Childminder in North Lincolnshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 19/11/2014 25/11/2008

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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 understands the Early Years Foundation Stage well and she skillfully implements the seven areas of learning through a good range of fun and stimulating experiences that effectively engage children in their learning.  The childminding premises are warm, welcoming and very well resourced. Children have access to a vegetable plot and a pond where they are able to learn from nature and gain knowledge and understanding of the world around them.  The childminder is very loving and affectionate towards young children, which makes them feel safe and gives them a sense of belonging. She works in partnership with parents to ensure all children's needs are met.  The childminder prioritises keeping children safe. She understands safeguarding and child protection procedures and has implemented many safety features around her home to prevent any harm to children.  The childminder keeps her knowledge and skills up-to-date in order to ensure that her

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This provision is good

provision is continually improving to enhance children's care and learning.

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It is not yet outstanding because

 The childminder does not offer parents opportunities to provide their thoughts and feelings regarding her provision for their children, with which she can act upon and implement any improvements.

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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 conducted an observation, looked at children's planning and assessment records, discussed children's progress with the childminder and spoke with a parent.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector checked the childminder's self-evaluation form, policies and insurance documentation.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector checked suitability of the areas of the premises used for childminding and the play resources inside and outdoors.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector looked at evidence of suitability of household members, the childminder's qualifications and a range of other documentation, including the safeguarding procedures.

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Information about the setting

The childminder registered in 2007 and is on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She lives with her husband and their two children in a bungalow in the village of Messingham, near Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire. All of the premises, except the main bedroom, are used for childminding purposes. There is an enclosed rear garden available for outdoor play. The family has four rabbits and some fish as pets. There are currently three children on roll, two of whom are in the early years age range. Operating hours are from 8am until 6pm, part-time, Monday to Friday, all year round including school holidays. The childminder 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:

 devise even better self-evaluation and further involve parents by providing them with opportunities to share their views and give feedback, such as with questionnaires or anonymous suggestion systems.

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who attend

The childminder provides a broad and balanced curriculum through a good range of stimulating experiences, which are based on a strong understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage. She uses children's individual interests to effectively plan for the next steps in their learning and the quality of teaching is good. The well-considered activities, resources and experiences provide children with purposeful learning opportunities. For example, children learn about life cycles through first-hand experiences, such as, regularly dipping in the garden pond to watch tadpoles grow into frogs, or monitoring a nest of eggs until they hatch, in the garden tree. The childminder is knowledgeable about how young children learn and identifies when they are fully engaged. She gives children lots of encouragement, such as smiles and verbal praise. She responds by supporting them with appropriate resources and conversation, recognising when to sit back and observe

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who attend

independent learning. Consequently, this ensures that the provision meets children's needs and interests and helps them to make consistently good progress across the seven areas of learning, in preparation for their future education, such as school.

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who attend

Communication and language are promoted well because the childminder uses sounds, actions and gestures when singing and reading to babies, who respond eagerly, demonstrating that they are keen to learn. A good variety of open-ended resources encourage children to develop their creative ideas, such as when babies show delight as they post balls down tubes and eagerly wait for them to roll out of the other end. The childminder regularly observes and assesses children and uses these to plan suitably challenging activities and ensures they are on target for their age.

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who attend

A two-way flow of information between parents and the childminder ensures children's progress is shared. Parents have access to all of their children's learning and development records and can speak with the childminder at any time. She keeps them informed of activities carried out via text and photographs to parent's phones. Daily routines are shared in a diary. Policies are available in the hallway for parents to read, though they also have their own copies. Toys and favourite books are shared so that parents can continue their children's learning at home. Any artwork or models are sent home for parents to celebrate their child's efforts. As a result, parents are kept well informed of their children's progress.

