Childminder in Essex

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 9 December 2015 29 March 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

 Children make good progress and develop the skills they need for future learning. They are motivated, eager to join in activities and approach their play with enthusiasm.  Children form secure and caring attachments with the childminder and her assistant. They receive frequent praise and encouragement to effectively promote their confidence and self-esteem.  The childminder gives a very high priority to ensuring children learn about the importance of safe and healthy lifestyles. Children eat nutritious snacks and meals, have regular exercise and follow good hygiene routines.  The childminder takes positive steps to evaluate her effectiveness and to make improvements. She seeks the views of parents through questionnaires and receives very complimentary feedback about the care she provides and the good progress made by children.  The childminder successfully keeps parents informed about their children's progress

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This provision is good

through daily discussions, opportunities to look at the learning journals and displays with information about activities.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The childminder has not yet devised an ambitious programme for ongoing professional development aimed at raising her knowledge and skills, and those of her assistant, to an even higher level.  The childminder does not always obtain enough information about children's interests and capabilities to help plan their learning fully from the start.

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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

 establish an ongoing programme of professional development that is focused on raising the overall quality of practice to the highest level  gather more information from parents about their children's interests and what they can already do, when they join the setting.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during indoor activities and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector evaluated a focused activity with the childminder and discussed the children's progress and achievements with the childminder and her assistant.  The inspector viewed a sample of the children's development records.  The inspector reviewed evidence of the childminder's qualifications, the suitability of the childminder, her assistant and her family, self-evaluation, risk assessment and policies and procedures.  The inspector took account of the views of parents gathered from their responses to surveys organised by the childminder.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The childminder and her assistant are knowledgeable about keeping children safe from harm and how to report a concern about a child in their care. They minimise risks within the environment and ensure that children are closely supervised. The childminder holds discussions with her assistant about her performance and responsibilities within the setting. These help to ensure there is a collaborative and consistent approach to children's care and learning. The childminder has successfully addressed the recommendations from the last inspection. She links with other childminders to gain fresh ideas for activities. However, the childminder's recent professional development focuses on legally required aspects of training, rather than being specifically targeted at developing first-rate teaching skills for herself and her assistant.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Young children concentrate as they take part in a variety of fun and interesting activities. They are enthusiastically involved in craft activities and imaginative play, which help to enhance their thinking skills and develop their learning. The childminder places good focus on developing children's speech and language. For example, young children learn to use words, such as smooth, rough, shiny and sparkly, to describe the texture of Christmas decorations. The childminder sings rhymes and reads books with the children and has introduced some dual language resources. Children develop basic mathematics as they count and explore colours and shapes during their play. Overall, the childminder has effective partnerships with parents. She regularly talks to parents about activities their children have been involved in, so they can continue their children's learning at home.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children have formed secure emotional relationships with the childminder and her assistant. They show they feel secure, safe and happy. Children are encouraged to value and respect their local community and the wider world. The childminder teaches them to recognise similarities and differences between themselves and others and to treat each other kindly. Children are beginning to show an awareness of the feelings of others. For example, they take a toy to another child when they notice they are upset. Children are provided with a wide variety of healthy snacks and home-cooked meals to promote their good health. Children are taught good hygiene routines, such as handwashing before and after meals and when using the bathroom. Children have good opportunities to be physically active in the childminder's garden or on visits to parks and community groups.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children are making good progress. The childminder successfully observes, assesses and tracks children's achievements and monitors any gaps in their learning. The childminder offers good amounts of challenge and opportunities for them to develop their independence skills. Children are well prepared for their future learning and in readiness for their eventual move on to nursery or school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY348088 Local authority Essex Inspection number 857402 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 1 - 7 Total number of places 9 Number of children on roll 7

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Name of provider

Date of previous inspection 29 March 2011

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 2007 and lives in Chelmsford, Essex. She operates all year round from 7.15am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder works with an assistant. The childminder receives funding for the provision of 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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