Childminder in Oxfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 17/11/2014 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 focuses well on children's social, physical and language development. She clearly identifies areas where children are falling behind, working closely with parents to help children catch up.  The childminder provides well planned, well focused and interesting activities that engage children's interest and help them make further progress.  Children develop a positive approach to learning and explore the environment with confidence.  The childminder reflects on her practice routinely and takes positive steps to make improvements where she can.

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It is not yet outstanding because

 Although the childminder takes children on outings to the local park during the autumn and winter, she is not using her garden at this time of year to further extend play and learning opportunities outdoors.

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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 indoors.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector talked to the childminder about different aspects of her practice throughout the inspection, including discussing her evaluation methods.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector sampled documentation, including the childminder's written feedback from parents, children's assessment records and the childminder's training certificates.

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Information about the setting

The childminder started in 1997 and registered with Ofsted in 2001. She lives in Bicester, Oxfordshire, with her daughter. The family has a cat. The childminder uses the ground floor of her home for childminding. There is an enclosed garden available for outdoor play. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. There are seven children on roll, three of whom are in the early years age range. The childminder offers care on weekdays, including out of school care. She walks to the local school and other early years facilities to take and collect children. She holds a recognised early years qualification at level 3.

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

 extend opportunities for children to benefit from outdoor play and learning during the autumn and winter months by making the garden more accessible at this time of year.

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who attend

The childminder assesses children's abilities in learning and their ongoing progress effectively. She works closely with parents to find out about children's abilities and interests when they first join her setting, encouraging parents to share their observations of what children can do. She carries out routine observations and regularly updates ideas for children's next stages in learning. She uses this information to plan well-focused, stimulating activities that help individual children build on their existing skills. For example, she provided a tray of pasta, rice and coloured pom-poms with an empty plastic bottle, a spoon and some tongs for young children who like to explore objects. Children immediately began to experiment by filling the bottle with different materials, which engaged their interest well. The childminder demonstrated how to scoop with a spoon and pick things up with the tongs, helping children to develop their physical skills effectively.

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who attend

The childminder focuses well on children's communication skills, repeating single words, asking questions and talking to children about their play. The childminder provides a good range of sensory activities, such as making bread stick 'fireworks' to enhance children's creative skills and their interest in the world around them. Children respond with confidence, keenly exploring the learning environment indoors.

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who attend

The childminder covers all areas of learning well through consistently good quality teaching. She provides challenging activities so children progress well. During the autumn and winter months, the childminder does not use her garden due to problems with the grass being slippery. She has not been able to fence off the patio area to overcome this issue. This reduces learning opportunities outdoors for children at this time of year, particularly for those children who prefer to learn in outdoor environments.

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who attend

The childminder works well in partnership with parents, helping their children to catch up where she has identified gaps in learning. She provides parents with useful strategies and background information relevant to their individual children, as well as general information about the Early Years Foundation Stage. This enables parents to provide support for children at home that is consistent with the support they receive from the childminder,

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

The childminder provides an interesting range of toys, surrounded by cosy soft furnishings and fairy lights to provide a calm, restful and welcoming environment. She has a kind and caring approach, developing warm relationships with children so that they feel comfortable and settled in her care. She shows a good understanding of child development, such as potential triggers for behavioural issues, and so is able to anticipate and support children's responses when necessary.

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

The childminder provides lots of praise for children's achievements, which promotes their self-esteem effectively. Children are familiar with routines, such as the process for snack time, which helps them to feel secure. Parents comment that the childminder takes effective steps to help their children settle into suitable routines, such as a regular sleeping pattern, for which they are very grateful.

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

The childminder promotes children's awareness of healthy lifestyles effectively. She helps children to wipe their hands before they eat so that they develop an early awareness of good hygiene practices. She ensures that children have snacks and meals at appropriate times and she works in partnership with parents to encourage healthy lunch boxes. She plans activities, such as making laminated healthy eating placemats, to help children identify foods that are good for them and those that are not.

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

Children enjoy regular opportunities to engage in physical activity and enjoy the fresh air outdoors, such as regular visits to the local park. While the childminder makes good use of her indoor premises, the garden is under used during the cooler months of the year, which restricts choice of play environment. The childminder supports children's awareness of keeping themselves safe, such as playing games to learn that red means stop and green means go, to support their understanding of road safety.

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provision

The childminder has a secure understanding of her responsibilities to meet the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage, which she implements effectively. She is familiar with child protection children procedures, such as possible symptoms of children at risk and responding to concerns. She provides safe and suitable premises for young children, ensuring that they are within her sight and/or hearing at all times.

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provision

The childminder checks children's progress carefully and is familiar with their individual needs and capabilities. Together with good partnerships with parents, these checks enable her to identify and address any concerns in children's development. The childminder understands the importance of working in partnership with external agencies where necessary. She is able to share information in partnership with parents and follow consistent strategies to provide further support for children when needed.

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provision

The childminder checks her planning of children's activities on a weekly and monthly basis, taking into account identified next stages in learning for individual children. She ensures that planning is flexible and covers all areas of learning to fully support children. She has a good variety of reference materials to help her plan interesting and relevant activities.

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provision

The childminder keeps up-to-date with required training. She is planning to access a wider range of online training to further enhance her knowledge and understanding of early education and care, showing she has the capacity and drive to improve her provision. She evaluates her practice effectively and accurately, taking account of parents' and children's views. She has made several improvements since the last inspection, such as completing training regarding progress checks for two-year-olds. She has plans in place for further improvement, such as extending outdoor learning opportunities.

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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 133940 Local authority Oxfordshire Inspection number 995078 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 3 Number of children on roll 7

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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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