Childminder in Essex

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 11 January 2016 28 March 2012

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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 are happy and settled with the childminder and form close bonds with her. This supports their personal, social and emotional development and helps children to feel safe and secure in her care.  The childminder has high expectations of children and provides good levels of challenge during activities. She effectively promotes children's progress across the areas of learning to ensure they gain the skills they need for the next stage in their development.  Children have a positive attitude to learning. This is because the childminder knows them very well and provides experiences that she knows they enjoy. Children's good language and communication development is well supported through constant conversations and discussions.  The quality of teaching is good because the childminder has a good knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage. She uses observations to plan a range of activities that

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This provision is good

supports children's learning and development, identifies gaps and monitors their progress. As a result, children make good progress.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The childminder does not always take advantage of every opportunity to gain additional information from parents, in order to enhance their children's learning and support their progress further.  The childminder does not make good use of opportunities to help children learn about the reasons for eating the healthy food that she provides.

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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 further the already good relationships with parents to ensure that advantage is taken of all opportunities to gain information about children, in order to support their progress in a more effective way  provide more opportunities for children to learn the reasons for eating healthily as part of a healthy lifestyle.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector held discussions with the childminder at appropriate times throughout the inspection and carried out a focused observation with the childminder.  The inspector looked at relevant documentation, such as the childminder's self- evaluation, records of children's learning and development, written risk assessments and a selection of policies.  The inspector checked evidence of the suitability of all household members and qualifications of the childminder.  The inspector took account of parents' comments detailed in written testimonials.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The childminder attends training to keep her knowledge of safeguarding up to date. This means she has an understanding of the most recent information about how to protect children from harm. The childminder ensures that she keeps children safe in the home and when out in the community. Partnerships with other settings, such as the local schools, are strong. As a result, children receive continuity in their care. The childminder has positive relationships with parents and they have access to information about her service. The childminder regularly evaluates the progress children are making in their learning and routinely monitors the activities on offer. This helps her to recognise her strengths and informs the clear plans she has in place for the continuous development of the provision.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The childminder creates a wide range of interesting and challenging activities to cover all the areas of learning and makes detailed plans to follow children's interests. This enables her to provide a good balance of child-initiated and adult-led activities as children become absorbed in what they do. They have access to a good selection of resources, which enables them to participate in purposeful play. Children thoroughly enjoy playing in the outdoor area, which ensures they are physically active and learn to take appropriate risks. Children develop their investigation skills as they participate in ice play with the childminder. They play with small-world animals and blocks of frozen ice and have lots of opportunities to count and compare sizes of the animals. Children show excitement as they talk about the polar bears hibernating and giggle with delight as the penguin figures fall off the ice into the cold water.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

The childminder has very close and warm relationships with all the children and they form strong emotional bonds with her and settle quickly in her care. She provides clear, consistent boundaries and praises the children often. This actively boosts their confidence and, as a result, children are very well behaved. Children manage their personal care needs so that they are well prepared for the next stage of their learning. They learn to follow good hygiene practices by ensuring they wash their hands regularly. The childminder arranges to meet with other childminders so that children have opportunities to mix with other children and adults to develop their social skills and confidence. They develop an understanding of their local communities as they regularly have fun on the beach, joining in charity events.

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Outcomes for children are good

The childminder regularly observes and assesses children, in order to recognise their achievements and identify their next steps in learning. She follows and extends children's individual needs to support their future learning. This means children are gaining a good range of skills needed for the next stage in their learning at school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY341968 Local authority Essex Inspection number 983374 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 6 Number of children on roll 7

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Name of provider

Date of previous inspection 28 March 2012

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 2006 and lives in West Mersea, Essex. The childminder operates all year round from 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays.

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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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