Childminder in Devon

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 06/08/2014 Not Applicable

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early years provision

This inspection: 2 Previous inspection: Not Applicable 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 provides a stimulating environment in which outings are a regular feature. As a result, children have wide experiences from which they benefit greatly. Consequently they make good progress.  The childminder promotes independence which enhances children's confidence in their skills and increases their self-esteem.  The childminder has clearly defined operational procedures. She completes the required paperwork efficiently.  The childminder has a clear focus for the future. She monitors her provision effectively and engages in continuous professional development. This benefits the children in her care.

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It is not yet outstanding because

 There are fewer opportunities outdoors for children to extend their learning by linking their counting with numerals.  The childminder does not routinely model writing for children in order to show them the different purposes for writing.

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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 both indoors and outside.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke to the childminder, parents and children and took account of their views.  The inspector viewed the environment and the resources provided.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector looked at the childminder's documentation, including children's records.

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Information about the setting

The childminder registered in 2014. She is registered to work from another childminder's home. Both childminders work together. The co-childminder lives with her partner and their four school-aged children in Strete, Dartmouth in Devon. The whole of the house is used for childminding and there is an enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register, and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She is also able to provide overnight care. The family has two cats and they keep fish. Both childminders collect children from local schools. Currently, the childminder has five children on roll; of these, four are in the early years age range. The childminder holds a degree in Early Childhood Studies.

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

 enhance the outdoor environment to enable children to learn mathematical concepts such as numbers, shape, distance and measure through their physical activities.

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

 provide more opportunities for children to see adults writing for a purpose, for example, by showing them how to link sounds and letters in order to form words.

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who attend

The childminder is newly registered and she works with a co-childminder. She has a good understanding of how children develop and learn through her previous experience of working with children. She gains an overview of children's starting points from parents before children start to attend the setting. The childminder provides a welcoming environment with a range of suitable equipment and resources, which are used both inside and outdoors in the garden. The childminders also jointly plan a variety of outings to extend children's learning further. For instance, they visit a zoo to support work on the current topic and they visit other places of interest such as Dartmouth Castle, which is nearby.

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who attend

Children make good progress when in the childminder's care because she has a good understanding of how to use her detailed observations to check progress. She values their achievements and highlights any possible areas for development to discuss with parents and carers. She is aware of the requirements to conduct a check on children aged two years. The childminder teaches early mathematics through everyday play and routines. Children enjoy role play in their shop, selling, spending money, using a loyalty card and replenishing the shelves when they are empty. They are acquiring good skills for the future. Children enjoy counting rhymes, nursery rhymes and songs. They sing songs on journeys in the car on outings. They enjoy sand and water play outside, which helps to develop mathematical concepts such as capacity. However, there are fewer opportunities to link counting with numerals to reinforce and extend their learning.

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who attend

Children are very confident in asking for the things they need if they cannot find them. The childminder teaches young children how to follow instructions. This develops their listening skills, their concentration and their vocabulary. She plays different guessing games with them to extend their thinking and to develop their learning. For example, children write letters and link sounds as they ask the childminder and the other children to guess the letters. Similarly, the childminder encourages young children to find things by giving them directions. She describes where an item is using words such as 'behind' and 'next to'. This practice helps children to process information and teaches them strategies to develop their organisational skills.

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who attend

Both childminders share books with children and read stories to them and they teach children to write their names. They develop literacy well. However, there are further opportunities to enrich the environment with more print and for children to see adults writing for a variety of different purposes. For example, there are few labelled resources and opportunities for adults and children to write during role play, or for them to record their experiences and thoughts.

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who attend

Overall, the children make good progress when they are with the childminder and she provides stimulating learning experiences for them. She extends their experience and prepares them well for the next stage of their learning. Parents comment that they receive a lot of support from both the childminders to support their children's learning and development.

