Higgins, Susan Jean

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 24 June 2016 8 October 2014

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Requires Improvement

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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 regularly evaluates her practice. She is committed to making positive changes. This helps her to engage and motivate children further in their learning.  There are good opportunities for children to develop skills for their future learning. For example, children develop simple mathematical awareness as they count.  Children of all ages have good opportunities to explore and investigate the natural world. For example, they observe bees and discuss how they make honey.  The childminder supports children to develop good physical skills. For example, they climb and balance on large equipment and develop hand-eye coordination by using one-handed tools, such as tongs.  Parents are fully involved in their children's progress and development. This supports the good progress that children make through a consistency in their care and learning.  Children have secure, trusting relationships with the childminder and they develop a

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This provision is good

good level of pride in their achievements and positive self-esteem. They engage well in their learning.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 At times, the childminder does not give children sufficient time to think and respond to her questions to develop their communication and speaking skills even further.  The childminder does not always fully encourage children's understanding of similarities and differences within society.

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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

 extend the time given to children to think and respond to questions to develop their communication and speaking skills even further  improve children's opportunities to fully understand and value people's similarities and differences beyond their own experiences.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector viewed the areas of the childminder's home that children use.  The inspector observed the childminder interacting with the children.  The inspector sampled written documentation, including children's progress reports, policies and procedures.  The inspector spoke to children and the childminder at convenient times.  The inspector gathered the views of parents.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The childminder knows how children learn and uses her knowledge successfully in her everyday practice. Children have their learning needs met well. The childminder plans age- appropriate and challenging activities to prepare children for the next steps in their learning. She carefully monitors and tracks their progress on a regular basis. This helps her to identify any development gaps promptly and ensure that they close. The childminder is keen to build upon her professional knowledge further. For example, she works closely with other early years providers and they observe practice and highlight training needs together. For instance, the childminder attended training to improve the learning environment and activities that she provides. This encourages children to make good progress as they engage in new and interesting learning experiences. Safeguarding is effective. The childminder has a good understanding of the safeguarding policies and

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

procedures to follow and who to contact to protect the welfare of children.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The childminder prepares children well for school. She visits the schools that they are due to attend and shares useful information about their learning with teachers. The childminder extends children's learning well and spontaneously builds upon their play to include their interests. For example, children who enjoy reading about fish create their own pictures of rainbow fish and visit the local garden centre to watch real fish swim. The childminder encourages children's creative skills and imagination. Children have fun as they use and manipulate the 'magic sand' and modelling dough.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

The childminder is a positive role model and children are polite and behave well. Children develop good social skills to support their future learning. For example, they are patient, share and take turns. Children develop good physical well-being. They understand the importance of healthy eating and they actively help to prepare vegetables and fruits at snack times. The childminder supports children's ongoing learning well. For example, for children who show an interest in dolls, she encourages children to wash and dress them. This helps the childminder to make good links to health and hygiene routines and young children begin to develop understanding of their personal care needs.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are confident and keen to learn. They have good opportunities to gain skills that prepare them well for school. Children develop good early writing skills. For example, they use different materials and resources to make and give meaning to their marks. Children gain a positive interest in reading materials, such as story and factual books, and other forms of the written word, such as magazines.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 125858 Local authority Kent Inspection number 1048648 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 8 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 8

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Name of registered person

Date of previous inspection 8 October 2014

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Telephone number

The childminder registered in 1987. She lives in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. The childminder cares for children Monday to Friday, from 7am to 6.30pm, all year round.

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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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