Amanda Atherton

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 13 October 2015 25 March 2010

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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

 The childminder offers a well-balanced mix of adult-led activities and opportunities for children to initiate their own learning. She provides a broad range of resources and experiences that are suitable for the children of different ages who attend.  The childminder effectively promotes children's understanding and speech development. She models good use of language and extends children's vocabulary. She asks questions and engages children in conversations.  Children have excellent opportunities to learn about where food comes from. They are involved in planting, growing and harvesting a wide variety of vegetables and fruit. They learn about composting and about growth, change and decay.  Children's good health is successfully promoted. The childminder provides healthy snacks, drinks and nutritious home-cooked meals. Children benefit from plenty of opportunities to be physically active and to continue their learning outdoors. They enjoy

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This provision is good

gardening, play in the garden, visit parks and go for walks in the local area.  The childminder is a good role model. She gives children clear guidance about how she expects them to behave. They learn to share, take turns and behave well.  The childminder builds effective partnerships with parents and other settings that children attend. She encourages frequent sharing of information and promotes consistency and continuity in children's care and learning.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Occasionally, the childminder does not fully support children to think critically and solve problems that they encounter during their play.  Children's understanding about people from other cultures and communities is not developed as fully and effectively as other aspects of their 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

 encourage children to think critically, change their strategy as needed and find ways to solve problems as they play  extend opportunities for children to build their understanding of the lives of different people, communities and cultures in the wider world.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector viewed all areas of the home that are used for childminding.  The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector carried out a joint evaluation of an activity with the childminder.  The inspector looked at children's assessment records and a range of other documentation, including policies and procedures and the childminder's self-evaluation form.  The inspector checked evidence of the childminder's training and the suitability of people living on the premises.  The inspector spoke with the childminder and children at appropriate times during the inspection.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The childminder has a good understanding of statutory requirements. Arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The childminder knows how to assess risks and protect children from harm. The childminder shows a strong commitment to ongoing professional development. Since her last inspection, she has gained a higher qualification which has further strengthened her knowledge and understanding of effective teaching practice. She regularly checks on children's development to ensure that they are making good progress. The childminder reviews her practice and takes account of feedback from parents and children. She successfully identifies strengths and areas for further development. For instance, she has plans to further improve the already very good outdoor provision by creating a mud kitchen area for children.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The well-qualified childminder has a good understanding of how children learn through play and exploration. She promotes their sensory development well. For example, young children enjoy exploring plastic bottles filled with different objects and materials. They look at what is inside and shake them to see what noises they make. As they play with construction vehicles on a layer of cereals, they explore the tastes and textures of the cereal pieces. They use the vehicles to scoop, tip, push and flatten the pieces. The childminder skilfully builds on children's growing mathematical understanding. For instance, she shows them that some cereal pieces are circles and others are squares. She encourages them to count how many wheels the different vehicles have and to compare the sizes of the wheels. However, the childminder does not always help children to think critically and find ways to solve problems as they play. She occasionally steps in too

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

quickly to do things for them and misses the opportunity to help them achieve for themselves. Even so, the quality of her teaching through play is good overall. She successfully helps children to achieve their next steps in learning.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children settle well and form warm relationships with the childminder and with one another. They enjoy the time they spend in her care. She helps them to develop personal- care skills and teaches them about ways to keep themselves safe. They learn to manage risks, for instance, as they climb the ladder in the playhouse. They safely use plastic knives to cut their own fruit for snack. The childminder gives them opportunities to build their confidence in different social situations. They go out into the local community, attend toddler groups and regularly visit the library. However, they have fewer opportunities to increase their understanding about other communities and cultures in the wider world.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children develop the key skills that they need for the next stage in their learning. All children make good progress from their starting points. They develop early literacy skills, draw and make marks. Older children learn to recognise their names in print and begin to write them correctly. They are prepared well for their eventual move on to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY398843 Local authority Derbyshire Inspection number 859992 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Age range of children 0 - 11 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 14

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Name of provider

Date of previous inspection 25 March 2010

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 2009 and lives in Long Eaton, Nottinghamshire. She operates all year round from 7.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, except bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds an appropriate qualification at level 3. The childminder provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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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