Childminder in Cambridgeshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 4 February 2016 17 September 2010

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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 Outstanding 1

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This provision is good

 The childminder places a high priority on children's emotional well-being. She has developed extremely caring and respectful relationships with the children in her care. Behaviour is exemplary. Children are polite and friendly and are learning to take turns and share. Their emerging independence is expertly supported.  Children enjoy their time in an interesting and well-resourced environment. They make good progress in their learning. Activities cover the seven areas of learning and are tailored to the children's individual stages of development.  The childminder offers excellent support to children when they first start and as they prepare for moving on to other settings. This promotes their self-esteem and confidence.  Children's early mathematical understanding is promoted well. The childminder is skilled at weaving opportunities to talk about shapes and size into everyday activities, while opportunities to count and consider amounts are plentiful.

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This provision is good

 Excellent partnerships with parents are in place to ensure that they are well informed about, and supported with, their children's ongoing learning and well-being. The childminder has strong links in place with other settings children attend.  The childminder demonstrates a strong drive to ensure she provides the very best for all children in her care. She regularly evaluates her provision, identifying areas to develop and improve.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The childminder is sometimes overly focused on her own ideas during some activities with the children. She does not make best use of opportunities for children to make predictions or to come up with their own ideas and solutions to problems they encounter.

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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

 give children more opportunities to explore, follow, share their own ideas, come up with possible solutions and experiment in their play and learning.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke to the childminder and children at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector observed children at play and evaluated activities with the childminder.  The inspector looked at children's observations and assessment records, evidence of suitability of household members and a range of other documentation, including the safeguarding procedures and risk assessments.  The inspector looked at the childminder's self-evaluation document and talked with her about how she evaluates and improves her service.  The inspector took into account the views of parents through those spoken to at the time of inspection and written feedback.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The childminder demonstrates a strong drive to develop her practice. Self-evaluation is accurate, takes account of the views of parents and children and is used to plan for robust developments. Ongoing professional development is valued and targeted to meet the needs of children. The childminder also monitors and supports the work of her assistant. Arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The childminder is aware of the action to take should she have any concerns about the welfare of a child in her care. She attends relevant safeguarding and paediatric first-aid training to update her knowledge. The childminder undertakes regular risk assessments to identify and minimise hazards to children. Robust links with other childcare settings children attend are used well to support their ongoing development. Parents speak very highly of the childminder, describing her as exceptional and valuing the safe and caring environment she provides.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The childminder instinctively joins in with children's play and is skilled at weaving in learning opportunities. Children spend sustained periods of time engaged in activities, becoming fully immersed in their learning. Their language development is supported well. The childminder joins in with children's play, talking with them, supporting their pronunciation and adding new words. Books are freely accessible and regularly read. Children's interests and levels of development are well known and understood. The childminder uses this knowledge, together with regular assessments of what children know and can do, to plan for their future learning. All parents are actively involved in their children's learning, both at the childminders and at home. Children are cared for in a dedicated and well-resourced environment and engage in learning across all areas. The childminder makes good use of activities to support their understanding of the world.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

There is a high priority on developing children's confidence and social skills. Children have very strong relationships with the childminder. They thrive in her care, enjoying her cuddles, praise and consistent reassurance. The childminder gathers extremely detailed information from parents, enabling her to meet children's emotional needs. There are very strong links in place with the local school and the childminder is proactive in making the most of these, in order to support children emotionally for the move on to school. Children's emerging independence is expertly supported. Even the very youngest child helps to lay the table for snack time. Older children are competent at cutting up their own fruit and taking themselves to the toilet. The childminder teaches children about the benefits of eating healthily and supports them to make healthy food choices. Children have daily opportunities to be physically active, both in the garden and during outings.

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Outcomes for children are good

The childminder promotes children's learning and development effectively. Children are making good progress in readiness for school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY405997 Local authority Cambridgeshire Inspection number 850710 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 1 - 13 Total number of places 12 Number of children on roll 19

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Name of provider

Date of previous inspection 17 September 2010

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 2010. She operates all year round from 7.45am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for family holidays and bank holidays. She works regularly with an assistant on two mornings a week. 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

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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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