Gathercole, Claire Ruth Valerie

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 20 December 2017 1 May 2015

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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 observes and assesses children's progress competently. She interacts well with children and extends their learning. Children make good progress from their starting points in learning.  The childminder creates a safe and welcoming environment. Children show a strong sense of belonging and security in the home.  The childminder forms strong partnerships with parents. There is a good two-way exchange of relevant information that contributes to continuity in children's care and learning.  The childminder actively encourages healthy lifestyles and personal safety. For example, she teaches children how to use knives safely when cutting up fruit at snack times. They develop a good awareness of what is good and unhealthy food.  The childminder takes effective steps to improve her knowledge and skills. For example, she is successfully implementing what she learned at a recent training course on

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This provision is good

managing boys' behaviour. The childminder is helping boys, in particular, to express their feelings in a calm and acceptable way.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Sometimes the childminder does not give younger children as much opportunity as possible to explore freely and express themselves when taking part in creative activities.  The childminder does not make the most of all opportunities to build on older children's already strong early reading skills.

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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

 increase opportunities for younger children to freely explore, experiment and be creative  provide further opportunities to enhance older children's early reading skills and their awareness that print carries meaning.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed children's activities indoors.  The inspector sampled children's learning records and other relevant documentation.  The inspector discussed childcare practice with the childminder.  The inspector took account of the views of parents from written feedback.  The inspector spoke with the childminder during the inspection about the children's learning and progress, and to evaluate an activity together.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. The childminder keeps her knowledge of local safeguarding procedures up to date. She has a good awareness of what to do if she has a child protection concern. The childminder minimises risks to children effectively and they are able to move around freely and safely. She successfully evaluates and improves her practice to benefit children. For example, she does research and gains new ideas from other childminders. The childminder makes good use of her assessment of children to identify and narrow emerging gaps in their learning.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The childminder provides a wide variety of interesting and stimulating activities for children. For example, they use their imagination well as they play with a toy farm. The childminder adds unusual items, such as a farm pond made out of cornflour, water and chocolate. Children develop good coordination, for instance, as they feel the texture of the 'pond' and make marks in it using the feet of the farm animals. The childminder builds on children's communication skills skilfully, for example, by asking questions and encouraging them to talk about what they are doing. She makes good use of stories to extend children's vocabulary. Older children join in with familiar parts of the story. Younger children act it out using the related soft toys. The childminder helps children develop a good understanding of the natural world. For example, at the inspection children confidently explained about the life cycle of a butterfly.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

The childminder enhances children's health and well-being. For example, she provides children with healthy home-cooked meals and plenty of exercise. The childminder is kind, caring and friendly. Children form strong emotional bonds with her. The childminder has a good awareness of how to prepare children well for the move on to school. She gives children clear boundaries and helps them develop good social skills. The childminder deals calmly and sensitively with any minor disputes between children. She competently teaches them to share and take turns.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children make good progress in the skills they need to help them move on to the next stage in their learning. They are confident speakers who readily engage in conversation with adults. All children develop good levels of independence. They manage their own personal care needs well. Children behave well and play happily with their friends. They are well motivated and become absorbed in their favourite activities. For example, older children spent a long time successfully completing challenging jigsaw puzzles. Younger children develop good mathematical skills, for example, when making towers and counting the blocks.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY387175 Local authority Croydon Inspection number 1093691 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 6

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Telephone number

The childminder registered in 2008. She lives in Croydon, Surrey. The childminder offers care from 7.30am to 6pm from Monday to Friday, school term times only. The childminder receives funding for the provision of free early 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

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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