Childminder in Cambridgeshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 03/07/2014 30/06/2011

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early years provision

This inspection: 2 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 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 each child's abilities and interests. As a result, activities are appropriately selected and children are making good progress in her care.  The childminder forms strong, warm and trusting relationships with children. Consequently, children are happy and confident as they play and learn in her home.  All children benefit from the attention they receive from the childminder as they play together. In this way, the childminder uses her good teaching skills to enhance children's learning.  Children's communication skills are fostered well because the childminder engages children in delightful conversations, introduces new vocabulary and generally gives them the confidence to become good talkers.  Children are safeguarded because the childminder has a good understanding of child protection issues and knows how to identify, record and report concerns about children

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It is not yet outstanding because

 Good strategies to help all parents to fully engage with their children's learning at home have yet to be explored. Consequently, some learning opportunities are not maximised.

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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 childminder's home and in the garden.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke with children and the childminder at appropriate times throughout the inspection.  The inspector and childminder took part in a joint observation.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector looked at children's learning profiles, a range of other documentation including policies and considered the childminder's self-evaluation.

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Information about the setting

The childminder was registered in 2007 and she lives with her husband and three children in Ely, Cambridgeshire. The ground floor of the childminder's house is used for childminding purposes with supervised access to the first floor. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She is currently minding 10 children, four of whom are in the early years group and attend for a variety of sessions. The childminder walks and drives to local schools and amenities. She operates all year round from 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder is a member of the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years.

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

 develop further the already good partnerships with parents to encourage them to consistently share information about children's activities and learning at home.

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who attend

The childminder has a good understanding of how children develop and is skilled in her interactions to promote their learning at every opportunity. She observes children carefully and is able to use her assessments of children's development to plan challenging and interesting activities for each child. Recent improvements to the way she records this have been of great benefit and ensure children receive the support they need to progress to an even higher level. However, there is scope to improve the already good partnerships with parents to encourage them to share information about activities and learning at home. In this way, learning can be extended in a coordinated way.

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who attend

Children enjoy spending time with the childminder. This is because she provides a warm and stimulating environment where children are able to play and learn contentedly. Children are able to choose from a wide range of activities and in this way are able to investigate and explore things that interest them. For example, children enjoy playing with racing cars. They carefully choose their favourite and are keen to show how fast they can travel. The childminder joins in with their play and extends learning by explaining and demonstrating how each car propels itself along the floor. This enhances children's interest and they spend time looking at the wheels and practising how to make their vehicles speed along. These playful experiences encourage children to become inquisitive and puzzle out for themselves how things work and how their own actions have an effect on the toys. The childminder supports children's communication well. She engages children in

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who attend

delightful conversations and younger children are especially keen to practise their newly found skills. For example, the childminder repeats the name for a small figure and praises children's response as they repeat the word 'policeman' for the first time. In this way, children are rapidly becoming confident talkers. Literacy skills are promoted positively as children begin to show an interest in the written word. They point to the names of dinosaurs depicted in their colouring books and listen carefully as the childminder reads each one. This shows children are learning that text carries meaning and their inquisitive nature will prompt them to learn to read in the future. The childminder recognises that children enjoy opportunities to make marks and practise early writing. Even young children concentrate for a considerable amount of time and demonstrate they can hold crayons correctly and express themselves in this way. The childminder encourages them

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who attend

with plenty of praise and ensures she stays close by so that their interest is sustained. This good practice supports children well and enhances development ready for their eventual move to nursery.

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

The strong, trusting partnership between the childminder and parents supports children's emotional and care needs well. Children are confident in the company of the childminder and play contentedly in her home. Older children show an extraordinary caring attitude towards those younger than themselves as they help remove shoes after a walk and show great maturity as they explain that their friend is only just beginning to learn to share and take turns. This good behaviour is due to the positive guidance given by the childminder.

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

The childminder has a good understanding of how to keep children safe and ensures her home is suitable for young children. She also assesses risks in the local area, especially for the visits to the park. Children have plenty of opportunities to develop good physical abilities here and in the childminder's garden. Children have room to run, play on the swing and generally benefit from fresh air and exercise. These activities support children to understand how to stay healthy and take small, calculated risks such taking care as they use the slide. The childminder enhances this further by providing children with nutritious snacks and meals. She discusses how some foods are good for them and supports this by growing vegetables in the garden, which children enjoy harvesting and eating.

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

The childminder organises her home well and children's toys and resources are stored safely, yet accessible to all children. Children's independence is fostered well by this good practice and means they are able to follow their own interests. The promotion of children's independence is also reflected in the way the childminder encourages young children to learn good self-care routines. For example, the childminder forms good partnerships with parents and they both follow consistent ways in which children can become toilet trained and wash their own hands. Children are well prepared for changes in their lives because the childminder gradually introduces them to a wider circle of friends or when appropriate, joins local groups and links with other childminders in the area. These nurturing experiences support children during a potentially stressful time and because of this, they are prepared for their move to nursery or to school.

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provision

The childminder has a good understanding of her responsibilities to ensure her practice meets the safeguarding and welfare, and learning and development requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. She has attended safeguarding training and has a good knowledge of how to identify, record and report concerns about children in her care. Policies and procedures support her work, both at home, when taking and collecting children from school and when visiting the local area. The childminder is enthusiastic about her role and where possible attends training to improve her skills. She also makes good use of the internet and has good links with other childminders in the area. In this way she ensures she is up to date with her practice and children benefit from her increased skills and knowledge. The childminder reflects on her own practice and is currently reviewing various ways she can best support children of varying ages. The

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provision

childminder also monitors children's progress and links this with planning of activities to ensure children can continue to make good or better progress in their development.

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provision

The childminder recognises the importance of partnership working with other providers of the Early Years Foundation Stage and support agencies. She has links with various organisations including local schools and knows where to gain support should she need the involvement of other professionals to meet children's needs. Partnerships with parents are strong and in letters sent for the purposes of inspection, parents describe how happy children are in her care. All in all, children are well supported to have a nurturing and stimulating early years experience where their learning and development in promoted well.

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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 EY355315 Local authority Cambridgeshire Inspection number 873515 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 10

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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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