OFSTED Inspection Report Dec 2011
Description of the childminding
The childminder was registered in 2011 and lives with her partner and two children aged 15 and two years in Witham, Essex. The whole of the premises are used for childminding. There is an enclosed garden for outdoor play. The family have two cats as pets.
A maximum of five children under eight years may attend at any one time, two of whom may be in the early years age range. The childminder is currently caring for two children on a part-time basis. The childminder has strategies in place to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and children who are learning English as an additional language. Care is also offered to children aged over five years. This provision is registered by Ofsted on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register.
The overall effectiveness of the early years provision
Overall the quality of the provision is Outstanding.
The childminder provides exceptionally well for children in the Early Years Foundation Stage, ensuring babies and young children consistently make significant gains in their learning. Children have an abundance of toys and resources available to them in an exceptionally child-friendly environment. The childminder offers an excellent range of activities which effectively promote their future learning and understanding of diversity. Superb opportunities are available for communication and positive relationships with parents ensure continuity of care. The childminder has rigorous systems in place to evaluate the care that is offered and is proactive in securing training opportunities. As a result, children's well-being and outcomes for all children are very good.
What steps need to be taken to improve provision further?
To further improve the high quality early years provision the registered person should consider:
- developing further opportunities for babies and younger children to explore and experiment with natural materials.
The effectiveness of leadership and management of the early years provision
The childminder has a comprehensive awareness of safeguarding issues having attended training to ensure children are protected while in her care. Extensive and comprehensive policies underpin the childminder's practices. Exceptionally thorough risk assessments are completed to ensure children play in a very safe and secure environment. Stringent measures are in place to ensure children are protected when outdoors. For example, children wear backpacks and fluorescent wristbands when on outings. Important information is detailed to protect them should there be an emergency situation. Outcomes for children are clearly attributed to the abundance of excellent resources available to them. These are easily accessible within the lounge, which is inspiring and inviting. The childminder's home is dedicated to the children and all equipment is of a high standard and suitable for the ages of the children attending. Resources provided effectively contribute to children's learning and development.
The childminder places great emphasis on equality and diversity and ensures all resources are organised to ensure inclusion. Posters and storage of resources are at child height, enabling all children to self-select with ease. Different language text, positive images displayed and the provision of many multicultural toys challenge children's thinking about diversity and the wider world. The childminder has an exceptional knowledge of each child's background and is effective in supporting their individual needs. The childminder is highly successful in supporting children with English as an additional language as excellent strategies are in place. She is very experienced in supporting children who may require additional help.
The childminder has positive relationships with parents and carers involved with the children. Excellent opportunities for communication have been established and these include the use of a day book, text messages, photographs of children at play sent electronically to the parents during the day, and a website with useful information. The childminder positively encourages parents to be involved in key matters that affect their children and their time at the childminder's. Parents are provided with extensive policies within a parent information file that is theirs to keep and refer to. Superb information is displayed for parents throughout the home and supported with photographic evidence.
The childminder is proactive to ensure positive relationships are made with other settings delivering the Early Years Foundation Stage. For example, she has established herself at the local children's centre and pre-school. The childminder also works closely with any outside agency supporting children in her care. The childminder is motivated and dedicated to the children she cares for. She is highly committed to rigorous monitoring of her practice and highlights areas for improvement. The childminder is able to demonstrate how she maintains continuous improvements and discusses future plans. Written comments from parents are very positive and demonstrate that they are completely satisfied with every aspect of care and education offered to their children.
The quality and standards of the early years provision and outcomes for children
Children make very good progress towards the early learning goals as a result of excellent learning opportunities and activities provided. Activities and resources cover all six areas of learning, both within the indoor and outdoor environment. For example, children mark make in the garden using paintbrushes and rollers, they have great fun chalking on a large garden chalk board and draw beautiful pictures on wallpaper attached to the wall. Numbers and letters are displayed around the garden.
The childminder provides planning that is varied and rich in ideas and learning opportunities. Children's artwork, photographs and posters create a wonderful sense of belonging. The childminder is developing an expert knowledge of how children learn and develop. Excellent systems are in place for planning to meet each child's individual routines and learning needs. Good assessments and observations of the children assist in the planning process, however, children are encouraged to initiate their own play, skilfully supported by the childminder. They are supported in exploring and discovering for themselves. For example, they have great fun bug hunting and using magnifiers and bug pots outdoors. Some opportunities for exploring natural materials and play without purpose are provided, however, these are limited.
Children have excellent opportunities to learn about keeping themselves safe and healthy as these issues are discussed and promoted during everyday routines. Children are encouraged to independently take themselves to the bathroom and are praised on doing so. Prompt photos in the bathroom remind children to wash their hands and superb resources, such as a soap dispenser and paper towels, ensure children are protected from cross-infection. Children are able to sleep comfortably and undisturbed. A bedroom upstairs is used and children have their own fresh bed linen. They enjoy cuddles with the childminder before resting and she closely monitors the children while they are sleeping using a baby listener and video screen. Gentle music is played to help soothe babies and toddlers to sleep.
