Childminder in Dudley

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 16/12/2014 13/08/2009

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early years provision

This inspection: 2 Previous inspection: 2 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

 Children make rapid progress in their learning and development because the childminder provides fun learning activities and experiences that accurately reflect children's interests and play preferences. She uses her skills in observation, assessment and planning to make sure all children achieve extremely well.  Children are effectively protected because the childminder recognises health and safety as high priority. Risk assessments are thorough and the childminder demonstrates a very good knowledge and understanding of appropriate safeguarding procedures.  Children have good bonds with the childminder, who is very caring and attentive to their needs. They are very happy and settled in this homely and welcoming environment. This enables them to be confident to explore their surroundings because their emotional needs and overall well-being are supported.  The childminder is proactive in developing her service. She works effectively with

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This provision is good

parents to meet children's needs and attends training to enhance her knowledge. Her plans for improvement are targeted well to strengthen her practice further.

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It is not yet outstanding because

 Children do not always have direct access to the vast range of resources, to promote independent choice.  The childminder does not always encourage staff at other settings to share information about children's achievements, to promote a fully consistent approach to their learning.

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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 the childminder engage in a range of indoor learning activities, play and daily care routines with the children.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke to the childminder and interacted appropriately with children throughout the inspection.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector looked at children's assessment records, including planning information and children's development folders.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector checked evidence of suitability and qualifications of the childminder and discussed her self-evaluation and improvement plan.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector took account of parents' written references and comments from children.

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Information about the setting

The childminder was registered in 1991 and is on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She lives with her husband in Dudley, West Midlands. The whole ground floor of the house and a bedroom upstairs are used for childminding. There is an enclosed outdoor play area available. The family has a pet cat and a budgerigar. The childminder attends toddler groups at the local library and school, and visits the shops and park on a regular basis. She is able to take and collect children from local schools and pre-schools. There are currently seven children on roll, one of whom is in the early years age group. The childminder operates all year round from 7am to 6pm, Monday to Sunday, except for family holidays and bank holidays. She is a member of the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years and also receives support from the local authority.

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

 create even more opportunities for children to access resources so that they can follow their own interests and develop independence, for example, by creating a pictorial catalogue for children to select from

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

 maximise arrangements for sharing information with other settings children attend, to fully strengthen and complement children's learning and development.

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who attend

The childminder has an excellent knowledge of the learning and development requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage and how children learn. She makes excellent use of suitable guidance documents to further support her in monitoring their progress across all areas of learning. Through initial in-depth discussions with parents, the childminder finds out about children's experiences and what they know, like and can do. She uses this information to plan and provide an exceptionally varied range of activities and experiences for the children, which ensures they develop strong skills in readiness for school. Thorough observations and sharply focussed assessments of each child's abilities, she is able to clearly identify the next steps in children's learning. Each child has a very detailed learning journal folder, which provides parents with an excellent overview of the progress their children are making. The childminder is well aware of the importance of

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who attend

providing parents with a progress check for children aged between two and three years covering the prime areas of learning, to support their ongoing development. The assessment records in place for children are meticulous and accurate, ensuring children's progress is precisely monitored. Parents are actively encouraged to be involved in their child's learning. Information and ideas are sent home to provide parents with the opportunity to further support their children's progress. Children are continuously challenged, supporting them to become motivated learners and helping them to make rapid progress in their learning and development.

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who attend

The childminder's home is a child-friendly and well-resourced learning environment. It is thoughtfully organised to enable children to freely choose resources to support their play and learning. Children can move around freely, and have time to explore and make their own discoveries. They are actively supported by the childminder, who responds to their individual needs by introducing resources to extend and give optimal challenge to their enjoyment, and help them make rapid progress. Caring, enthusiastic, playful interactions and positive role modelling, shows that the quality of teaching is excellent. Children's communication and language skills are given a high priority by the childminder at all times. The childminder explains the meanings of words, provides excellent commentary and asks open-ended questions to children during their play, to engage them in practising their language skills. She listens to their responses, giving them time to speak,

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who attend

demonstrating that she values what they have to say. The childminder's clear pronunciation ensures that children of all ages hear appropriately modelled language. She encourages children to talk a lot and uses every opportunity to increase their range of words, such as pointing out and repeating words in books or singing nursery rhymes. This helps children in improving their vocabulary and helps them to become competent, confident communicators.

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who attend

Children have excellent opportunities to spend time outdoors in the fresh air to promote their physical skills. They go into the garden and dig and plant flowers. They become engrossed playing in sand and water, hunting for buried items or experimenting with objects that float and sink. They go on walks in the park looking for mini-beasts and feeding the ducks. Children have regular opportunities to play on the larger equipment at stay and play groups and other play venues. The childminder has an exceptional knowledge of promoting equality of opportunity and ensures all children and their families are valued and respected. Children learn about different festivals, such as Halloween, Easter, Diwali and Eid. They access a range of resources that depict positive images of different people and varying cultures. Children are actively encouraged by the childminder to use their imagination. Children love to take part in role play and dressing up, which

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who attend

helps to arouse their curiosity and extends their imagination. For example, children pretend to go out to the shops travelling on a bus. Children use the dolls as passengers, seating them on the floor in pairs and asking the childminder to drive the bus. Children's understanding of the world is developing well as they investigate a range of electronic toys to find out how they work by pushing buttons and turning knobs. They have free access to technology through the use of a laptop and digital camera. They take great delight in looking at the photographs. Children are actively encouraged to share toys and play together to promote their social skills in preparation for later transition to nursery and school. As a result, children are well prepared for the next stages in their development and make outstanding progress in their learning and development from their starting points.

