Lake Caroline

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 24 February 2015 28 April 2009

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Previous inspection: Satisfactory 3 How well the early years provision meets the needs of the range of children who attend Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

The setting meets legal requirements for early years settings

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This provision is outstanding

 The quality of teaching is outstanding because the childminder has an excellent understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage and how young children learn. She uses a rich and varied range of responsive interactions to support and extend children's learning. As a result, they make excellent progress in relation to their individual starting points.  The childminder sets out her home with enriching learning opportunities, provided through a varied range of resources. These are well organised and presented across the three main rooms, maximising the available space and encouraging children to choose things for themselves. As a result, children are exhibiting the characteristics of being highly motivated and inquisitive learners.  The childminder has a very calm, caring and patient manner, she gives children individual attention which ensures that each child feels valued and that their emotional

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This provision is outstanding

well-being is supported exceedingly well.  The childminder uses a highly effective range of ways to clearly outline the progress that children are making and to communicate very regularly with parents on all aspects of children's care. In this way, parents are closely supported to become highly involved in their child's welfare and learning.  Children's safety and well-being are highly prioritised. Robust risk assessment, stringent safety measures and highly comprehensive safeguarding procedures ensure that children feel safe and are secure.  The childminder is very pro-active in evaluating her provision and researching and incorporating different ways of working to benefit the children placed with her. She is committed to her own professional development and has recently completed a relevant early years qualification. As a result, she has a very strong capacity to further improve this already outstanding setting.

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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

 enhance the already excellent outdoor provision by providing greater opportunities for all children to learn about the natural world, for example, by extending growing and planting activities.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector viewed the areas used for childminding, she talked to the children and childminder at appropriate times throughout the inspection and observed a variety of activities.  The inspector looked at evidence of the suitability and qualifications of the childminder as well as a selection of policies and procedures, including safeguarding and discussed risk assessments and the childminder's self-evaluation process.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the childminder. She discussed children's learning and development and sampled their records and looked at the planning documentation.  The inspector took account of the views of parents by reading a number of comments on questionnaires and letters given to the childminder.

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who attend. This is outstanding

The childminder's excellent communication with parents ensures that she has a very in- depth understanding of children's current needs and preferences. She uses this information, and her own observations, to effectively plan very relevant experiences to extend children's thinking, interests and learning. For example, children's attention is captured excellently in the stimulating role-play 'baby hospital'. This supports children as they prepare for new siblings, and links to a new experience theme about 'our bodies'. Assessments are meticulous and enable the childminder to quickly identify any gaps in children's development. She also outlines next steps in their learning and clearly shares these with parents. Children's communication and social skills are rapidly promoted because the childminder interacts very successfully with them. Lovely conversations evolve through play. The childminder carefully builds on each child's language skills and makes

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who attend. This is outstanding

sure they all have time to express themselves. Consequently, all children, are making rapid progress in their readiness for school, including those whose needs or circumstances require particularly perceptive intervention and additional support.

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outstanding

Children are learning to understand simple rules and boundaries to keep themselves and others safe, such as sharing with their friends and putting things back when they have finished with them. They show their growing understanding of caring for others as they readily use the role-play doctor's kit to help tend to their friend who has hurt his hand. As a result, children's personal, social and emotional development is being promoted very well. The childminder maintains highly effective hygiene practices at all times. The premises are clean and well-organised to meet children's needs. The outside space is well managed and organised, children are provided with a wealth of activities and equipment outside. However, there is still some scope to further enhance and extend children's enthusiasm for growing things and caring for their natural habitat.

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provision is outstanding

The childminder is extremely enthusiastic, highly motivated and fully committed to her work. Since the last inspection, she has developed her knowledge extensively and all previous recommendations have been fully met. The childminder has made immense progress in her practice. She has implemented exceptionally comprehensive systems to ensure that all documentation and aspects of her provision reflect current legislation and high quality practice. The childminder supports the sharing of a vast amount of information between herself, parents and other providers of settings that children attend. This covers communication about all aspects of their care and learning. This is done through daily conversations, two-way diaries, comprehensive learning folders and instant messaging. Parental comments on questionnaires and letters are extremely positive. They typically comment that the childminder is very nurturing and that she always goes 'above

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provision is outstanding

and beyond' with the care and support she provides for the children.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY101162 Local authority Northamptonshire Inspection number 877302 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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Name of provider

Date of previous inspection 28 April 2009

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Telephone number

The childminder registered in 2002 and lives in Northampton. She operates all year round, from 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except bank holidays. The childminder currently provides funded early education for two-year-old children. She has a relevant qualification at level 3.

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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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