Mrs Jo-Anne Ratcliff

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 9 December 2015 14 May 2009

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1

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This provision is outstanding

 The childminder has excellent self-evaluation skills and a drive to improve. She seeks feedback from parents and children to continuously improve the service she provides.  The childminder is highly dedicated to her role and focuses on meeting the needs of every child in her care. She has an excellent understanding of how children learn and, with her support and outstanding teaching, children make rapid progress.  Children are very confident and show very high levels of independence, and they freely explore the highly stimulating home environment. They are all highly motivated to learn, become very involved in activities and develop skills for their next stage of learning.  The childminder knows the children extremely well. She makes regular, highly accurate assessments of children's progress, monitoring and tracking their learning and development. This helps the childminder to provide exceptionally interesting and

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This provision is outstanding

challenging activities and close any gaps in the children's learning.  Partnerships with parents are exceptional. Parents' comments are extremely positive and they enjoy the opportunity to see their children's photographs and interact with the other parents.  Children's safety is of the highest priority. The childminder completes thorough risk assessments and encourages the children to be aware of their own safety.

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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

 broaden on the already excellent practice to further develop children's understanding of nature and healthy eating for those who learn best outside.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed children participating in activities and interacting with the childminder.  The inspector spoke with the childminder and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection.  The inspector reviewed the children's assessment records and a selection of policies and procedures, including safeguarding.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the childminder.  The inspector took account of parents' written views about the quality of the provision.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

The childminder is a committed professional who relentlessly pursues excellence to ensure outstanding outcomes for the children and parents. For example, she has completed a further early years qualification since her previous inspection. She regularly attends training, evaluating the workshops for new ideas to use in her setting and the impact these will have on the children. Safeguarding is effective. The highly knowledgeable childminder has an exemplary understanding of the procedures to follow if she has concerns about a child in her care. She exchanges extensive information with parents in a variety of ways including, for example, a closed network site where parents can see their children's learning and talk to each other. This helps to ensure a highly consistent approach to the children's care and development. Following her last inspection, the childminder developed her assessment and tracking of the children's learning, allowing her

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

to develop more detailed planning and close any gaps in children's learning more rapidly.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Children thoroughly enjoy their learning and are enthusiastic to join in with the rich, varied and imaginative learning experiences. The quality of teaching is excellent. The childminder extends their play very successfully, asks questions, develops the older children's thinking skills and introduces new vocabulary for the younger ones. She very successfully promotes children's confidence, boosts their self-esteem and early reading skills. For example, children proudly show their own named stone as they find it in the oats. The childminder has an excellent partnership with the nursery her children attend and they regularly exchange information and discuss any concerns. This helps to ensure an outstanding continuity of care and joint learning objectives.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

The childminder provides a very warm and welcoming environment where children form excellent relationships with her and the other children. Children learn excellent hygiene routines and the childminder promotes healthy lifestyles very well. For example, during snack time and pretend games, she talks to the children about healthy foods, although there are slightly fewer opportunities for these discussions in the outdoor area. Children have outstanding opportunities to develop physical and social skills, for example, as they play on the equipment in the garden and attend toddler groups. The childminder is an excellent role model. She encourages children of all ages to share and take turns and display excellent manners. Children learn how to be kind to each other and play together.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

Children are highly motivated learners who make excellent progress across all areas of their learning. They are exceptionally well prepared for their move on to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 126430 Local authority Kent Inspection number 825378 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 10

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Telephone number

The childminder registered in 2001 and lives in Ditton, in Aylesford, Kent. She cares for children between the hours of 7.30am and 6pm, Monday to Friday, all year round. The childminder receives funding for the provision of free early years education for children aged two, three and four years.

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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

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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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