Irwin, Pamela Anne

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 10 December 2015 26 January 2011

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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 quality of teaching is exceptional. The childminder and her assistant's interactions with the children ensure that every learning opportunity is maximised. She and her assistant extend children's learning very effectively.  Children's excellent progress in all areas is monitored through precise and sharply focused assessment that identifies children's next steps in learning and is used to inform planning.  Partnerships with parents are extremely strong. Parents are actively involved in all aspects of their child's learning. Information is shared on a regular basis to ensure parents have a clear and accurate understanding of their child's level of development.  The childminder and her assistant promote children's speech and language development highly effectively. They continually extend children's vocabulary by using language in a way that encourages them to repeat and learn new words.  Children have developed exceptionally strong relationships with the childminder and her

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This provision is outstanding

assistant. They are very caring and highly responsive to children's individual needs, which helps to support their emotional well-being.  Leadership is very strong. The childminder's supervision arrangements for her assistant help to ensure the highest quality of care. She and her assistant work exceptionally well together and are committed to developing the setting through regular training and effective self-evaluation, which leads to consistent improvement.

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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

 continue to access regular professional development opportunities to maintain the already excellent practice.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector carried out a tour of the premises.  The inspector took account of the views of parents by reading a number of comments and notes given to the childminder.  The inspector observed activities in the childminder's house and talked with the childminder, her assistant and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection.  The inspector checked evidence of the childminder's and her assistant's suitability and qualifications. She looked at a selection of policies and procedures, including safeguarding, risk assessments and self-evaluation.  The inspector observed a planned activity and jointly evaluated this with the childminder.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

The childminder is highly organised and dedicated to providing the highest level of care and learning for every child. She has an outstanding knowledge of how young children learn and how to promote their development. The childminder actively seeks the views of parents and children in reviewing her provision and strives for continuous improvement. For example, the childminder noticed that children particularly enjoy musical activities. She joined the local toy library, borrowing a wide range of musical instruments which children now benefit from throughout their learning. Through meticulous self-evaluation, the childminder has identified that she would like to continue to develop her excellent knowledge and skills through a more varied programme of professional development. Safeguarding is effective. The childminder has excellent knowledge of how to protect children and follows her detailed policies and procedures.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

The childminder has an excellent understanding of child development and how children learn. She gathers extremely detailed information from parents to help her form an excellent understanding of each child's development. She highlights their achievements in learning and plans exciting and challenging ways to encourage further progress. The childminder is extremely skilled at supporting children's learning through play. For example, the childminder and her assistant skilfully extend children's understanding and use of language during all play activities. Children have access to an excellent range of resources, which enables them to make their own choices and decisions. This supports children to be actively engaged and highly motivated in their play.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

The childminder provides an exceptionally welcoming environment, set up with resources indoors and outdoors that interest and challenge the children very effectively. The childminder works extremely closely with parents to help children settle quickly and uses a wide range of strategies to support children's continued opportunities to learn at home. Children receive lots of praise and affection and clearly demonstrate that they feel valued and respected. This helps to support their emotional well-being and self-esteem to a very high degree. Children are encouraged to be independent from an early age. They manage their own personal care routines very well. The childminder encourages children to enjoy eating healthy food and she provides regular opportunities for physical exercise and fresh air outdoors.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

All children make excellent progress in their learning and they meet or exceed the typical level of development for their ages. Children show curiosity, are highly engaged in their play and are exceptionally well prepared for their future learning, including school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 306168 Local authority Wirral Inspection number 867650 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 12 Number of children on roll 17

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Name of provider

Date of previous inspection 26 January 2011

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 1996 and lives in Heswall, Wirral. The childminder works with an assistant. She operates all year round from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for 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

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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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