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

The childminder provides a warm caring environment where she knows the children well as individuals. Parents comment that she and her co-childminder plan small steps to settle children and that they soon feel secure in the environment. Children form good bonds with the childminder and her colleague. Children usually attend for two sessions before they attend regularly. During that time, the childminder collects information from the parents and carers in order to ascertain children's needs and interests. Once the children attend regularly, the childminder liaises on a daily basis with parents, either verbally or by email, to inform them of their children's activities and progress. Parents say that they value this as their children receive very good individual care.

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

The childminder plays well with children, extending their learning as she does so. She joins in their imaginary play and encourages them to try new things. She praises them for trying and raises their confidence and self-esteem. Children respond well to this and they have a sense of belonging. Children behave well and they assist younger children to develop their skills, for example, by helping with finding items and putting things away. The childminder discourages any inappropriate behaviour with distraction techniques and encourages very young children to move on to another activity. The childminder teaches children to say 'please' and 'thank you' and to take turns, for instance, when playing with the bats and balls in the garden.

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

The childminder promotes a healthy lifestyle very well. She teaches children about healthy eating through the fruit and vegetables they grow in the garden. Fresh drinking water is always available and parents provide meals for their children. The childminders provide snacks and they are aware of any allergies and medical needs.

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

Through daily activities outside, children benefit from fresh air and exercise. Children are eager to go outside to play with the equipment available. The childminder teaches them how to play cooperatively, sharing the toys, and taking turns to use the equipment. The childminder also takes children on outings to the local park, to an adventure playground and to a soft play area where there are further opportunities to develop their large muscles and coordination skills.

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

The childminder encourages children to be independent as soon as possible; for instance, she supports a child to learn to do up the buckles on his shoes. She emphasises the need for children and adults to wash their hands regularly during the day and she makes chores fun. For example, when mopping up a spill, she uses the words 'squelch' and 'wet' in a fun way, which amuses the children. Similarly, she talks to children when changing their nappies and she encourages them to wipe their noses when necessary. She and her co- minder have good standards of hygiene, another aspect of their care on which parents comment positively.

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provision

The childminder provides a supportive environment where children learn and develop. She has a good understanding of the requirements of the Early Years Foundation stage. She uses a monitoring process to highlight areas where children need support and discusses these with parents in order that they can support learning at home. She liaises with parents on a daily basis and uses the information to plan the next steps for children's learning.

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provision

The childminder understands the need to protect children from harm and she is alert to signs which may indicate that a child is at risk. She and her co-childminder have a good knowledge of the procedures to follow and they are both confident to implement them, should the need arise. The childminder has a good standard of hygiene, and carries out daily safety checks in order to minimise hazards. She also has checklists and risk assessments for the regular outings she organises for the children. Parents comment that they are very happy with the planning in the provision. In the case of a minor accident, the childminder completes the relevant forms and discusses them with parents.

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provision

Both childminders are involved in devising and shaping their policies and all the required documentation is in place. The childminder is well informed and knowledgeable. She reviews procedures regularly and she carries out self-evaluation of her practice in order to identify areas for her own professional development. She also highlights areas of the provision which can be enhanced. She and her co-childminder belong to a local childminders association from which she receives professional support.

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provision

The childminders work closely with other childminders and the local pre-schools and schools in order to establish good networking relationships. Parents are very happy with the service they provide. They feel fully involved in their child's learning and they say that the childminder seeks their views when she makes decisions about the care she provides. They say that their children look forward to the activities they enjoy when they are with the childminder and that they are confident to leave their children in her care.

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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. We re-inspect nurseries and pre-schools judged as requires improvement within 12 months of the date of 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

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Grade Judgement Description

is not meeting the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. It will be monitored and inspected again within six months of the date of this inspection. Met There were no children present at the time of the inspection. The inspection judgement is that the provider continues to meet the requirements for registration. Not met There were no children present at the time of the inspection. 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 EY472871 Local authority Devon Inspection number 965856 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 5

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Name of provider

Date of previous inspection not applicable

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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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