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

The childminder keeps her home safe and it is well resourced, warm and welcoming. Children use and play with a vast range of quality resources, appropriate for their age. However, they are not always stored where children can reach them for themselves. This means there is scope for children to develop even more independence. The childminder helps parents to feel comfortable leaving their children in her care because she offers them pre-arranged settling-in sessions. During this time, the childminder gathers useful information, so that care routines match those that parents follow at home. This helps children to make the move from home to the childminder's care with ease and ensures children's individual needs are met. Children quickly settle and enjoy a warm and caring relationship with the childminder, and this is evident through their play and explorations. The childminder knows children's individual needs and unique personalities well. She is a

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

good role model, treating children with kindness and respect, and children respond well to the childminder's calm and patient character. The childminder gives children gentle reminders during play to help them understand about using good manners, being kind to each other and taking turns. The childminder effectively supports their overall well-being and emotional needs. As a result, children enjoy each other's company, form strong attachments and behave well. This all helps them to be emotionally well prepared for the move on to school.

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

All required documentation is in place and the childminder completes this correctly and thoroughly to promote children's safety and well-being. Healthy lifestyles are promoted as the childminder gives written information to parents regarding the foods she provides. She encourages children to eat a healthy diet and try different foods by providing a range of fruits for snack time. Good hygiene routines help children to understand and learn about self-care skills and the importance of keeping themselves clean. The childminder supports children well to develop an awareness of their own personal care issues, such as hand washing before meals and after nappy changing or toileting. The childminder holds a paediatric first-aid certificate and there are clear policies and procedures in place for recording accidents and administering medication. The childminder understands the need to complete this correctly to promote children's safety and well-being.

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

Children gain a good understanding of how to keep themselves safe as they follow sensible rules for using tools correctly and practise regular fire drills to ensure they know what to do in an emergency. The childminder is vigilant about children's safety and she supervises them well at all times. Children walk to attend a local toddler group and learn about road safety and stranger danger. At the group, children learn to socialise with others and take manageable risks during exercise and play. The childminder shows them how to use the equipment safely. Furthermore, children of all ages learn the importance of tidying away toys after use. This is because the childminder reminds them that too many toys on the floor may be dangerous and cause them to fall. Overall, the childminder effectively promotes children's health, social skills and independence well.

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provision

The childminder has a good understanding of her responsibilities to meet the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Her knowledge of child protection is updated through attending appropriate training. All adults living on the premises have undergone the required suitability checks. The childminder is fully aware of the procedures to follow should she have any concerns regarding a child in her care. Her safeguarding policy includes the action to be taken and phone numbers of who to contact to seek advice and support. The childminder is well organised and has an inclusive range of policies and procedures that support her good practice. She shares all of this information with parents to ensure they are fully informed about the service she provides. Children's safety in the childminder's home and on outings is promoted well. The childminder completes regularly daily safety checks and updates risk assessments to

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provision

include any new resources, equipment or changes to the premises. All of the required documentation and parental consents are in place and stored safely. This ensures confidentiality is maintained and children are cared for in line with parental wishes. Consequently, children play in a safe and secure learning environment.

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provision

The childminder has an excellent level of awareness about how children learn. She monitors her provision to ensure the learning and development requirements are met by ensuring children are motivated and interested in their activities. This is successfully achieved by providing an extensive range of activities, tailored to encourage children to become active learners. The childminder has successfully addressed the recommendation from her last inspection. She has risk assessment sheets and daily checks for each area in her home and outings to any venues she visits. The childminder demonstrates a very clear commitment to continue to improve the service she provides and has completed a focused improvement plan with realistic targets for further improvements, in both her provision and her professional development. For example, she is booked on a number of training courses and workshops to secure her skills and knowledge. All of this clearly demonstrates

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provision

the childminder's capacity to secure excellent learning opportunities for children.

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provision

Communication with parents is a prime focus for the childminder with regard to children's well-being and achievements. Parents and carers appreciate her warm welcome for their children and themselves, highlighting the home-from-home atmosphere in both questionnaires and references. The childminder also recognises the importance of working in partnership with external agencies to ensure appropriate interventions for children who may need additional support. However, there is scope to improve the partnership working arrangements where children attending other early years settings. The childminder is not yet sharing information consistently with key persons to fully promote a consistent approach to care and learning. Nevertheless, children clearly thrive and are making excellent progress in the childminder's care.

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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 255718 Local authority Dudley Inspection number 866972 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 7

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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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