Childminder in Essex

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 22/12/2014 04/12/2008

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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 develop strong bonds with the childminder. The childminder consistently promotes their well-being, as a result children are content and settled.  The childminder demonstrates a good understanding of safeguarding children. This is because she supports her understanding by attending additional training. As a result, she knows what to do in the event of a child protection concern, so children's welfare is well protected.  Children are making good progress in their learning and development. This is because the childminder implements a wide range of teaching strategies and completes regular observations of children at play.  Partnerships with parents are good. The childminder promotes information sharing and works closely with parents. This means that children benefit from a consistent approach to learning.

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It is not yet outstanding because

 During some planned activities, the childminder does not make best use of opportunities to challenge younger children and encourage them to build on their skills. This does not maximise some learning experiences for younger children.  At times, the childminder does not organise the resources to fully support children in making decisions about what they play with. This means that children are not always able to choose these independently to fully extend 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 looked at children's assessment records, planning documentation, evidence of suitability of household members and a range of other documentation, including the safeguarding procedures.  The inspector reviewed the childminder's self-evaluation form.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities in the childminder's house and talked with the childminder and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector looked at children's assessment records, planning documentation, evidence of suitability of household members and a range of other documentation, including the safeguarding procedures.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector carried out joint discussions with the childminder in relation to observations of the children's play, learning and progress.

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Information about the setting

The childminder was registered in 2007 on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She lives with her husband and two children in Epping. The childminder sometimes works with an assistant. The whole of the childminder's house is used for childminding. The family has two pet dogs. The childminder collects children from the local schools. There are currently five children on roll, two of whom are in the early years age range and they attend for a variety of sessions. The childminding provision operates all year round, from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family 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:

 maximise learning opportunities for younger children by adapting adult-focused activities to ensure that children can practise and build on their skills and be challenged further

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

 review the organisation and storage of resources to maximise children's opportunities to make greater choices about their play.

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who attend

The childminder demonstrates her good knowledge and understanding of the learning and development requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. This is supported by her use of approved guidance to successfully identify where children are in their development and plan for their next steps. However, some adult-led activities are, on occasion, too challenging for very young children. For instance, a craft activity involving the decorating of Christmas cards, is not adjusted enough to make the best of learning opportunities for younger children. Children settle well with the childminder and make good progress in their learning. The childminder takes time to find out each child's starting points through discussions with parents and initial observations. As a result, she has a good knowledge of each child's stage of development. This means that she is able to plan interesting activities, which engage children's interest and overall, provide good levels of challenge.

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who attend

Overall, the childminder has a good understanding of how young children learn. She makes sure that they have plenty of time to play, explore and discover things for themselves. For example, children develop problem-solving skills as they work out how to make sounds by pressing the buttons on a number of battery-operated toys. The quality of teaching is good. The childminder makes sure she is always positioned in young children's line of vision. This ensures that they are able to see her clearly when she talks. The childminder also speaks aloud, modelling self-talk, describing her own actions in play. Therefore, very young children begin to mimic what they hear, helping them to learn new words. The childminder asks questions and repeats words for children to hear in context, such as asking if they have finished eating their snacks. Children clearly demonstrate their understanding as they use sound and gesture to communicate that they have not finished

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who attend

eating their fruit yet. The childminder encourages children's self-help skills and fosters their use of senses. Children develop confidence and self-esteem as they feed themselves snacks and lunch, learning about the properties of food and liquids. For example, children learn how to manipulate slippery pieces of banana into their mouth. The childminder provides a wide variety of interesting, age-appropriate resources. However, these are not always organised in a way that fully maximises children's opportunity to access them. This has a negative impact on children's ability to revisit their learning or fully enrich their opportunity to make choices about their play.

