Childminder in Cumberland

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 4 September 2017 21 October 2014

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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 and her assistants are highly qualified and experienced practitioners. They have an exceptional knowledge of how children learn. They use highly effective teaching methods that captivate children and inspire them to explore, investigate, play and learn. Children make excellent progress in their learning in relation to their starting points.  Children play in a truly magical outdoor and indoor environment where they are highly motivated and eager to learn. They are enticed by the wide variety of stimulating outdoor activities and high-quality experiences. These include sensory activities with natural materials, harvesting fresh fruit and vegetables, and exploring and investigating the wild plants and natural habitat of the garden.  Children establish affectionate relationships with the childminder and her assistants. They know the children very well and effectively support their settling in to the setting

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This provision is outstanding

and their future moves on to school.  Partnerships with parents, the other settings children attend, and the local authority, are excellent. The childminder and her assistants keep all those involved with the children well informed of progress and recent achievements. Together they support children's next steps in learning with their parents, who highly value this help.  The childminder and her assistants are inspirational role models for children. All children are exceptionally well behaved and they are extremely polite.

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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

 enrich even further the opportunities that support younger children in understanding the uses of information technology.

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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 evaluation of an activity with the childminder.  The inspector held a number of discussions with the childminder and her assistants. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of persons living and working on the premises.  The inspector spoke to children during the inspection.  The inspector took account of the parents spoken to during the inspection and through written feedback provided.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The childminder has an excellent knowledge and understanding of safeguarding issues which she shares with her assistants. She supports her assistants' practice extremely well. For example, she observes their practice and provides constructive feedback. Professional development is high on the agenda to ensure all practitioners develop their skills and knowledge to the highest level. Since the last inspection, the childminder and several of her assistants have gained a qualification at level 3. Documentation is meticulously maintained and records are thorough. For instance, after a minor fall, the accident record is forwarded to parents via email, to sign and share on collection. A comprehensive set of policies and procedures supports the excellent practice observed during the inspection. The childminder and assistants thoroughly manage risks on outings and within the family home and garden.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

The childminder uses excellent ways to effectively observe, assess and track children's progress. This swiftly highlights any gaps in their development, so that individual support can be provided to help them make rapid progress. She plans exciting activities that engage children highly effectively in their learning. Children's communication and language, social, and physical skills are well supported in everything they do by highly skilled practitioners. While making modelling dough children use a recipe card and calculate how many cupfuls or spoonfuls they require. Children help to mix the ingredients together and know not to touch it after the childminder adds the hot water. The childminder recognises the further benefits of supporting younger children in understanding the uses of information technology.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

The childminder and her assistants know all the children extremely well and support them highly effectively with each milestone in their development. They are positive role models who demonstrate to children how to be kind to one another and to manage their feelings. Children's behaviour is excellent and they develop excellent social skills and manners. Practical routines are meticulously followed and high standards of care and hygiene support the individual needs of all children. Children's physical development, healthy lifestyle and learning about the natural world are exceptionally well promoted. They have supervised access to an allotment garden, where they pick their own fruit off the trees to eat at snack time. They thoroughly enjoy themselves making dens and playing in the mud, water and sand areas. Children explore and investigate the natural areas in the garden where they collect twigs to make dough hedgehogs.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

All children develop exceptional skills and excellent levels of attention to support their future learning and move on to school. Children enjoy numerous opportunities to develop their independence.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 317135 Local authority Cumbria Inspection number 1103674 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 1 - 3 Total number of places 18 Number of children on roll 25

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Name of registered person

Date of previous inspection 21 October 2014

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Telephone number

The childminder registered in 2000 she lives in Workington, Cumbria. She operates all year round from 6.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder works with a maximum of two assistants on a daily basis. The childminder and six of her assistants hold appropriate early years qualifications 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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