Childminder in Cambridgeshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 26 January 2015 5 May 2011

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Good 2 How well the early years provision meets the needs of the range of children who attend Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

The setting meets legal requirements for early years settings

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This provision is good

 The childminder provides a wide range of exciting activities to inspire children and encourage them to explore and investigate. Her good teaching skills promote learning effectively, and consequently, children make good progress in her care.  Children enjoy attending local groups and benefit from frequent visits to parks, the library and other play opportunities in the community. The childminder takes every chance to enhance their learning at these times, including promoting their awareness of road safety as they walk to and from these activities.  Children are happy and well settled in the care of the childminder. This is because she works hard to develop strong emotional bonds with each child.  The childminder provides children with nutritious snacks and meals to promote good health in their early years. She also makes good use of these routines to teach children about hygiene, and as a result, even the youngest children know about hand washing

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This provision is good

prior to eating.  The childminder puts a high priority on her own professional development to continually improve her skills and knowledge. This has had a positive impact on children's learning, especially with regard to activities to explore the natural world.  Safeguarding procedures are good because the childminder knows how to identify and report concerns she may have about children in her care.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The childminder does not always seek more precise details from parents about what children know and can do on entry, to enhance her planning for children's future learning needs.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 extend initial information gained from parents to focus more sharply on what children know and can do, to give a more thorough understanding of their development at this time and enhance the planning for their future learning.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities in the childminder's home and garden.  The inspector spoke with children and the childminder at appropriate times throughout the inspection.  The inspector and childminder took part in a joint observation.  The inspector read emails and letters from parents and took their views into account.  The inspector looked at children's learning journals, planning documentation, evidence of background checks and a range of other documentation.

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who attend. This is good

Children are busy, active learners who are keen to take part in the well-planned activities provided for them. The childminder plays alongside children and takes every opportunity to extend their learning effectively. For example, children delight in playing with large blocks of ice and watch carefully as they add salt to their activity. The childminder uses words, such as 'frozen', 'icy' and 'melt', in her comments and this enhances children's vocabulary well. Children show extraordinary levels of concentration as they play and this helps develop the skills needed for their future learning, including school. Partnerships with parents are strong because the childminder encourages a two-way sharing of information about children at all times. However, her initial enquiries when children start attending are not always sharply focused on what they can do or know. This means children's initial starting points are not always as accurately identified as possible.

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who attend. This is good

Nevertheless, the childminder observes and assesses children as they play and is able to plan effectively to ensure children make good progress towards the early learning goals.

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good

The childminder provides a well-resourced, homely environment where children are happy to access their own playthings independently. Children's safety is a priority, especially in the garden. They learn how to negotiate steps successfully and move around carefully in damp weather. The childminder shows understanding when encouraging children's positive behaviour. She knows that, on occasions, children need gentle reminders and guidance so that they learn how to behave appropriately. For example, the childminder uses a colourful 'sharing bag' game to help children learn how to take turns and consider others as they play. The childminder provides opportunities for children to meet with friends at local groups. This widens children's experiences successfully and helps to prepare them emotionally for changes in their lives, such as moves to pre-school or nursery.

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provision is good

The childminder has a thorough understanding of her responsibilities and has a good range of policies and procedures to support her work. She regularly monitors children's progress and in this way is able to identify any gaps in her provision, or areas where children need more support. The childminder continually reflects on her practice and seeks the opinions of parents and others to ensure she offers the very best provision for all children in her care. She values the strong partnerships with other providers, including childminding colleagues and the local children's centres. This both enriches her own practice, as she learns from others, and also supports a coordinated approach to children's care and well-being. Parents offer very positive feedback and acknowledge the good progress children have made.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY347763 Local authority Cambridgeshire Inspection number 863199 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 10

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 2007 and lives in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire. She operates all year round from 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Telephone number

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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Telephone number

procedures set out in the guidance ‘Complaints procedure: raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. 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, safeguarding and child protection.

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Telephone number

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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Telephone number

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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