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who attend

Children develop good social skills as they play with friends during weekly visits to local toddler groups. They have the opportunity to extend their learning through regular outdoor play. Children develop good physical skills and improve their coordination as they freely move around the childminder's home. They practise and refine their balance and coordination during time spent playing in local parks and on large play resources in the childminder's garden. Partnerships with parents are good, so children are supported to continue their learning at home. The childminder shares information with parents about children's progress every two weeks and gives them ideas that they can use with them at home.

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

Children settle well into the childminder's home, which is warm and inviting. The effective key-person system means that children develop a close relationship with the childminder, which provides a secure base for them to develop good bonds and attachments with her assistant and other children attending. For example, young children seek out the childminder for cuddles and to join in with their play. The childminder further supports children's well-being by working closely with their parents to ensure that they are both kept well informed about any changes in children's personal needs. This means that children are emotionally secure and supported well to move between home and the childminder. The childminder is attentive towards children's daily needs, providing them with support when needed. Children are given time to develop their independent skills. Even very young children are learning to meet their own care needs. For example, they

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

are consistently encouraged to feed themselves. As a result, children are emotionally prepared for pre-school or a move to another setting.

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

Children behave well because the childminder gives them gentle reminders about acceptable behaviour. This helps children to understand the reason for the rules. For example, children are reminded to chew their food to prevent choking. Children show good awareness of safety rules as they sit at the table or in high chairs to eat. The childminder supports children to learn about taking measured risks when they use large play equipment during outdoor play. She provides a wide variety of interesting, age- appropriate resources. However, these are not always organised in a way that fully maximises children's opportunity to access them. This has a negative impact on children's ability to revisit their learning or fully enrich their opportunity to make choices about their play.

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

The childminder effectively supports children's awareness of healthy lifestyles. She ensures that even very young children have the chance to regularly take part in outdoor play for fresh air and exercise. The childminder teaches children about cleaning their hands at pertinent times during the day. For example, after touching animals and before mealtimes. She makes good use of discussions to help children to understand that they may get germs if they do not follow the routines. The childminder also increases children's understanding about healthy eating. She provides fresh fruit at snack time and talks to children about foods that are good for them and help them to grow strong.

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provision

The childminder and her assistant have both undertaken safeguarding training to support their knowledge and understanding of child protection. As a result, they are able to implement the childminder's clear safeguarding policy, should they have any concerns about a child in their care. The childminder uses robust employment procedures to ensure that her assistant is suitable to work with children. Disclosure and Barring Service checks are undertaken for all adults living or working in the childminder's home. The childminder ensures that staff are made aware of child protection and health and safety procedures as part of their induction. This ensures that children's well-being is protected by all adults caring for them. The childminder uses good safety measures to protect children's safety, for example, she prevents them from accessing out of bounds areas by the use of safety gates. The childminder has ensured that all required policies and procedures are in place

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provision

and are reviewed and updated regularly by her. This ensures that they remain effective in practice to support all children's well-being.

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provision

The childminder has implemented a range of methods to ensure that she is able to effectively monitor her assistant's teaching practice. This includes regular observations of her interaction with children. The childminder gives her assistant regular and helpful feedback. This is used as part of a regular programme of supervision and appraisal to successfully support ongoing improvements. The childminder and her assistant undertake regular training to enrich their knowledge, which has improved their quality of teaching. Self-evaluation is undertaken by the childminder, who seeks contributions from parents, children and staff. This ensures that a wide range of ideas and opinions are considered. Since her last inspection, the childminder has improved her methods of observation to ensure that they contribute to the future planning of activities. This has had a positive impact on supporting children's progress in learning.

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provision

The childminder has developed good partnerships with parents. This helps her to support children's care, learning and development well. Parents provide regular verbal feedback to the childminder. For instance, they refer to the childminder as their child's second family and inform her that they are happy with the service, which she provides. No children currently attend other providers of care and education. However, the childminder has a good understanding with regard to the importance of sharing information to enhance children's continuity of care and learning.

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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 EY365104 Local authority Essex Inspection number 857740 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 12 Number of children on roll 5

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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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