Childminder in Devon

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 14/10/2014 18/11/2009

p.1

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

p.1

This provision is good

 The childminder takes sensible precautions in the home and garden to provide a safe environment in which children can play.  The childminder promotes children's positive behaviour by giving consistent praise and encouragement. This helps to build their good self-esteem.  Children have a good rapport with the childminder. This helps them to feel happy and safe.  The childminder plans a broad range of activities and outings that support children's individual interests well.

p.1

It is not yet outstanding because

 The childminder does not successfully encourage parents to share their child's achievements from home to promote a shared approach to children's learning and development.  The childminder does not always extend the learning opportunities for children during their pretend play.

p.1

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

p.2

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.

p.2

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.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities indoors.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector engaged in conversations with the childminder and children at convenient times.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector sampled relevant documentation, including some policies, procedures, and the risk assessment.  The inspector looked at children's assessment records.

p.2

Information about the setting

The childminder registered in 2009. She lives with her husband and two children in Plymouth, Devon. Childminding mainly takes place on the ground floor of the home The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She offers overnight care. The childminder is currently caring for three children in the early years age group at various times of the week. She cares for older children before and after school. The family has three dogs and a hamster.

p.3

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

 encourage parents to share children's achievements from home to provide a shared approach to their child's learning and development

p.3

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

 develop how learning opportunities are used during children's pretend play to extend their learning naturally as they play.

p.3

who attend

The childminder has a good rapport with the children. This helps them to feel happy and settled. She plans a broad range of activities to support their early learning and individual interests. Children have regular outings to places of interest to help them to learn about their own community and the wider world. These include visits to the aquarium and the zoo. This helps them to learn about nature and wildlife. Children enjoy cooking activities. The childminder involves children in the whole process, using the opportunity to help them become confident in their number skills as they count the bun cases they need. She encourages them to talk about what they need to do next to help them recognise the order. Children learn problem solving as they complete puzzles. The childminder encourages children to be involved in making decisions about what they would like to do and play with. This helps them to use their own ideas and learn to be independent.

p.3

who attend

Children have a good range of story sacks to choose from to help them learn about daily routines and different cultures. The childminder takes the children on visits to the library, where they choose books to encourage their early interest in reading. Children attend local groups. This gives them the opportunity to make new friends and builds their confidence to play in new environments. The childminder completes observations and assessments on the children as they play and shares these with parents so they are aware of what their children learn when with her. However, the childminder does not encourage parents to share their child's achievements and progress from home, so they work more effectively together to promote children's learning and development. The childminder uses the information from her assessments to identify children's next steps in their learning and development. Overall, this helps her to

p.3

who attend

plan activities that target children's learning needs. However, at times she does not always extend children's learning well during their pretend play using their identified next steps. For example, when children were playing with the doll's house and the train track, she did not successfully encourage them to talk about what they were doing or count and learn their colours as they played.

p.4

who attend

The childminder encouraged children's early language well; she sat alongside them during their play and used sign language with the younger children. This helps children to make themselves understood as their early language develops. Children have visits to the forest, the moors and the beach to explore and investigate. These activities encourage them to be active learners as they look for stones and shells on the beach to take home to paint.

p.4

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

The childminder promotes children's health and safety very well and maintains good hygiene in her home. She teaches children to be confident in their own self-care by following positive routines. Children confidently know to wash their hands before meals and after messy play activities. Parents provide packed lunches and the childminder provides healthy snacks. The childminder teaches children to be independent at meal times and they confidently pour their own drinks. The childminder uses meal times to promote children's good social skills. This helps to prepare children well for the next stage of their development, such as going to pre-school and school.

p.4

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

The childminder gives children consistent praise and encouragement. This helps to build their good self-esteem. The childminder teaches children right from wrong and the need to share and take turns as they play. Consequently, children behave well and listen to instructions, for example, at tidy-up time. The childminder teaches children about being safe during outings and when out walking. Children learn about stranger danger by listening to stories. Together, with the childminder, they practise the fire drill. This means children learn from a young age what to do in an emergency.

p.4

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

The childminder ensures children have fresh air and exercise each day, by playing in the garden and visiting the park. This gives them the space to run and be physically active. Children are familiar with the routine for the day, which helps them to be emotionally secure and happy with the childminder.

p.4

provision

The childminder has made significant improvements since her last inspection. This is due to her increased knowledge and understanding of the learning and development requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. The childminder offers a good induction to new parents. This helps her to gain a secure understanding of a child's daily routine, their likes, dislikes and their prior learning, skills and abilities. This information helps her to settle children and meet their individual needs. Therefore, they feel safe and secure in her care.

p.5

provision

The childminder supervises children well at all times to ensure they are safe. She undertakes risk assessments for her home and for outings. She takes sensible precautions in the home and the garden to provide a safe environment for children to play safely. The childminder keeps up-to-date with her safeguarding training. She is clear of the procedure to follow in the event of a child protection concern to protect children's welfare. She has a comprehensive safeguarding policy to share with parents so they are clear of her responsibilities. The childminder shares all her policies with parents, including how she will record any existing injuries a child may arrive with. This makes it clear to parents her responsibilities and procedures to protect children's welfare.

p.5

provision

The childminder keeps parents well informed each day of how their child has been and what they have been doing through daily discussions and by email. The childminder completes comprehensive contracts with parents so there is a clear agreement of the care she is providing.

p.5

provision

The childminder evaluates her practice to identify her strengths and areas for development. This allows her to make changes that improve outcomes for children and provide an appropriate educational programme. This helps children to make good progress in their learning and development. The childminder has completed the Level 3 Diploma in childcare to further improve her skills. These steps have a positive impact on the quality of care and teaching children receive. The childminder has received positive feedback from parents, valuing the care she provides.

p.5

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

p.5

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

p.6

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.

p.6

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.

p.7

Setting details

Unique reference number EY395406 Local authority Plymouth Inspection number 908752 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 4 Number of children on roll 3

p.7

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.

p.7

Type of provision

For the purposes of this inspection the following definitions apply:

p.7

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.

p.7

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.

p.7

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.

p.8

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,

p.8

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’.

p.9

Type of provision

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.9