Children have a good understanding about healthy foods as these are promoted by the childminder. For example, children enjoy grapes and bananas for snack. They have fun planting strawberries and enjoy tasting them when ready. They make home-made pizzas and take them home to share with their family. Children receive fresh air and exercise daily as they play outdoors or visit the local park and zoo weekly. They are beginning to have a very good understanding about animals from around the world and habitats as a result.
Annex A: record of inspection judgements
The key inspection judgements and what they mean
Grade 1 is Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality
Grade 2 is Good: this aspect of the provision is strong
Grade 3 is Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is sound
Grade 4 is Inadequate: this aspect of the provision is not good enough
The overall effectiveness of the early years provision
How well does the setting meet the needs of the children in the Early Years Foundation Stage?1The capacity of the provision to maintain continuous improvement1
The effectiveness of leadership and management of the early years provision
The effectiveness of leadership and management of the Early Years Foundation Stage 1
The effectiveness of leadership and management in embedding ambition and driving improvement 1
The effectiveness with which the setting deploys resources 1
The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity 1
The effectiveness of safeguarding 1
The effectiveness of the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement 1
The effectiveness of partnerships 1
The effectiveness of the setting’s engagement with parents and carers 1
The quality of the provision in the Early Years Foundation Stage
The quality of the provision in the Early Years Foundation Stage1
Outcomes for children in the Early Years Foundation Stage
Outcomes for children in the Early Years Foundation Stage1
The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning1
The extent to which children feel safe1
The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles1
The extent to which children make a positive contribution1
The extent to which children develop skills for the future1
Annex B: the Childcare Register
The provider confirms that the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register are:Met
The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are:Met
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Testimonials for Busy Bees Childminding
Due to a recent family emergency i found the need for a childminder and Busy Bees details were given to me by my son’s school.
From initial contact, I have found Alison to be very helpful and to have the Childs best interest at heart.
In my case my son needed to start immediately and this was no problem with Alison being exceptionally helpful so that this could be the case.
My son can be shy to start but Alison has made him feel so at ease from day one, she has listened when he has wanted to talk and when he did not she has respected that but he is so at ease in Alison’s company that has not been an issue.
Busy Bees childminding have been nothing short of exemplary in the service they provide and the activities available.
I would not hesitate in recommending them to anyone that asked when considering sending their child to Busy Bees -
Parent 04th December 2011
..................................................................................................................
Very informative
I met Alison when my son needed childcare. Alison is very welcoming and her home is set up perfectly as a childminding setting.
Alison appears very flexible and accommodating.
Alison has clearly spent alot of time setting up her childminding business and has a very good knowledge of what is required to care for children.
Alison is very informative and organised.
Liz - Parent 15 November 2011
...........................................................................
Perfect environment
My 16 month old daughter is starting with Alison soon and I'm very excited for her to start, I know she'll have a fantastic time.
We have already been on visits and my little one was very happy, and the activities and outings are just what I like to do with her on my days off.
Alison has a lovely family and a perfect environment for my little one to grow up, and I couldn't have asked for anyone better!
Cathy - Parent 03rd November2011
.................................................................................................................
At all times I have found Alison Wright of Busy BeesChildminding to be hardworking, thoughtful, fair, loving, kind and fun.
I have 2 boys age 5 and 3 years old and both have been treated very well whilst at Busy Bees Childminding.
The boys have both previously attended two mainstream nurseries, one of which received an outstanding report from Ofsted. However, I have found Alison's approch to childminding to be far more superior to both these establishments.
She has constantly outdone herself, alwys looking for ways to incorporate learning through fun and adopts a refreshing outlook towards discipline.Alison has always kept us fully involved in everything she has done with the boys and makes us feel as though we are experiencing everything with them. This is through texts telling us what they are doing, how they are or through pictures of both boys. This has been especially helpful for me when I first went back to work.
My son has speech problems and Alison showed her experience in this field, having worked with children with Speech andLanguage difficulties. She practices letter sounds and has a vast content of resources and methods which have helped him. Her planning is exceptional and the boys have had an excellent time going on trips and having tea parties and other exciting excursions. Alison always makes sure that she provides the boys with the attention and affection that they need, which in the larger establishments they were not receiving.
She has adapted her home to one which is safe, clean and fun for children of all ages. I am completely satisfied with her cleanlinessand have always found the boys to be clean and tidy.
Her menus are fantastic and she always takes time out to ask my opinion on what they boys like and dislike, which means that they get to eat foods they like, which are healthy and home cooked.
She provides parents with a day to day diary which explains everything the boys have done and eaten.
She also keeps a learning journey for both boys which is a timeline of pictures with dates and captions of everything they've done which is brilliant in showing their progress.
I have found Alison to be very conscientious and eager to work with us as parents as well, as within the realms of what is expected by Ofsted.
She has gone over and beyond in her approach and we're extremely sad to have to leave her establishment.
Alison's experience of looking after her own children has made her by far the best child care provider we have had for our boys by far.
We just wish we had found her earlier.
I would definitely recommend BUSY BEES CHILDMINDING WITHAM to anyone expecting exceptionial childcare and peace of mind, knowing that your children are being well taken care of, in a safe and clean environment. Georgia - Parent - September 2011.
