Childminder in Gloucestershire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 22/07/2014 12/03/2014

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early years provision

This inspection: 3 Previous inspection: 4 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 is loving and affectionate with the children, meaning they feel safe and secure.  Children are given regular opportunities to play outdoors helping to promote their physical development.  The childminder has good relationships with parents who are happy with the care their children receive.

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It is not yet good because

 The childminder does not consistently promote language development during play to enable babies and children to make good progress.  Toys and equipment are not well organised, to enable children to make choices and to promote their learning.  The childminder does not consistently plan a balance of adult-led and child-initiated that will help challenge children and enable them to explore.

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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 held conversations with the childminder.  The inspector looked through a sample of policies, procedures and learning journals.  The inspector observed interactions between childminder and children.  The inspector viewed all areas used for childminding and resources available.

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Information about the setting

The childminder registered in 2009 on the Early Years Register and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder currently cares for eight children, six of whom in the early years age range. The childminder lives with her adult son and school-aged daughter in the Hester's Way area of Cheltenham, close to schools, shops and play parks. The whole of the house is available for childminding, although the main areas used are the sitting room, kitchen/dining area and upstairs toilet facilities. Upstairs bedrooms are available for sleeping. There is an enclosed rear garden with grass and patio areas for outdoor play. The family has two dogs, one guinea pig, two rabbits and two cats.

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must:

 ensure there is a balance of adult-led and child-initiated activities that will help children develop in each area of learning

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must:

 ensure that children's communication and language is consistently promoted, especially in babies, by talking to them more frequently during play.

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

 organise toys and equipment effectively so children can use them to gain quality learning experiences.

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who attend

The childminder suitable supports children's development and keeps learning journals to show their progress. The childminder provides children with a range of art and craft materials, sand and water play which gives them a chance to be creative using a range of materials. The childminder demonstrates a satisfactory understanding of the need for children to be stimulated during the day and has photographs and observations of children engaged in various activities. However, she does not use this information consistently to develop and plan a balance of adult-led and child initiated activities that challenge children according to their age group.

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who attend

The childminder has a general understanding of how to extend learning in areas such as early number recognition for older children. For example, she writes numbers in chalk on the wall outside so the children can recognise them in other places. She has introduced an 'arrival train' into the hallway so older children can begin to recognise their names and place them on the board. This promotes their early literacy skills. Babies have access to sensory toys and equipment that help them enhance their senses. They are beginning to understand that actions have effect. For instance, they have recently mastered the skill in pressing the lever on one toy to eject the balls. The childminder claps and praises this achievement, which develops children's self-esteem. However, the childminder does not consistently use language with the youngest of children to promote their communication more effectively.

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who attend

The childminder has several boxes of toys and equipment in both the living room and the conservatory that are easily accessible to children. These include toys with lights and noise to incorporate technology, and dolls' houses that allow the children to engage in small world play and use their imaginations. However, the toys are not well organised, so children are not able to make the most of the equipment and the learning opportunities that these can offer. Children are given opportunities to explore the wider world by regular trips to the local park and develop their interest in animals by observing the rabbits in their run in the garden.

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

Children feel safe and secure with the childminder who is affectionate and loving. Babies have made secure attachments to the childminder. They move around the room confidently and are comfortable in their environment. Children respond with smiles to praise from the childminder, which further promotes their self-esteem and confidence. The childminder understands the emotional needs of individual children during the settling-in process. She enables them to keep their comfort toys with them until they are feeling more secure.

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

The childminder enables children to develop an understanding of how to keep themselves safe. They now take part in regular fire drills, so they know how to leave the house quickly and safely in an emergency. Equipment such as trampolines and bikes in the garden offer children the opportunity to enjoy and engage in physical play. Regular trips to soft play activities provide opportunities for children to develop large motor skills and experiment with different ways of moving. The childminder provides valuable social experiences as she takes children to weekly toddler and childminding groups. This helps children to develop skills in making relationships and promotes their personal, social and emotional development.

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

The children are beginning to understand about healthy lifestyles. The childminder offers healthy snacks and ensures the children wash their hands before eating. The childminder minimises the risk of spreading infections by using different coloured individual towels to dry hands. The childminder has recently reviewed her behaviour policy and uses positive strategies to manage children's behaviour. For example, she uses explanations about why behaviour is or is not acceptable, and helps children to understand the importance of sharing.

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

The childminder ensures children are well supervised and checked on at regular intervals if she is engaged in tasks such as organising snacks. She adequately monitors their behaviour at all times.

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provision

The childminder has a secure understanding of keeping children safe. For example, she maintains the required ratios and supervises children at all times. She demonstrates a suitable awareness about safeguarding procedures. She has written risk assessments, which cover all aspects of the setting. She has clear safeguarding policy and knows what to do if she is concerned about a child in her care.

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provision

The childminder has shown her commitment to continued self-improvement. She has increased her knowledge of behaviour management. She demonstrates a greater understanding of the need for children to be stimulated to avoid squabbles. The childminder has made improvements to the level of resources available, although since the toys are not well organised they do not give the opportunity for quality learning experiences.

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provision

The childminder has an adequate knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage and the need for children to learn through play. However, she does not use the information gathered through observations to help plan a balance of activities that are sufficiently challenging. This means children's individual and emerging needs are sometimes overlooked.

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provision

The childminder has sound relationships with parents. She ensures she takes the time to provide daily feedback and encourages parents to contribute to, and read the children's learning journals. Parents are given the opportunity to note any developments from home and include these in the children's journals. Written feedback shows that parents and the extended family are happy with the care their children receive.

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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 EY400707 Local authority Gloucestershire Inspection number 973866 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 5 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 8

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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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