McMenaman, Catherine

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 12 January 2017 22 July 2013

p.1

This inspection: Outstanding 1

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Outstanding 1

p.1

This inspection: Outstanding 1

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding 1

p.1

This inspection: Outstanding 1

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1

p.1

This provision is outstanding

 Children thoroughly enjoy their time with the childminder. They benefit greatly from the high levels of individual attention and her very high quality support. Children feel extremely safe and secure.  Since the last inspection, the childminder has made excellent improvements to how she monitors and assesses children's progress and learning, to plan highly challenging activities. Children make rapid progress from their starting points.  Children become totally absorbed in their learning. For example, the childminder very skilfully supported them to explore different coloured ice cubes, expertly helping them to investigate and see what happens as they melt.  The childminder is a superb role model for children. Children behave extremely well. For example, they respond promptly to instructions and are very polite and kind to others. Children eagerly help to clear away toys, and older children regularly help the

p.1

This provision is outstanding

younger ones.  The childminder expertly encourages children's early language skills. For example, she regularly questions children about their activities and introduces new words to extend their vocabulary. She repeats the correct pronunciation and children eagerly copy her.  Very effective partnerships with parents contribute extremely well to children's excellent learning. The childminder regularly shares children's progress with parents and gives them ideas for how they can support their children's learning at home.

p.1

What the setting needs to do to improve further

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

p.2

What the setting needs to do to improve further

 implement plans to involve children in the preparation of activities, to extend their learning even further.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector sampled documentation, including safeguarding information and records of children's progress.  The inspector observed the childminder's interactions with children and the impact these have on children's learning.  The inspector undertook an observation jointly with the childminder.  The inspector held meetings with the childminder and spoke to her about her service.  The inspector read several letters from parents to obtain their views about the childminder.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

Safeguarding is effective. The childminder has an excellent understanding of child protection issues and the procedures to follow to ensure children's welfare at all times. She uses self-evaluation very effectively to identify and make excellent changes to her practice, for example, to improve children's understanding of diversity. The childminder has increased her range of resources and plans very interesting activities that help children learn about their similarities and differences. She has plans to involve children more to help plan for and prepare activities to extend their learning even further. The childminder expertly targets training to develop her teaching skills. For example, her increased knowledge of how two-year-olds learn ensures that activities focus on their needs and help them to achieve alongside others and feel valued. This has resulted in children's improved behaviour and engagement in activities.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Assessment is rigorous and highly focused on improving children's skills. The childminder uses her expert knowledge of how children learn to plan excellent challenges that motivate them to learn. For example, she very skilfully taught young children how to test the temperature of water to see if it was safe enough to bath their 'baby'. The childminder expertly helps older children develop the muscle strength and control in their hands in excellent preparation for their early writing. For example, she encourages them to undo and do up small buttons on their dolls' clothes.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

The childminder very successfully supports children's health, welfare and well-being through following her rigorous policies and practices. She teaches children extremely well to learn about potential risks around them through their play. For example, she encourages younger children to talk about why their 'baby' needed 'warm' water to have a bath. Young children recognise the dangers of 'hot' and learn why the childminder needs to add cold water to the bath and test it first. Children are highly independent and have a strong willingness to help each other.

p.3

Outcomes for children are outstanding

Younger children learn exceptionally well from the very good role models that the older ones provide. Older children show them how to play with dolls, how to behave and how to help with clearing up their toys. They take care of the younger children, for example, by helping them to make choices at snack time. All children share and take turns extremely well. Older children demonstrate a keen interest in stories and drawing. They listen carefully to stories and join in accurately with songs and actions. Children gain excellent skills that prepare them very well for future learning and moving on to school.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY458204 Local authority Somerset Inspection number 1072818 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 4 Number of children on roll 3

p.4

Name of registered person

Date of previous inspection 22 July 2013

p.4

Telephone number

The childminder registered in 2013 and lives in Keinton Mandeville, Somerset. She is a qualified early years teacher. The setting is open Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 6pm, for 50 weeks of the year.

p.4

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.

p.4

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.

p.4

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 .

p.5

Telephone number

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our website for news, information and updates at www.ofsted.gov.uk/user.

p.5

Telephone number

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

p.5