Childminder in NorthumberlandOfsted inspection, 8 Jul 2015

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 8 July 2015 26 August 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 reviews the quality of her provision and sets targets to improve through strong reflection and self-evaluation. Consequently, she has a good capacity to continue to develop her provision further.  The childminder monitors children's learning by using clear tracker systems to highlight the progress that they make, in relation to their age and stage of development.  The childminder provides written documents for parents and regularly shares information with them. Parents are very pleased with the provision and highly commend her practice.  Children are very happy, settled and have good relationships with the childminder. This ensures that their emotional needs and well-being are met well.  Children are cared for by a longstanding, dedicated and competent childminder. Therefore, they feel safe and secure and clearly enjoy their time with her.  The childminder provides close supervision and a very clean, warm, welcoming and

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This provision is good

safe home. Consequently, children are well cared for.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The childminder does not fully extend opportunities for pre-school children to promote their early mathematical skills.  Younger children do not always have sufficient opportunities to explore sensory and natural materials, especially in the outdoors.

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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

 strengthen ways to promote children's early mathematical skills, by giving them more opportunities to use numbers in meaningful ways  enhance opportunities to further support children's exploration and sensory development.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed and discussed routines and activities in the main play area, kitchen and the outside area.  The inspector looked at the childminder's training certificates, children's assessment records and learning journals, the improvement plan and a sample of policies.  The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to on the day of the inspection and from information provided in the childminder's own parent survey.  The inspector checked evidence of the suitability of the childminder and other household members.  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 teaches young children successfully through a good mix of adult-led and child-initiated activities that cover all the seven areas of learning. She ensures that children develop an interest in books. She engages children well by providing a comfortable reading corner where they sit and join in with familiar stories using toys and objects from the story sacks to represent characters. This brings stories to life and children confidently join in with sentences and make animal sounds. Children also like to look at a phonic book and sound out the letters they are learning at nursery. This promotes children's literacy skills very well and ensures that they are well-prepared for school. However, the childminder does not fully extend pre-school children's mathematical skills as there are less opportunities for them to see, notice or use numbers in a variety of situations. Individual learning journals capture children's progress through photographs

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who attend. This is good

and observations from the day they start in the setting. Many children started as babies and the journals show how they have thrived and developed during their time with her.

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good

Children's good health is well supported. They enjoy their packed lunches from home and the childminder talks to children about why sweets and biscuits are bad for your teeth. Children get plenty of physical exercise and access the outdoor play area easily. They aim and throw balls at a basketball net, jump on a trampoline, run around in the fresh air and enjoy games of hide and seek. Children are confident, self-motivated and move around the childminder's home easily choosing what they would like to do from a good range of toys and activities. However, there are few opportunities for younger children to engage in sensory play by exploring and investigating natural resources, such as water, sand and soil. Children learn about the world around them as they look for snails and occasionally care for plants. Their behaviour is good and older children understand the reasons for sharing toys. They also know how to keep themselves and others safe, as they explain

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good

why younger children cannot use scissors by themselves.

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provision is good

The childminder has a good knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage requirements and holds a childcare qualification at level 3. She has updated her safeguarding training, attends local childminding network meetings to share good practice and completes short courses. She is well aware of what to do if she has concerns about a child's welfare and good written policies are implemented well and shared effectively with parents. This means that she has the necessary skills to keep children safe and supported in their learning. The childminder has friendly relationships with parents. For example, they pop in to see her for a chat after they drop their children off for a school visit. The childminder works very well with staff from the local school and nursery. She receives relevant information about what children do in nursery and uses this to help them make continued progress.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 507020 Local authority Northumberland Inspection number 855562 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 7

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Name of provider

Date of previous inspection 26 August 2009

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Telephone number

The childminder has been registered since 1996. She operates all year round from 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except bank holidays and family holidays. The setting is situated in Blyth, Northumberland. The childminder 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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