Kear, Heidi

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 22 August 2016 13 May 2014

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Requires Improvement

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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 bond well with the childminder and settle easily into her care. She is caring and attentive to their needs. She sets clear and consistent boundaries to promote positive behaviour and this helps children to feel safe and confident.  The childminder obtains detailed information from parents about children's development when they first join her setting. She involves parents in planning for the next stages in their children's learning and shares ongoing information with them about their progress.  The childminder promotes children's communication and language skills well. She uses simple sign language with babies to support their growing vocabulary.  The childminder has addressed the issues raised at her last inspection. She carries out robust risk assessments of her premises, indoors and outdoors, to ensure that children stay safe in her care.  The childminder is well qualified and undertakes extensive training to enhance her

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This provision is good

professional development. She draws on the skills and experience she has gained to provide engaging and challenging activities that promote children's development well.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The childminder does not always grasp the spontaneous opportunities to extend young children's learning that arise during their play.  The childminder is not fully confident in working with parents to support children in gaining a secure understanding of healthy eating.

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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

 make good use of opportunities to extend children's learning further, particularly when they are leading their own play.  develop knowledge and confidence in working with parents to promote children's understanding of a healthy balanced diet.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector discussed a planned activity with the childminder.  The inspector held discussions with the childminder and spoke to children.  The inspector took account of the views of parents by reading testimonials and feedback on questionnaires.  The inspector looked at relevant documentation, such as the childminder's self- evaluation, suitability and qualifications records, children's progress records, policies and procedures.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The childminder works closely in partnership with parents. She carries out home visits to help children get to know her and to form a good relationship with the whole family from the beginning. The childminder provides a learning environment and resources that effectively meet the needs of children of different ages. She skilfully provides absorbing and challenging activities for older children through careful planning to enable her to spend time with younger children who need more individual attention. Safeguarding is effective. The childminder is fully aware of her responsibilities to protect the children in her care. She is familiar with the local authority procedures and regularly updates her knowledge. The childminder thoroughly evaluates her practice. She makes detailed plans for improvement and incorporates the views and wishes of parents and children.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The childminder observes and assesses children's progress carefully to identify their learning needs and any gaps there may be in their development. She plans structured activities with the needs and interests of individual children in mind and allows plenty of time for free play and exploration. The childminder understands that some children learn best in the outdoor environment and she provides many interesting and imaginative resources in her garden to promote their physical development and enhance their understanding of the world. Children thoroughly enjoy playing with water and ice in a tray, filling and emptying containers and transporting them to a mud kitchen to pour into bigger containers. Through these activities children learn mathematical concepts, such as bigger and smaller, more and less. They learn how cold the ice feels and how it quickly becomes water again on a sunny day.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

The childminder gets to know the children well. She understands when they are tired and need to rest. She teaches the children good hygiene practices and skills of independence. Children frequently wash their hands after play and before eating. They learn to do things for themselves and choose freely from easily accessible resources. Children find out about the wider world through artefacts the childminder collects on her holidays. They take trips into the local community where they socialise with other children and adults. Children learn about the diversity in society through their everyday activities and experiences. They learn about festivals and the childminder teaches them to respect each other's differences.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children make good progress in their learning. They are well prepared for starting school. Children develop their early writing and reading skills well. They choose their own books for the childminder to read with them. This helps them to learn that words have a meaning. They learn to count and to recognise numbers they find displayed around the setting.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY460886 Local authority Essex Inspection number 1043880 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 1 - 11 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 4

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 2013 and lives in Braintree, Essex. She operates Monday to Friday from 7am until 6.15pm, all year round, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder is a qualified teacher.

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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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