Childminder in Essex

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 3 August 2017 Not applicable

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

p.1

This provision is good

 The children have good relationships with the childminder. Older children eagerly seek her out to share their thoughts and ideas. While younger children enjoy reassuring cuddles. This helps to support their emotional well-being.  Children develop a good range of skills which helps to prepare them for the next stage in their learning. The childminder has effective links with local pre-schools and the school. Pre-school staff and teachers share information regarding topics and themes they are covering which enables the childminder to provide complementary activities.  Children enjoy being outside in the childminder's garden. There is a good range of play equipment, such as a wooden tree house, swings, slides and monkey bars. Children freely move about on sit-and-ride toys, such as a fire engine, pretending to put out fires. This provides endless opportunities for imaginative play and helps to develop their

p.1

This provision is good

physical skills.  There are effective partnerships with parents. The childminder communicates with them in a variety of ways, helping to involve them in their children's care, learning and development. For example, she records all aspects of the children's day in their dairies and takes time to speak to parents when they collect them.

p.1

It is not yet outstanding because:

 The childminder does not always plan activities as precisely as possible, incorporating the next steps in children's learning to help them make the best possible progress.  The childminder does not provide children with a wide range of opportunities to explore materials and textures using their senses.

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

 plan more precisely using children's next steps in their learning to help them make the best possible progress  provide more opportunities for children to explore different materials and textures.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector observed children playing and their interactions with the childminder.  The inspector spoke to children, parents and the childminder.  The inspector had a tour of the premises and the outdoor area.  The inspector sampled a range of documents, including children's records, risk assessments and planning.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. The childminder has a good understanding of the signs and symptoms which would indicate a child is at risk of harm. She keeps track of when courses, such as child protection, are available to help keep her knowledge up to date. The childminder completes frequent risk assessments of her setting and garden, helping her to minimise any possible hazards. For example, she has gates across the end of the garden to ensure that children only use the large-play equipment when she is closely supervising them. The childminder has a positive attitude towards professional development and improving her practice. For example, she attends courses to extend her knowledge and regularly reflects on her practice to identify areas to develop further.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The childminder observes children regularly and knows how to motivate them. She provides activities that help to extend children's literacy and mathematical skills. For example, the childminder challenges children to count as far as they can and identify letters on the tiles she shows them. They quickly identify when the letter on the tile is not the one she pretends it is which they find highly amusing. Children enjoy the praise they receive when they correctly identify the right letter which spurs them on to try again. The childminder encourages older children to solve problems for themselves. For example, when children are unable to correctly spell more complicated words, the childminder provides resources, such as books, to help them. This supports children to learn that information can be found in books and print.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children behave well and know the importance of taking turns and sharing. For example, older children patiently wait their turn to use scissors and discuss with each other their ideas and thoughts. Younger children happily play alongside others and understand the childminder's house rules, such as being careful when playing on the wooden house and slide structure. The childminder provides children with a wide range of healthy food for snack and at mealtimes. She carefully collects information about children's dietary needs. She keeps parents up to date when their children successfully try new foods.

p.3

Outcomes for children are good

Overall, children's progress is good. They develop a good level of confidence and independence and are eager to solve problems for themselves. For example, they persevere as they try to find the right letter tiles to form their name and line them up correctly. Children have good social skills. For example, they discuss ways to sort cars and trucks, such as into size and colour groups. Children enjoy a good variety of fruit and vegetables, such as mango and peppers. They find great amusement in trying different food combinations, such as cucumber with strawberry and grapes with pepper, reporting the resulting taste sensation back to their friends.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY489566 Local authority Essex Inspection number 1015503 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 1 - 8 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 14

p.4

Name of registered person

Date of previous inspection Not applicable

p.4

Telephone number

The childminder registered in 2015 and lives in Colchester, Essex. She operates all year round from 7.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays.

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