Childminder in East Sussex

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 09/12/2014 09/07/2014

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early years provision

This inspection: 3 Previous inspection: 4 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 3

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This provision requires improvement

 The childminder develops positive relationships with children through a caring and friendly approach. This means children settle quickly and feel safe in her care.  The childminder meets the safeguarding requirements effectively, which helps her to promote children's well-being.  The childminder makes effective use of the local environment to extend children's learning experiences.

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It is not yet good because

 The childminder does not use observation and assessment frequently enough to enable her to plan challenging activities for children to promote their good progress.  The childminder does not provide regular opportunities for young children to explore a variety of natural and textured objects to enhance their growing curiosity and sense of discovery.  The childminder does not engage fully with parents to share information about their children's achievements to support their learning at home.

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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 inside the childminder's home.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke with the childminder about children's activities and their progress at appropriate times during the inspection.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector sampled children's development records, the planning of activities and a range of safeguarding procedures.

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Information about the setting

The childminder registered in 1995. She lives with her adult daughter, her partner and young child. The home is close to shops, parks and schools. The childminder uses rooms on the ground floor, including the toilet and lounge, for childminding. She provides a bedroom on the first floor for young children to sleep in. There is an enclosed garden available for outdoor play. The family has a dog, rabbits and guinea pigs. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder is currently minding three children in the early years age range. The childminder provides regular outings to local parks, playgroups and other places of interest.

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must:

 improve the use of observation, assessment and planning to provide challenging activities in order to promote children's good progress in their learning and development.

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

 extend the range of objects available with various textures and weights to excite and encourage young children's curiosity and sense of discovery

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

 develop information sharing with parents in order to promote children's learning and development at home.

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who attend

The childminder finds out information from parents about their children's interests and stage of development when they start to attend. This enables the childminder to provide toys and play equipment that children want to play with, therefore they settle quickly. The childminder has started to use observations of children's play and achievements. She is developing her knowledge of how to use these observations effectively to plan for children's next steps in their learning. The childminder's system is in its infancy and not yet fully embedded into everyday practice to support good outcomes for children's learning and development. The childminder sends home a communication book each day, detailing children's care and welfare. However, she does not share information about her observations of children's achievements. Therefore, she is not engaging with parents fully to share ideas for supporting their children's learning at home. The childminder

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who attend

demonstrates a suitable understanding of the requirements for a progress check for two- year-old children, and how to complete this in partnership with parents.

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who attend

At the inspection, the childminder supported children in developing their language and communication skills. She responded to young children when they made sounds and gestures to make their feelings known. The childminder introduced simple picture books, naming and pointing to items. Young children responded by babbling to the childminder. Therefore, the childminder is developing children's speaking skills. The childminder sings rhymes and uses actions. The childminder engages young children in playful interaction. They respond warmly with smiles and giggles and a willingness to engage with her. She provides a wide range of toys that young children enjoy playing with. She encourages young children to explore and investigate their toys, for example shaking jingle bells and rattles. In addition, young children enjoy rolling vehicles backwards and forwards, developing their fine motor skills.

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who attend

The childminder gives appropriate support as young children learn to walk, enabling them to gain physical strength. In addition, she offers tummy time, which helps young children roll, stretch and explore soft toys. However, children do not always have opportunities to explore different textures when playing with everyday objects, to support their developing sense of discovery further. The childminder ensures that children go out on regular outings to the nearby parks and organised activities for children their age. This gives them the opportunity to develop their confidence in larger groups of children and to meet and play with other children to develop their social skills.

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

The childminder is kind, caring and supportive. This results in children happily separating from their parents and quickly settling when they arrive. Children show that they form sound emotional attachments to the childminder. She provides comfort and reassurance to children when they need it. As a result, children feel safe and settled in the childminder's care. The childminder discusses and implements children's individual daily routines in detail, respecting parents' preferences for their children. She gets to know the children well and recognises when they need to rest or sleep. She pats and cuddles younger children as they go off to sleep or are in need of reassurance. The childminder offers young children lots of effective praise by smiling and clapping her hands as they play. This builds their self-esteem and prepares them well for their future learning.

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

The childminder helps children develop a good awareness of healthy lifestyles. Snacks are healthy and nutritious and the childminder works closely with parents to ensure she meets individual dietary requirements or preferences. The childminder demonstrates how she helps young children to become independent by feeding themselves at mealtimes and drinking from a spouted cup. The childminder implements appropriate hygiene procedures by reminding children to wash their hands at relevant times. Children have individual towels for handwashing, which helps to protect them from cross-infection. This supports children to develop an understanding about managing their personal hygiene.

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

The home environment is welcoming. The childminder sets out toys each day which she knows the children will enjoy playing with. Young children enjoy exploring the contents of toy boxes and, to offer further interest, the childminder borrows toys from a local playgroup. Children benefit from many walks and visits with the childminder within the community to help them learn about their immediate environment. The childminder takes children to the park to feed the ducks. Young children enjoy picking dandelions to feed the childminder's rabbits and guinea pigs on their return home from school.

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provision

The childminder has a suitable understanding of the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. She has attended child protection training and knows what to do if she has any concerns about a child in her care. In addition, her child protection procedures now include the required action she will take in the event of an allegation against any person living on the premises. The childminder ensures that she never leaves children unsupervised with a person who has not been vetted, which contributes to keeping children safe. The childminder is developing her knowledge of the learning and development requirements. For example, she works in close partnership with her local authority advisor to develop her skills in completing her observation and assessment of children's progress. The childminder completes risk assessments to minimise hazards, in order to promote children's safety around the home, garden and on outings. In addition, she carries out a

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provision

daily visual check of her home to safeguard children's health and well-being further. The childminder has begun to look at self-evaluation systems. She has highlighted the need to further seek parents' views on the service she provides. She has addressed the actions from the last inspection by updating her medication procedures to include written permission from parents to administer medication and complaint procedures.

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provision

The childminder has sound relationships with parents. She talks to parents at the beginning and end of each day. She also provides a communication book to exchange information about the children's welfare, such as their sleeping and eating routines. Parents are able to view the childminder's policies and procedures that underpin the service on offer. Parents say that they are very happy with the service the childminder provides. The childminder has established relationships with staff at the local pre-school. This partnership contributes to continuity in children's 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 505560 Local authority East Sussex Inspection number 984217 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 8 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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