Childminder in Darlington

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 16 March 2016 21 February 2012

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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 promotes children's learning extremely well. She uses a range of highly effective teaching methods, such as excellent interactions and meticulously planned activities. Children take part in an abundance of challenging and enjoyable learning opportunities in this vibrant environment.  The childminder has developed comprehensive and sharply focused arrangements for checking children's progress that identify their current abilities and any gaps in their learning. She uses the information gathered to support children to make faster progress. This helps children to catch up quickly in their learning.  Partnerships with parents are excellent. They describe the childminder as 'the gold standard in childcare'. Parents are very involved in their children's learning and welcome ideas from the childminder for activities at home. This helps to consolidate children's learning and promote their progress even further.

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This provision is outstanding

 Children form strong attachments with the childminder that help to promote their emotional well-being. The childminder supports new children to settle very quickly and easily, and supports them extremely well at times of change, for example, when they progress to nursery or school.  The childminder has developed highly effective methods to evaluate her practice alongside parents. She uses her findings to set challenging targets and acts swiftly to make changes that improve outcomes for children.  The childminder has established exceptional partnerships with other settings and professionals. This helps to provide a consistent and well-targeted approach to promoting children's learning and development.

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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

 build on the very effective methods used to teach children about the differences between themselves and others outside their own community and raise their awareness of diversity to the very highest levels.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the childminder.  The inspector spoke to the childminder and children at appropriate times during the inspection. She looked at relevant documentation, such as the self-evaluation and evidence of the suitability of people living on the premises.  The inspector looked at written feedback from parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

The childminder has clear plans to build upon her already excellent qualifications and experience. This contributes towards her remarkable capacity to continue enhancing her practice. Arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Robust policies and procedures help to ensure children are safe and underpin the secure knowledge the childminder has about what to do if she has a concern about a child. The childminder provides an excellent programme of activities that promotes children's progress across all areas of learning. She has improved children's opportunities to learn more about the beliefs and customs of people in their own community. She is now exploring ways to extend this to teach them more effectively about people in the wider world.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

The childminder makes highly accurate observations and tailors her teaching precisely to what children need to learn next. She skilfully weaves children's interests and experiences into challenging and exciting activities. For example, children who have an avid interest in pirates delight in finding ways to release golden coins and treasure from blocks of ice. They test out their own ideas as they think of ways to break up the ice, which contributes to their developing problem-solving skills. The childminder has a first-rate knowledge of the ways in which children learn and adapts her teaching methods to match children's learning styles and individual needs. She ensures children of all ages, including crawling babies, access the outdoors safely and investigate the inspiring play spaces she has developed. This helps to foster children's natural desire to explore extremely well.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children thrive in the well planned and highly stimulating areas, both indoors and outdoors. They are very confident and their behaviour is excellent. The childminder acknowledges and values children's emotions and takes time to discuss and explain right from wrong to them. She consistently encourages children to learn how to meet their own needs and help with small tasks. For example, they capably put on their own socks and boots and help to prepare and clear away meals and snacks. This promotes their rapidly developing independence and strong sense of responsibility very effectively. Children are developing an understanding of the importance of healthy lifestyles. Robust hygiene procedures are in place and they get lots of fresh air and learn about the effects of exercise on their body. This also helps to promote their exceptional physical development.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

Children are highly motivated, curious and develop a very positive attitude towards learning. They engage enthusiastically in activities and they make excellent progress. Disabled children and those with special educational needs make excellent rates of progress and catch up remarkably quickly in their learning. The childminder incorporates literacy and mathematics into activities and routines consistently and highly effectively. For example, she encourages children to match the number of golden coins they discover to numerals on a chalkboard. This helps children learn key skills from an early age which help them to be extremely well prepared for later learning in school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY434965 Local authority Darlington Inspection number 853584 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 1 - 7 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 4

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Name of provider

Date of previous inspection 21 February 2012

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 2011 and lives in Darlington. She operates all year round from 7.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, except bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds an appropriate qualification at level 3 and is a qualified teacher.

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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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