Childminder in Bath and North East Somerset

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 05/01/2015 22/01/2010

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early years provision

This inspection: 3 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 3 The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision 3

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This provision requires improvement

 Children develop friendships and relationships with others. The childminder's support helps them to increase their confidence and their understanding of behaviour expectations.  The childminder has a clear awareness of safeguarding procedures and her role in keeping children safe.  The childminder creates a welcoming play environment and organises resources to enable children to make choices in their play.

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It is not yet good because

 The childminder does not always adapt activities to suit individual children's learning needs and stage of development. Therefore, not all activities help all children to make good progress.  The nappy changing equipment the childminder provides is not in good repair and therefore does not create a fully hygienic changing surface.  The childminder's systems for self-evaluation are not fully effective in helping her to identify and address all areas for improvement.

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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 in the childminder's home and garden.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector looked at children's assessment records and a sample of welfare records.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke to the childminder, her co-childminder and children at appropriate times during the inspection.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector took account of the written feedback from parents and the childminder's self-evaluation.

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Information about the setting

The childminder registered in 2009. She lives with her partner and three children in a residential area of Bath in Somerset. All areas of the childminder's home are available for childminding, which includes a lounge, kitchen/diner and toilet facilities on the ground floor. Two bedrooms and bathroom facilities are accessible on the first floor. There is a rear garden available for outside play. The family has a pet dog. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. There are currently seven children on roll, six of whom are in the early years age group. The childminder works with a co-childminder from this address.

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must:

 make better use of observation and assessments when planning learning opportunities, to help ensure activities are appropriate to children's individual developmental needs and support them in making good progress

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must:

 ensure that equipment used for nappy changing is appropriately maintained so that it can be thoroughly cleaned and does not pose a risk of cross-infection.

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

 use self-evaluation to help identify and address areas for improvement.

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who attend

Children settle well in the childminder's home. She provides a welcoming playroom where children have access to toys and resources that reflect their interests. The childminder clearly labels toy boxes, enabling children to make informed choices about what they wish to play with. For example, during the inspection, children playing with dolls were able to easily find dolls' clothes and equipment to extend their play. Children explore toys that increase their understanding of the local community and the wider world, helping them to learn to value and to respect diversity. The childminder plans some adult-led activities for the children. However, she does not always adapt these to suit the individual needs of the children attending. This means that children are not always fully included. Therefore, they do not always receive the challenge they need to make good progress. For example, during the inspection, the childminder organised a group activity to make bird feeders.

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who attend

Although the older children were able to participate, the childminder did not consider the needs of the youngest children to ensure they were included. This meant that while older children used the sticks to spread fat into the holes in the fir cones, the younger children sat and watched. The childminder did not provide any toys or equipment to involve or interest them. Although initially they were happy to watch, the younger children became bored and looked for other things to interest them, such as pushing the kitchen drawer in and out. The childminder offers children regular opportunities to play outdoors. She provides suitable clothing to enable all children to explore the natural world as they regularly take part in forest school group sessions.

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who attend

The childminder records observations of children's learning and has recently introduced a tracker system to enable her to oversee their progress. This provides her with a picture of each child's development over time. However, she does not make effective use of this information when planning all activities, to ensure that they meet each child's individual learning needs at all times. The childminder shares children's developmental records, including her summary assessments and progress checks for two-year-old children, with parents. This helps to keep them informed of their child's progress and next steps in learning.

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

Children are comfortable in the childminder's home and look to her for help and reassurance as they play. The childminder encourages children to become increasingly independent. For example, she provides most children with safety knives to help chop up their fruit at snack time. The childminder has a suitable understanding of children's individual care needs and routines, which helps her to support them appropriately. This helps children to feel safe and secure. For example, the childminder closely follows sleep time routines so that children settle for a nap. The childminder helps children to develop their social skills. She reminds them of boundaries and expectations, and sometimes stands back to allow children to negotiate and work with each other. This helps them to develop positive relationships.

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

The majority of the childminder's practices and procedures support children's health adequately. For example, she teaches children positive hygiene routines, including handwashing. However, the mat the childminder uses for nappy changing is split, making it difficult to keep clean. This does not adequately prevent the risk of cross-infection.

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

The childminder and her co-childminder work together to ensure children receive suitable levels of supervision at all times. For example, when one childminder is preparing lunch, the other is involving children in a singing session. They complete regular risk assessments, which help to identify most potential hazards. The childminder teaches children about safety when on outings, and talks to parents about how they can reinforce road safety awareness with their children at home.

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provision

The childminder is keen to develop her skills further and uses knowledge gained from courses and workshops to improve her practice. For example, she involves children in more activities to explore and investigate the outdoors since attending training. The childminder seeks advice from other early years professionals and feedback from parents to help her identify and address some areas for development. However, self-evaluation is not sufficiently robust to identify all areas needing improvement. The childminder has made some improvements since her last inspection. However, although she has made some changes to how she tracks children's progress, she does not make fully effective use of assessment to support planning. This means that the childminder does not always promote all children's learning well or ensure her educational programmes consistently meet their individual needs.

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provision

The childminder has a secure awareness of safeguarding and child protection procedures. She attends child protection training and, with her co-childminder, has produced written policies and procedures for reference. This helps to ensure they can deal with any potential safeguarding concerns promptly to help support children's welfare. The childminder makes effective use of documentation to aid children's ongoing safety and welfare, such as a record of attendance and accident reports.

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provision

Parents receive written information about the service the childminder offers, including her policies and procedures. Daily discussions and diaries help to inform parents about events and activities. The childminder also provides them with information about planned activities to involve them in their children's learning. The childminder displays her certificates and registration details on the wall so parents have easy access to this information. This provides parents with a suitable understanding of the childminder's role and responsibilities. Parents state their children are happy with the childminder. They comment that they are pleased with the progress their children are making and feel well informed about all aspects of children's 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 EY400348 Local authority Bath & NE Somerset Inspection number 983220 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 5 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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