childminder constantly supervises younger children during outdoor play because there are steps from the patio to the lower garden. The childminder often visits local play centres and toddler groups to widen the variety for younger children's physical development. She also knows that this increases children's opportunity to socialise and learn to cooperate with other children. In this way children take part in a wide variety of varied play opportunities to promote their all round development.

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provision

The inspection took place following concerns raised with Ofsted about children's safety and safeguarding practice. We sent the provider a notice to improve to ensure that a written record of accidents and the first aid treatment is recorded. In addition, to ensure that children's attendance records are completed and to be alert to any concerns about children in their own lives at home or elsewhere. We also needed to check the systems for assessing risks and hazards and the safety of the premises. The inspection found that the childminder has a responsible attitude and a clear understanding of safeguarding children. She has previously attended training in child protection and she has completed a detailed portfolio covering all areas of safeguarding. These procedures show the childminder knows the protocol and can outline the responses and gain support from relevant agencies if there are any concerns about the children in her care. She has planned procedures to

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provision

record any injuries that children have on arrival and to obtain parents' signatures. All documentation is in place and available for inspection. The childminder completes a daily attendance record to show she meets the required ratios of children attending. She has clear records in place for any accidents and parents sign when they collect.

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provision

The inspection found the childminder has a strong understanding of child development and she fully recognises her responsibility to promote children's learning through play. She has developed clear systems of observation and she effectively describes children's progress. She recognises and responds to gaps in children's learning. In this way, the childminder is able to plan and provide opportunities for children's ongoing development.

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provision

The childminder has developed a full range of policies and procedures to meet the requirements and she has updated her knowledge about the suitability of adults in the home.

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provision

The childminder competently assesses risks and hazards to maintain children's safety. She checks the home and garden daily and uses a stair gate to ensure that children remain on the ground floor at all times. The childminder has organised routines in place for supervising younger children during outdoor play and she has established clear boundaries to manage children's safety on the trampoline. The childminder gains written permission from parents for using the trampoline and for outings and transportation. She has current car insurance in place to cover business use and this protects the children in her care.

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provision

Through updating her knowledge and improving her documentation, the childminder has evaluated and reviewed many areas of her provision to meet the requirements. She has attended further training and follows the guidance and support of the local early years network to improve her provision.

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provision

The childminder liaises regularly with parents. She gains clear information at the start of childcare and she competently follows their requests for providing food and drink to suit children's needs. The childminder willingly writes daily diaries for parents who choose this form of sharing the day's events. She is eager to build relationships and develop a shared approach to promoting children's progress.

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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 153303 Local authority Bracknell Forest Inspection number 942953 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 5 Number of children on roll 9

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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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