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

Emotional well-being is good because secure emotional attachments are formed. For example, the childminder is very attentive and spends time on the floor singing, chatting and demonstrating play. She cuddles and hugs babies and sensitively wipes their wet, sticky faces to ensure their comfort is maintained. Effective settling-in strategies ensures the move from home to the provision is smooth and that parents and children are happy to part from each other at the start of the day. Behaviour is managed well because the childminder is responsive to children's needs and follows routines from home, such as sleep times. The childminder uses laminated photographs of the babies' families, attached by a ring and kept in a sensory basket, so babies can choose and handle them as part of their play resources. This reinforces babies' bonds with their parents and promotes their well-being and independence, because babies can self-comfort from the familiar images.

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

A stimulating, well-resourced, welcoming environment, both inside and outside, supports children's all-round development and emotional well-being. The premises are spacious, clean and safe for babies to crawl around and fall on their bottoms from their recent walking skills onto the comfortable, dense carpet. A very good range of resources for all ages, enable children to make the choices they need to gain confidence to try new activities. Babies are able to express themselves and connect ideas. For example, sensory boxes containing paper to scrunch, helps to develop their small movement control and co- ordination, whilst producing an enjoyable sound for babies to listen to attentively. This introduces them to exploring characteristics of everyday objects and they begin to learn about similarities and differences, such as the consequences of tearing paper to produce more pieces.

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

Children are supported well with learning how to adopt a healthy lifestyle. The childminder provides a vegetable plot, from which children grow a variety of vegetables, which they tend, dig, cook and eat. They are taught to care for and store tools away safely. The ample garden is suitable for running, jumping, cycling and scooting. There is also a zip- wire for the older children to use when supervised. Consequently, the outdoor environment enables children to learn about nutrition and take part in daily exercise whilst accessing the fresh air. The childminder obtains important information about children's health, well-being and dietary needs from parents. Packed lunches are sent from home and the childminder provides healthy snacks and keeps a good range of fruit and vegetables in the house at all times. Hygiene standards are very high, for example, bibs are washed after each use, and as children get older they are encouraged to learn self-

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

care. As a result, clear messages ensure children are developing a good understanding of why it is important to keep healthy and safe.

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provision

Children's safety is very well supported. The childminder has a thorough understanding of her duty to protect children and she confidently describes the signs and symptoms of child abuse and how she would proceed in making referrals, if required. Regularly reviewed policies and procedures, including fire safety procedures, accident recording and the medication policy, have clear actions to ensure they continue to work in practice. Numerous strategies are implemented to keep children safe, such as risk assessments for each room and area of the premises. Outings are scrutinised for any health and safety issues before the childminder considers taking children on visits. Children regularly participate in emergency evacuation procedures, road safety and stranger-danger talks, which helps them to understand how to keep safe. The childminder uses a purpose-made large sun canopy for her garden, to protect children's skin when they play outside and is

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provision

always mindful of their safety. As a result, children's physical well-being is extremely good and children are kept safe in her care.

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provision

The childminder has a good understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage requirements for learning and development and she implements the curriculum well. She plans purposeful experiences and activities that support children's next steps. Monitoring of children's progress is consistent and simplified so that it can be easily followed and focused observations enable the childminder to spend quality time at play with children. Parents are kept informed of their child's progress and the childminder is fully committed to partnership working. She liaises with other settings that children attend so that appropriate interventions can be sought and any identified gaps targeted. As a result, children make good progress in their expected levels of learning. However, the childminder does not actively seek feedback from parents and carers on how she might improve her provision.

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provision

Close links with the local school, children's centre and advice regularly sought from the Local Authority Early Years Team, means the childminder strives to keep her skills up-to- date. She reflects on her practice and addresses any training needs, such as how to carry out the progress checks for children aged between two and three years. She has thoroughly addressed the recommendation from her last inspection and has recently carried out alterations to her home, such as adding a zip-wire to her garden, which enables children to take risks and face challenges in a safe environment. As a result, children benefit from up-to-date care and a skilled teacher who ensures she continuously supports their learning and development.

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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 EY349301 Local authority North Lincolnshire Inspection number 878330 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 3

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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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