Childminder in Durham

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 3 November 2015 16 March 2011

p.1

This inspection: Outstanding 1

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Outstanding 1

p.1

This inspection: Outstanding 1

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding 1

p.1

This inspection: Outstanding 1

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1

p.1

This provision is outstanding

 The quality of teaching is outstanding. The childminder has an excellent understanding of how children learn and knows the children very well. She provides children with exciting and challenging activities that ignite their interest and motivate them to learn.  The childminder's enthusiastic and animated involvement in children's play and her highly skilled interaction and questioning extends, challenges and supports children to make consistently high progress in all areas of learning.  The childminder forms exceptionally warm and close bonds with the children. Children are very happy and demonstrate that they feel extremely secure in her care and have a positive sense of themselves.  The childminder provides an excellent range of accessible resources in a highly stimulating environment. Children show their eagerness to learn as they investigate, explore, solve problems and lead their own learning.

p.1

This provision is outstanding

 The well-qualified childminder is extremely proactive to improve her skills and knowledge and enhance her professional development. She continues to attend a wide range of relevant training courses. She reflects on, and utilises, her learning to improve outcomes for children in her care.  Children demonstrate extremely positive behaviour and high levels of confidence in their own abilities. Children's independence is given high priority and they are extremely well prepared for their eventual move to school.  The childminder uses a wide range of up-to-date policies and procedures to guide her practice. She gives exceptionally high priority to children's safety and welfare inside of her home and on outings.

p.1

What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

p.2

What the setting needs to do to improve further

 continue to develop innovative ways in which children can be creative and investigate further in the outdoors.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspection observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the childminder.  The inspector spoke with the childminder and the children. She looked at relevant documentation, such as the childminder's self-evaluation and evidence of the suitability of those living at the setting.  The inspector took account of parents' views through written feedback and completed questionnaires provided for the inspection.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

The childminder is passionate about her work and demonstrates a genuine commitment to providing high-quality childcare. She is constantly reflecting on, and improving, her first- class practice. For example, following her development of a water wall in the outdoor area, she is considering further innovative ways to enhance opportunities for children to investigate and be creative in the outdoor area. The childminder has established highly effective partnerships with parents and regularly seeks the views of parents and children to drive continual improvement. Arrangements for safeguarding are effective as the childminder has an extremely secure understanding of her role and responsibilities in protecting children and keeping them safe.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Excellent procedures are in place to ensure the exceptional two-way sharing of information between the childminder and parents about children's learning, interests and progress. Parents are actively engaged in children's learning from the start. For example, they complete and update, highly detailed All about me forms on a regular basis, which are linked to the areas of learning. The childminder also obtains information about children's learning at home, for example, children take 'Lenny the lion' on holiday and parents write about the experiences the children have had with him. In addition, parents regularly review the accurate, ongoing assessments and high-quality observations of their children's learning. These help the childminder to identify and close any gaps in children's learning. The childminder's teaching is consistently of a very high standard. For example, she supports children to develop excellent communication skills as she introduces new

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

language as they play. She has an excellent understanding of the importance of supporting children's hand-to-eye coordination. For example, she provides them a wide range of tools, such as tweezers which they use to pick out toy spiders from jelly.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

The childminder is an excellent role model. Her patient, calm yet firm and consistent manner ensures that children have an excellent understanding of, and follow, the high levels of expected behaviour approximate to their stage of development. Children are provided with excellent opportunities to be independent, for example, even young children take off their own shoes and put them away on arrival at the childminder's home. Children take part in a wealth of activities to help them learn about healthy lifestyles, this includes, for example, growing and eating their own vegetables and singing handwashing songs to reinforce good hygiene practices. They enjoy and learn about the benefits of fresh and exercise though daily outdoor play and trips to a wide range of fun and interesting places.

p.3

Outcomes for children are outstanding

The highly effective systems for monitoring children's learning and development show that all children are making excellent progress from their starting points and are working securely in, or above, expected levels for their age. As a result, all children are acquiring the key skills for future learning.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 313542 Local authority Durham Inspection number 865037 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Age range of children 1 - 9 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 5

p.4

Name of provider

Date of previous inspection 16 March 2011

p.4

Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 1994 and lives in Consett. She operates all year round from 7am to 6.15pm, Monday to Friday, except bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds an appropriate qualification at level 3.

p.4

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.

p.4

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.

p.4

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 reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/, write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.5

Telephone number

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our website for news, information and updates at www.ofsted.gov.uk/user.

p.5

Telephone number

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

p.5