Thorpe, Clare

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 26 June 2015 1 December 2009

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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 is very professional and teaches children effectively as she has a wealth of experience and a relevant qualification. Therefore, she has a very good understanding of how children learn through play.  Children demonstrate self-motivation and good behaviour and quickly settle in because they receive lots of positive attention and reassurance from the childminder. This supports their personal, social and emotional needs very well.  The childminder develops friendly relationships with parents and ensures that she exchanges information about children's well-being and care.  The childminder monitors children's development and plans well for their next steps, so that they make good progress in their learning.  The childminder adopts very good hygiene routines and practices. This helps young children learn about being healthy and understand their own personal care needs.  Children feel safe and secure with the childminder and have formed close bonds. They

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This provision is good

clearly relate to her as their main carer when their parents are not present.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The childminder does not always consider the way in which she gains and uses information from parents to promote consistency and continuity in children's learning even further.  The childminder does not currently provide sufficient role-play and pretend-play items, to fully maximise opportunities to support children's creativity and imagination further.

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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 opportunities for parents to share information about their children's learning at home, and use this information to help plan activities and maximise children's progress  provide more familiar, real-life and pretend-play items for children to use and handle, to support their imagination and creativity further.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector took account of the views of parents from information written in children's learning journals.  The inspector observed and discussed routines and activities in the main play area.  The inspector checked evidence of the suitability of the childminder and household members.  The inspector looked at the childminder's training certificates, children's learning journals and a sample of policies and other documentation.  The inspector spoke to the childminder and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection.

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who attend. This is good

The childminder provides a varied range of well-planned activities that meet children's developmental needs, which ensures that they make good progress. This is because she gains good information from parents about children's interests when they first start. She also passes on daily information about things children have enjoyed doing with her. For example, she does simple yoga stretching exercises with children, which parents carry out at home. However, the childminder does not always gain ongoing information from parents about what their children have achieved at home, to further promote consistency and continuity in their learning. The childminder is an effective teacher. She reads stories and changes her voice, using expression to match characters. This promotes children's literacy skills well and helps them to develop a keen interest in books. The childminder helps children to complete shape sorters and encourages them to explore with paint and

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who attend. This is good

water. She is well aware of children's individual needs and knows when to intervene to offer support and when to sit back and allow children to discover things for themselves. This ensures that children are well prepared for the next stage in their learning.

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good

Children play in a safe, clean, well-maintained home. Sufficient toys and equipment are easily accessible; therefore, children choose what they want to play with. This supports their independence and decision-making skills. However, there is a limited range of role- play and pretend-play items readily available to fully maximise opportunities to support children's creativity and imagination further. Young children are confident and clearly attached to the childminder. They make their needs known as they toddle to their buggy with their personal comforters when they need a nap. The childminder is caring and gentle; therefore, children's emotional needs are well met. She provides healthy snacks and meals, ensures that children get plenty of fresh air and exercise and acts quickly if she thinks children are unwell. This ensures that their physical health is successfully met.

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provision is good

The childminder uses the Early Years Foundation Stage well in practice and understands her responsibilities around safeguarding. She completes regular risk assessments, updates her first-aid and child protection training and provides close supervision. She knows what to do if she is worried about a child's care or welfare and maintains contact details for relevant authorities, should she need to seek advice or make a referral. Consequently, children are safe and well cared for. The childminder holds a childcare qualification at level 3, which she uses well to support children's learning and development successfully. She has just recently taken up childminding again after a short break, as she also works in a nursery. Therefore, the childminder is currently re-establishing her business and continually looks at ways to improve and develop further. This means that she reviews the overall quality of her provision and has a clear vision of what she wants to achieve, to help

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provision is good

promote children's welfare, learning and development even further.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY396263 Local authority Northumberland Inspection number 859780 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 3

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Name of provider

Date of previous inspection 1 December 2009

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 2009. She lives in Morpeth, Northumberland. The childminder operates all year round from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except bank holidays and family holidays. She holds a relevant childcare qualification.

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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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