Childminder in Essex

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 7 December 2015 21 October 2011

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This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

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This provision is good

 The childminder provides a bright, welcoming and homely environment. Children have established warm and secure bonds with her. Children have a strong sense of security and belonging because the childminder meets their individual needs very well.  Children are well supported to develop their independence and self-help skills. They make independent choices in their play and help the childminder with tasks, such as choosing books for story time and helping to tidy away after messy play activities.  The childminder is well qualified and experienced. She uses her good knowledge of children to plan a wide range of activities that have depth and breadth across all areas of learning. Children are motivated and eager to learn and they make good progress.  The childminder provides children with opportunities to develop their social skills and gain confidence with other groups of children. She takes them on a wide range of

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This provision is good

outings and helps them to learn about the wider community.  The childminder is committed to continual development and monitoring of her setting. She actively seeks the views of her assistant, parents and children and makes the necessary improvements.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The childminder does not always make the most of every opportunity to extend children's thinking and understanding skills.  The childminder is not always successful in engaging all parents to share information about what they know about their children's learning at home.

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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

 provide even more opportunities for children to extend their thinking and language skills  strengthen ways to engage parents in sharing information about their children's experience and achievements at home.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the childminder's practice and her engagement with children throughout the inspection.  The inspector held discussions and conducted a joint observation with the childminder.  The inspector checked evidence of the suitability of all adults living and working on the premises. She also looked at evidence of the qualifications and recent training completed by the childminder and her assistant.  The inspector viewed children's files and assessment records, relevant policies, procedures and health and safety documents.  The inspector took account of the written views of parents.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The childminder's home is safe and secure. Well-organised documentation and detailed policies successfully underpin the efficient management of her service. These are regularly reviewed and added to, in line with current legislation. There are thorough procedures to ensure the suitability of all her assistants. The childminder has a good knowledge of all aspects of child protection. She knows what to do if she has a concern about a child in her care. The childminder monitors the educational programmes well. This helps her to identify any gaps in children's learning and put appropriate strategies into place, to ensure children's continued good progress. The childminder continually attends further training and checks her assistants' practice. This contributes significantly to improving the outcomes for children's care and learning.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The childminder has good teaching skills and a secure knowledge of how children learn. She gathers information from parents about their children's abilities when they start. She regularly shares information with other settings children attend to help plan consistency in their learning. Children are active learners who are keen to join in and have a go. The childminder skilfully promotes children's mathematical skills by introducing these concepts through play. Children eagerly explore a tray of leaves and find the plastic snake and beetle hiding inside. They confidently count how many legs the beetle has and how many they have. The childminder supports children's sensory exploration skills well. Children enjoy investigating the texture of jelly, confidently pressing and squeezing it between their fingers and using a range of utensils to scoop and fill bowls. Tracking and assessment of children's learning is focused and precise and children make good progress from their

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

The childminder knows children well. Settling-in sessions are used effectively to ensure there is a smooth move from home to her setting. The childminder works with parents during this time, to ensure children have familiar experiences and that she understands children's routines to enable her to meet their needs. The childminder encourages children to adopt healthy lifestyles. Children enjoy healthy and nutritious snacks and they have access to plenty of fresh air and exercise. The childminder sensitively and calmly discusses expected behaviours with children. Children adapt their behaviour accordingly and behave very well. Children show high levels of curiosity as they fully explore the well-organised toys and activities.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children progress well in their learning and development. They quickly gain the confidence needed to try new experiences. Children make good progress from their starting points and are well prepared for the next stage in their learning and the move to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 590192 Local authority Essex Inspection number 869497 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 0 - 11 Total number of places 12 Number of children on roll 19

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Name of provider

Date of previous inspection 21 October 2011

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 2000 and lives in Maldon, Essex. She sometimes also works with an assistant. She operates all year round from 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except bank holidays and family holidays. She holds an appropriate qualification at level 3 and offers 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 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 .

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Telephone number

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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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