Childminder in West Sussex

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 09/10/2014 14/12/2011

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early years provision

This inspection: 2 Previous inspection: 3 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 tailors her provision to the needs of each individual family, which means they benefit from her flexible, good quality care.  Children benefit from having a wide range of activities which supports their good development in all areas of learning.  Children enjoy high levels of independence as they choose activities, direct their play and join in with setting house rules.  The childminder is a very effective childminder, giving children a genuine home-from- home experience and warm and affectionate care.

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It is not yet outstanding because

 The childminder does not fully use ongoing assessment to enhance her planning of activities to support children to make further 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 and babies at play in the childminder's home

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Inspection activities

 The inspector carried out a joint observation with the childminder and discussed aspects of practice with her.  The inspector examined a sample of documentation.

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Information about the setting

The childminder registered in 2011. She lives with her husband in Shoreham, West Sussex close to shops, parks, schools and public transport links. The whole of the childminder's home is used for childminding and there is an enclosed garden available for outdoor play. She is currently minding nine children, of whom six are in the early years age range. This provision is registered by Ofsted on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register.

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

 enhance the use of ongoing assessment to fully understand children's level of achievement and enhance the effectiveness of planning.

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who attend

The childminder has a good understanding of how to meet the learning and development requirements. She provides a wide range of play activities for children to choose from which cover all areas of learning. The childminder achieves a good balance of adult-led and child-initiated activities by supporting children to make their own choices and planning according to their interests. In this way, children enjoy their learning and benefit from challenging play which stretches their skills and abilities. As a result, children make good progress in their learning and development.

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who attend

The childminder has good teaching skills. She talks with children as they play, changing her conversational style to suit different age groups. With small babies, she keeps steady eye contact and talks in turn with the baby's sounds and expression. With toddlers, the childminder uses short, clear sentences which help the children learn words in context. With pre-school aged children, the childminder asks open questions to create longer conversations about the child's ideas and thoughts. This means that all children become confident communicators and acquire a wide vocabulary. The childminder is skilled at facilitating child-initiated play. Children choose from a wide range of resources and follow their own ideas. For example, with a box of toy animals, the childminder played alongside and taught the children about the difference between puffins and penguins. She also talked with the children about the noises animals make, where they live and what they

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who attend

eat. This expands children's understanding of the world as they play. The childminder carefully shares her time between the children so that they all get good quality attention. This keeps children engaged in purposeful play. The childminder plans activities that she knows will interest children. For example, she finds craft activities related to favourite animals. If children want to adapt or extend the plans, the childminder is flexible and negotiates with the children how it might work. In this way, children shape their ideas within strong boundaries and become creative, flexible thinkers. Children have good mathematical skills. The childminder encourages children to count within their play, make simple calculations and learn about shapes. Children enjoy making towers with blocks and judge how tall they can make them, comparing them with others they have built.

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who attend

The childminder meets with parents when their child first starts to gather information about their starting points and abilities. This helps her to plan activities which children will find interesting and challenging. The childminder makes observations about children's achievements and notes what they are learning and how it relates to the areas of learning. The childminder uses published guidance and her extensive experience to informally track children's learning against expected levels of development. She notes children's next steps and plans activities to facilitate them. The childminder understands how to carry out the progress check when children are aged two and she has systems in place ready for when this is required. The childminder has not yet made any other form of ongoing assessment, but has researched ways of doing so. The lack of ongoing assessment somewhat hampers her ability to fully understand children's level of achievement and learning styles and plan

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

The childminder is a very effective key person. She builds warm and affectionate relationships with children and is highly attentive to their needs. She is very thoughtful and considerate of children's individual care, which helps them to feel settled and secure. The childminder works with parents and is very flexible over the timing of children settling in. This helps parents and children to feel confident and reassured so children can successfully separate. The childminder has created a good learning environment. She has thoughtfully organised high quality resources to support children's play. For example, toy animals are kept with fences, people, buildings and vehicles so that children can create lengthy stories in their play. The childminder has a very wide range of resources stored at child height so they can be very independent in their play. Children play outside every day and enjoy activities covering the whole curriculum, which supports children who are active

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

Children have good opportunities to learn about healthy lifestyles. The childminder provides a range of fruit and salad items for snack time. She has a strong awareness of children's allergies and is careful to make sure children do not swap food from their lunch boxes. The childminder has well-established hygiene routines and children quickly learn to wash their hands after messy play and before eating. This helps children to minimise the risk of cross-infection. The childminder supports children's physical development very well. Children benefit from vigorous outdoor play in parks and in the childminder's garden. They learn to balance, throw and catch, climb and run. Children use a wide range of tools and small equipment to build their small muscle strength. Children enjoy using paintbrushes, or fitting small blocks together which supports their early coordination and writing skills. Children's behaviour is very good. The childminder has clear expectations about children's

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

behaviour and is firm and calm when reminding children of her house rules. Children respond to her warmth and understanding, showing empathy and care for each other as they follow her example. Children are cooperative in play and know how to take turns and share. They persist in learning new skills and are confident to keep going until they succeed. Children express their feelings and the childminder is skilled at negotiating with them. For example, she involves children in setting the house rules and listens carefully to what they think. Overall, children acquire good skills for their future learning.

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provision

The childminder has a good understanding of how to meet the safeguarding and welfare requirements. She has a detailed safeguarding policy which provides her with guidance on how to record and report any concerns she may have about the welfare of a child. She makes this policy known to parents so that they understand her duties and responsibilities. The childminder has made a comprehensive risk assessment of her home, garden and outings, which helps her to identify and minimise any hazards to children. Other documentation is also professionally maintained, which underpins children's well-being.

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provision

The childminder reflects on her provision and has a thoughtful and considerate approach to making improvements. She researches new ideas for activities in a variety of themes and topics so that she can be sure of covering all aspects of learning. She also does short courses on a regular basis to maintain her professional knowledge and understanding. The childminder listens to children's ideas and opinions and is very skilled at facilitating them. For example, she supported children to add their own particular house rules when they had a disagreement. This supported the children to work together and improve their situation. The childminder asks parents for their views in regular questionnaires, and values their positive comments which help her to know she is being very effective in all that she does.

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provision

Parents benefit from the childminder's professional and flexible approach to meeting the needs of families. She shares a great deal of information with parents, from the initial parent pack to the daily verbal handover. The childminder also provides a written care diary so that parents can refer to her feedback at any time. The childminder shares her wealth of experience and knowledge of children to support parents over issues such as what normal development is. Parents are highly appreciative of her flexible approach and value the strength of support she provides. The childminder understands how to work with other professionals and day carers to provide very effective and consistent support. She works with the key persons in nurseries and pre-schools to provide complementary activities which support children's good development. Where children have additional needs, the childminder works with other professionals to make sure she is working in

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provision

partnership with them. This helps her to provide a high level of care and support good outcomes for children.

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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 EY428135 Local authority West Sussex Inspection number 816632 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 9

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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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