Childminder in Lincolnshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 18/09/2014 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

 Children are safe and well cared for because the childminder works very closely with her assistant. They understand their individual and collective roles and responsibilities and ensure they work effectively together.  The childminder has a positive approach to professional development and demonstrates a strong capacity to improve. Consequently, children benefit from her increasing knowledge.  The childminder provides a stimulating, well-resourced and well-organised environment, where children feel safe and secure, establish positive relationships, develop life and social skills, and learn respect and tolerance of others.  Children benefit from a wide range of stimulating activities that ignite their interest, imagination and enjoyment. As a result, they make good progress in their learning and development and are very well prepared for their next stage in learning.

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It is not yet outstanding because

 The childminder does not fully maximise opportunities to involve all parents in their children's learning and development at home in order to further enhance children's progress.

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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 children doing a variety of activities inside and outside.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke with the childminder at appropriate times throughout the inspection.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector looked at children's learning journals, a selection of policies, required records, such as, accident logs and risk assessments. She also checked evidence of suitability of all household members.  The inspector took into account the views of parents spoken to on the day.

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Information about the setting

The childminder was registered in 2011. She lives with her husband and two children in a bungalow in Scotter, in the county of Lincolnshire. The childminder and her husband are also foster carers for the Local Authority. The childminder works with her husband who acts as her assistant. She uses the living areas, bathroom and dining room for childminding purposes and there is an enclosed garden available for outdoor play. It is accessible with car parking available at the front of the property. The family has a dog, a cat, a rabbit and a pigmy hedgehog as pets. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She operates from 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, all year round, except bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder currently has 25 children on roll; two of whom are in the early years age group. The childminder takes and collects children from school and

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Information about the setting

attends local toddler groups. She 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:

 build on the already good practice with regard to sharing information about children's learning with parents, for example, by offering even more opportunities for parents to further support their child's learning at home.

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who attend

The childminder uses her knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage to plan effectively across all seven areas of learning. This ensures that children are actively engaged in a broad range of activities that support all aspects of their learning and development well. The childminder understands the requirement to complete the progress check for children aged between two- and three-years. The childminder has a secure understanding and knowledge of the children she cares for. Starting points are clearly identified in consultation with parents on entry to the setting. The childminder makes good use of observation to establish what children already know and can do. She uses this information gained from observation to plan activities so that children benefit from challenging experiences that are tailored to their individual learning needs. As a result, children make good progress given their starting points.

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who attend

The quality of teaching is good and children enjoy activities in a stimulating play environment. The childminder supports children well within the prime areas of learning. This enables them to be prepared for the next stage in their learning and the move on to school. Children confidently make choices about where to play, because they enjoy flexible use of a stimulating indoor and outdoor play environment. The childminder provides a good variety of resources for the different ages of children who attend the setting. The childminder has developed good partnerships with parents. However, she has not maximised all opportunities to fully involve parents in children's learning so they can further support their child at home, to further enhance children's progress.

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who attend

The childminder provides a good balance of child-initiated and adult-led play. She helps children understand the world by pretending to be a shop keeper whilst the child buys her groceries. Children's language development is continually promoted by the childminder as she talks with them and expands their vocabulary. Children express themselves confidently and clearly, and the childminder supports them well as she repeats the words they say back to them to enhance their pronunciation. Children's physical skills are also developing well. The garden provides them with a good range of interesting learning experiences. They have the opportunity to ride on equipment, mark make on a chalk board, enjoy ball games and they enjoy making the most of the enclosed grassed area.

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

Children have formed a strong bond with the childminder and look to her for help and support. Young children readily seek cuddles and reassurance. Children confidently move around the home, demonstrating a strong sense of belonging. The childminder has quickly built warm and trusting relationships with parents that help to ensure children feel emotionally safe and comfortable in the setting. Good information is gathered from parents about children's routines, preferences and needs so that initial care is tailored to support their full inclusion. This means that the move between home and the childminder's setting are a positive experience and children settle quickly.

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

The childminder works closely with parents over the provision of meals to encourage healthy eating and meet any special dietary needs. Children enjoy a snack of fruit, which they choose themselves. Drinks are freely available to ensure children are not thirsty and children are encouraged to pour their own drinks. Children understand why they need to wash their hands after playing in the garden and before eating through clear guidance and support from the childminder. This helps children to understand about the importance of staying healthy and also helps to prevent infection. When in the home, the childminder gives clear explanations to children about how to keep safe. For example, children are told about the importance of tidying toys away before getting any more out, in order to prevent accidents. This helps to develop children's awareness of safety and helps to ensure a safe environment.

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

The children's behaviour is good. The childminder and assistant ensure a consistent approach and set clear boundaries, encourage children to share and take turns and be kind to each other. Children respond very well to gentle reminders of how to be polite, share and use good manners. The childminder is a very positive role model for children. She consistently praises and encourages children so building on their self-esteem in a child-orientated, well resourced, fun environment. The childminder fosters children's sense of community and responsibility as they go out regularly into the local community, for example, to collect older children from school. The childminder has developed links with other providers, such as the local school, to help ensure continuity of care and learning. This also aids the transition of young children in the childminder's care to prepare for moving on to school.

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provision

The childminder has a good understanding of safeguarding and has ensured that appropriate checks on the assistant and adults in daily contact with the children have been carried out. She has a clear understanding of her role and responsibilities with regard to safeguarding and knows the procedures to follow should she have any concerns about the welfare of a child. The childminder has ensured her assistant has completed first-aid training. They both understand the safeguarding policy and procedure, and know what to do should they have any concerns about a child. The childminder ensures that children are kept safe because she completes daily checks of the equipment and environment and has a comprehensive set of risk assessments in place, which are regularly reviewed. Supervision of children is good; they are always within sight or earshot of the childminder and her assistant. A daily register of attendance is completed for all children and the

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provision

assistant, clearly shows that ratios are maintained, which further ensures children's safety.

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provision

The childminder is dedicated to offering a high level of quality care to children and families. She has identified further professional training, such as an early years qualification at level 3 and is keen to continually develop her professionalism. The childminder also works closely with her assistant to develop their knowledge through attending local training courses. The childminder has established a system for evaluating her practice and she knows her strengths and has plans in place to develop areas where she has identified weakness. For example, she has started to look at the different ways that children learn and how she can improve her knowledge of child development. The childminder also talks regularly with another local childminder to develop her knowledge and skills in teaching young children. The childminder demonstrates the capacity to make continuous improvements to further improve children's learning and development

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provision

The childminder provides parents with information, which is displayed on a notice board in her setting. Partnership with parents is good. The childminder exchanges information with them on a daily basis, as children are dropped off and collected. Parents are given feedback about care routines and activities children have undertaken during the day. The childminder has formed positive working relationships with the local school and shares information with regards to children's well-being and development. The children cared for do not currently attend any other settings, although, the childminder is very aware of the importance of establishing links with other settings and professionals who may be involved in a child's life.

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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 EY439111 Local authority Lincolnshire Inspection number 965096 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 25

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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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