Childminder in Essex

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 23 February 2016 14 February 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 interested and confident to explore the safe and welcoming environment. A varied range of resources is available to children. They keenly select what they want to play with, developing their independence.  The children enjoy looking at books about their families. The childminder encourages them to talk about the differences in people and to listen to each other. This is one way the childminder helps children to learn about the diverse world in which they live.  The childminder takes children to a range of toddler groups and meets with other childminders and their children. These activities give children opportunities to socialise. In addition, they benefit from a wider range of activities helping to contribute to the good progress children make.  The childminder carries out thorough risk assessment in her home. She constantly considers risks on outings and reviews these according to the age of the children she is

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This provision is good

currently caring for.  The childminder uses her garden well to help children learn outside. For example, she displays numbers and children are eager to find the one that is the same as their age.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The childminder does not regularly ask parents to contribute towards the evaluation of her practice so that they can give their ideas for future developments.  The childminder does not seek sufficiently detailed initial information from parents before children start, in order to help her to precisely identify children's starting points and plan promptly for their next steps in learning.

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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

 improve the system for evaluating practice and include more opportunities to gather and act on the views and suggestions of parents  seek more-detailed information from parents when children first start, in order to precisely identify their learning and development starting points and use these to inform the initial planning more swiftly.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the childminder joining in activities with the children and jointly discussed the learning that was taking place.  The inspector saw the areas of the premises and garden used for childminding.  The inspector looked at children's assessment records and planning documentation. Evidence of the suitability of the childminder and household members and a range of other documents, including the safeguarding policy, were also seen.  The inspector took account of the childminder's self-evaluation form and of the views of parents.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The childminder is confident about child protection procedures, which helps to protect children's welfare. She is fully aware of her responsibility to contact relevant agencies should she have any concerns. The childminder regularly evaluates her own practice by considering what is working and what she needs to improve. She undertakes regular training and benefits from meeting with other childminders. Since her last inspection, she has gained a qualification at level 3. This has enabled her to have an even better understanding of how children learn and develop. The childminder reflects on the activities she provides and tracks children's ongoing progress. This helps her to swiftly identify and minimise any weaknesses in children's learning.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The childminder provides exciting and fun activities. Children look with interest at what happens when they add water to powder to make pretend snow. They describe how it is growing in their hands. The childminder is skilled at using activities to promote many aspects of learning. She talks to children about different sizes as they make hands prints. She also encourages them to use their fingers to write their names in the pretend snow. Children become enthralled with these activities for prolonged lengths of time. The childminder collects general information from parents about what children like to do and their care needs, before their children start with her. However, she does not always ask for enough detail to enable her to build an accurate assessment of children's starting points in learning. The childminder ensures the activities children experience continue to interest and motivate them. Parents provide information to help the childminder share and

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

learn about the children's ongoing achievements at home. She has very good links with other settings children attend and shares information with the child's key person. These partnerships help to promote continuity in children's learning and development.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

The childminder supports children who speak English as an additional language well. She works very closely with parents to find out useful words in children's home languages. The childminder ensures her settling-in arrangements are flexible to meet children's individual needs. This helps children to quickly feel secure and relaxed in her home. They demonstrate high levels of confidence and self-esteem as they constantly chat and play together. The childminder takes children on visits to local woods, zoos and parks. These activities help children to develop their physical skills as they also benefit from being in the fresh air. Stringent procedures are in place to promote children's good health. Nutritious food is provided each day. Children follow effective hygiene practices as they take increasing responsibility for washing their hands at appropriate times.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children make good progress in their learning and development. They are quickly developing key skills in mathematics and writing. Children's independence is good and their confidence is high. They are well prepared for the next stage in their learning at school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY431255 Local authority Essex Inspection number 853183 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 8 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 9

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Name of provider

Date of previous inspection 14 February 2012

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 2011 and lives in Chelmsford. She operates from 7.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Thursday and 3.15pm to 5.30pm on Friday except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds an early years qualification at level 3. The childminder supports children who speak English as an additional language.

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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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