Childminder in Suffolk

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 19 January 2016 23 May 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 and her co-childminder provide a welcoming, family environment. They organise their home to ensure that children can access the areas and resources safely. Children form very close relationships with the childminder, her co-childminder, assistants and the other children in their care.  The experienced childminder is committed to her role and focuses on fulfilling the needs of every child. She understands how children learn and provides effective support. All children make good progress in their learning given their starting points and capabilities.  The childminder builds effective partnerships with parents and carers. She encourages them to view their children's records regularly, so that they are fully aware of their children's achievements. The childminder consistently helps parents to support their children's learning at home.  The childminder forms successful partnerships with other professionals. She attends

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This provision is good

regular meetings and shares information with them when necessary, so that children are fully supported in their care and learning needs.  Children have daily opportunities for exercise and fresh air, which help to promote their good health and support their physical well-being.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Children have fewer opportunities to extend their creative and critical-thinking skills. The childminder does not always provide children with sufficient time to think for themselves or test out their ideas.  There is scope to strengthen the performance management and monitoring systems further, to have a clear plan for building on the already good practice.

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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

 enrich children's creative and critical-thinking skills further, giving them more time to think about and formulate their own responses to questions and ideas that arise from their play and learning  extend the existing systems for the monitoring of staff performance to continue to strengthen and improve on good practice.

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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, her co-childminder and one of the assistants at appropriate times throughout the inspection.  The inspector spoke to children and carried out a focused observation.  The inspector looked at a range of records, including the childminder's self-evaluation, records of children's learning and development and a selection of policies.  The inspector checked evidence of the suitability and qualifications of the childminder and staff working in the setting.  The inspector spoke to a small selection of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.  The inspector looked at written testimonials from parents.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The childminder and her assistants have a good knowledge of safeguarding procedures. They know what to do if they have a concern about a child in their care. All adults in the household have undergone appropriate checks to ensure they are suitable to have regular contact with children. The childminder attends regular training courses to keep her knowledge and skills up to date, to continue to build on the existing good quality provision. The childminder and her co- childminder monitor and evaluate their setting, identifying strengths and areas for development. They provide parents with questionnaires to gather their views on the setting. Parents' comments received during the inspection, and written testimonials from parents and carers, are consistently complimentary. The childminder monitors the practice of her assistants through occasional, informal discussions.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The well-qualified childminder observes children during activities, accurately assesses their progress and identifies their next steps in learning. The childminder provides children with a good range of activities that engages children and builds on their interests. Babies become confident as they move around and explore their environment. They happily play alongside adults who encourage and motivate them to be enthusiastic in their learning. Older children enjoy making pretend food, skilfully using scissors to make sausages. They fill containers and use their imagination to cook with the items. The childminder and her assistant get down to children's level and join in with their play experiences. The childminder enthusiastically talks to children and asks a wealth of effective questions to extend their learning. On occasions, however, the childminder does not always allow sufficient time between questions for children to think about and share their ideas.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

The childminder gathers information from parents and carers when children first start. This enables her to provide continuity of care for children. The childminder maintains a very effective flow of information with parents and carers, so she always knows exactly what children need. The childminder displays samples of children's creative work on the walls. This effectively promotes a very good sense of belonging, promotes children's confidence and fosters their self-esteem. Management of children's behaviour is excellent. Children respond exceptionally well to the childminder's guidance and calm manner and eagerly help tidy away when asked, helping to maintain a safe environment. Children gain an understanding of risk through everyday routines and outings. They wear high-visibility jackets when out with the childminder and learn about road safety rules.

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Outcomes for children are good

The childminder prepares children well for their next stage in their learning, such as nursery or school. Children develop self-care skills and learn to be independent. They wash their hands before snacks and meals and collect their own coat and shoes before going outside. Children's social and emotional development is particularly well supported. This gives them the confidence and to be successful in their learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY253300 Local authority Suffolk Inspection number 848376 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 1 - 10 Total number of places 12 Number of children on roll 20

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 2003 and lives in Lowestoft, Suffolk. She works alongside her husband who is also a registered childminder. She also works with assistants. The childminding provision operates all year round from 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. She holds an appropriate qualification at level 3.

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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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