Childminder in Thurrock

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 08/08/2014 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 has a good knowledge of how children develop and learn. She plans exciting and interesting activities for all children and as a result they are motivated and eager to learn.  Children make good progress because the childminder effectively uses observations to identify children's stages of development and plan their next steps in learning.  The childminder has a sound knowledge of safeguarding procedures and knows who to contact if she were concerned for a child's welfare, which ensures they are appropriately protected from harm.  Partnerships with parents are strong and facilitate the two-way exchange of important information about children's needs, interests and learning, which supports children's all round development.  Children have strong relationships with the childminder and are happy and settled in her care.

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It is not yet outstanding because

 There is scope to further enrich the learning environment by providing visual images that positively portray diversity and different families within the community.

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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 looked around the areas of the childminder's home and garden used for childminding.  The inspector observed activities in the indoor and outdoor learning environments.  The inspector looked at children's learning journals and assessment records.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector checked evidence of the childminder's suitability, training and qualifications and looked at a range of other relevant documents.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector had discussions with the childminder and parents, at appropriate times, during the inspection.

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Information about the setting

The childminder was registered in 2014 on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She lives with her partner and two children aged five years and two years in Grays, Essex and uses the whole of the downstairs of the premises and enclosed garden for childminding. The childminder attends local childminder groups and regularly walks children to the local shops and park. She walks to collect children from local schools and pre-schools. The childminder operates all year round, from 7am until 7pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays agreed in advance. There are currently six children on roll, some of whom speak English as an additional language. The childminder is a member of Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years.

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

 enrich the learning environment by providing visual images that positively reflect the diversity of families and children within the community.

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who attend

The childminder provides a homely and welcoming environment for children. She provides a broad range of toys and resources, inside and outside, that support children's development in the seven areas of learning. Resources are stored so that children can easily see and access them. Therefore, children eagerly engage in activities of their choosing and develop independence and self-confidence. Children make good progress in the prime areas of learning. Their physical development is especially well supported as the childminder takes them on regular trips to the local park, where they can run and climb using large play equipment. Children learn good communication and language skills as the childminder sits at their level to engage them in conversation. She reframes and extends sentences so children hear correct pronunciation and learn new words. Children learn about mathematical concepts as the childminder uses positional language and encourages

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who attend

them to problem solve by asking questions such as; 'Will your bricks fit under the bridge?' She guides them to make sense of their physical world and community, but they have less opportunity to explore and find out about differences of the people because there are few visual resources reflecting different families and children that live in the community.

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who attend

The childminder plans daily activities around children's interests that excite and motivate them and she adapts activities to that they are appropriate for younger children as well. Children become engrossed in making puppets for a show later in the day and display the characteristics of effective learning as they explore the creative materials. Children demonstrate excellent motor control as they manipulate glue sticks to apply glue to cardboard rolls and stick on materials to create puppets. The childminder listens carefully and responds appropriately, as the children excitedly tell her about the characters they are making. Because of the childminder's support, children spend time at this activity and are steadily developing the skills they need for future learning, in readiness for starting nursery or school. The childminder collects information from parents about children's abilities and interests when they begin attending, including any additional needs they

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who attend

have. She uses this information together with her own observations to identify children's starting points so she can ensure they are making progress.

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who attend

The childminder effectively supports children who speak English as an additional language. She uses pictures and objects to help children learn and understand the meaning of English words, and provides a constant dialogue of words, as she plays with children, to support their speech and language development. The childminder records written observations of children in individual learning journals. She uses the observational evidence, together with photographs of children and examples of their work, to track their development towards the seven areas of learning and plan their next steps. The childminder has prepared the relevant documentation to carry out the progress check for children between the ages of two and three years. Partnerships with parents are strong and there is a regular flow of information between parents and the childminder. This ensures that children's all round learning and development is consistently supported.

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

Children feel safe and secure in the childminder's care, and develop appropriate bonds with her. This is because she talks with parents to find out about babies' important care routines. Consequently, the childminder anticipates babies' sleep times and gives reassuring cuddles before they settle down. Older children are happy, settled and very confident. They confidently talk about recent films that they have seen and recall experiences that they have had. The childminder's attentiveness and patience ensures children are well prepared emotionally for their next stages in learning.

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

Children play happily and cooperatively together. They negotiate story lines, take turns and make allowances for other children. The childminder is a good role model and her calm, consistent approach ensures children are very well behaved. She positively rewards them for helping with everyday tasks, such as setting up craft activities and consequently children are eager to help. The children learn to keep themselves safe as the childminder gives them gentle safety reminders and she clearly explains that the reason for asking children to 'slow down indoors' is to avoid 'crashes'. As a result, children understand and respect her boundaries.

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

Children learn healthy routines as the childminder helps them to wash their hands in readiness for lunch. She minimises the risk of infection by providing children with their own towels for hand drying and sanitising the table before they eat. The childminder ensures children stay healthy in her care. She liaises with parents in order to provide lotions and sun creams that are safe and obtains information on children's dietary requirements. This ensures she can effectively meet individual children's dietary needs and provide vegetarian meals, as required. Children have direct daily access to the childminder's garden and she is fully aware of the benefits of outdoor play. She plans daily activities outside for the children that support their physical development and emotional well-being.

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provision

The childminder has a good understanding of safeguarding procedures. She knows the procedures she should follow if she was concerned for a child's safety and how to recognise the signs of abuse. The childminder has compiled a comprehensive risk assessment of the areas of her home she uses for childminding and has taken some effective measures to ensure children's safety. All appropriate checks have been completed on the childminder and her partner to ensure their suitability.

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provision

The childminder has created a comprehensive range of policies and procedures that underpin her practice. Parental contracts are in place and important information is clearly displayed. The childminder has a good understanding of the learning and development requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. She monitors and evaluates the impact of the activities she provides for children and uses the information to inform her future planning. This ensures all children make good progress. Self-evaluation is effective in identifying strengths and weaknesses in the childminder's practice and informing her plans for improvements.

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provision

The childminder is proactive in increasing her childcare knowledge and understanding. She has recently completed a broad range of appropriate courses to further improve her childminding practice. She has made effective links with other childminders to share ideas and she keeps up to date with changes to legislation by reading childminding journals and notifications from the local authority. The childminder understands about working in partnership with other providers, such as the local schools that children attend and the need to effectively share information to support continuity in children's care and learning. She works closely with parents to ensure there is a two-way flow of information so they are fully involved with their children's learning. Parents are very complementary about the childminder and state that children really enjoy their time 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 EY471777 Local authority Thurrock Inspection number 956899 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 6

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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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