Downs, Philipa

Inspection date 22 February 2019 Previous inspection date 8 September 2015

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Good 2 Effectiveness of leadership and management Good 2 Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2 Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2 Outcomes for children Good 2

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This provision is good

n The childminder is warm, friendly and kind to children. She develops secure attachments with them from the start. Children are happy, settled and content in her care. This helps them to develop confidence and self-esteem. Parents comment that the 'brilliant' childminder provides a 'home-from-home' environment where children are 'well looked after'. n The childminder uses her good knowledge of how children learn to make regular assessments of what they know and can do. She monitors and tracks their development effectively. The childminder considers and plans purposeful experiences which support children's next steps in their development well. This helps children to develop from their starting points and make good progress. n The childminder has a positive attitude to developing her practice. She works effectively with parents and children to reflect on what is working well and to consider how to enhance her provision further. This helps to ensure she maintains the good

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This provision is good

levels of care and that all children are fully supported. n The childminder does not consistently provide young children with a broad range of opportunities to explore different materials in their play. n The childminder has not established an effective, ongoing exchange of information with other settings that children attend.

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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

n provide further opportunities for young children to explore different materials to enhance their exploration of the world around them n extend information-sharing with other settings that children attend to further support consistency in their learning.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

Inspection activities n The inspector viewed the areas of the premises used for childminding. n The inspector spoke with the childminder at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n The inspector observed the interactions between the childminder and children during play sessions and mealtimes. n The inspector carried out a joint evaluation of a planned activity with the childminder. n The inspector viewed parents' written comments regarding the childminder's practice and took these into account.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. The childminder knows the children and their families well and has a good understanding of her role in keeping children safe. She is knowledgeable about current safeguarding issues and requirements, and the procedures to follow to record and report any concerns. The childminder ensures her assistant also recognises areas of concern and has a clear understanding of who to contact. This helps to ensure children are protected and kept safe. The childminder recognises the impact that training has on practice and sources relevant courses for herself and her assistant. She uses the information gained to help her reflect on her skills and consider how these could be enhanced. For example, the childminder attended training to help her develop her skills in understanding and communicating with less vocal children in her care. She used the knowledge gained to introduce signing to help her to further converse with children

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is good

effectively. This has enabled her to further ensure children's individual needs are met.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The childminder is a skilled teacher. She is supportive of children being independent and exploring and developing their own ideas. The childminder recognises when her involvement in children's play enhances their learning and enables them to practise developing skills. For example, she uses well-considered questions to encourage children to show their mathematical understanding as they participate in cooking activities. Children talk about the numbers on the scales and the sizes of the spoons they are using. They start to use descriptive words such as 'massive' to describe the size of the spoonfuls of butter they put in the bowl.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

The childminder works well with parents. She has established an effective two-way communication that helps to support a positive shared approach to children's care and learning. Children behave well. They are supported effectively to develop a good understanding of how to share, play cooperatively and consider others. For instance, children help each other during cooking activities by holding the mixing bowl for their friends. They chat to each other and say 'you mix it and I will hold it'. Children benefit from daily, well-considered outings. These extend children's experiences and provide opportunities for children to socialise and learn about the wider world.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are keen learners who practise the skills they need to support their future learning and move to school. For example, babies start to use their developing physical skills as they grip wooden spoons. Showing emerging coordination, they start to bang them on a tray, smiling as they make a noise. Older children show well-developed skills during drawing activities. They copy the childminder's actions and start to use pens and rulers with skill to help them draw lines. Children develop lifelong skills, including managing aspects of self-care. They support each other as they independently go to the bathroom and wash their hands before eating.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY346175 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10063783 Type of provision Childminder

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Childminder Age range of children 1 - 10 Total number of places 12 Number of children on roll 24 Date of previous inspection 8 September 2015

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Registers

The childminder registered in 2006. She lives in Gravesend, Kent. The childminder offers care Monday to Friday, from 7am to 7pm, for 48 weeks a year. The childminder works with an assistant. She holds an appropriate childcare qualification at level 3. The childminder accepts funding to provide free early education for children aged three and four years.

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Registers

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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Registers

procedures set out in the guidance Complaints procedure: raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.ofsted.gov.uk . 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 and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, 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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Registers

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Registers

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Registers

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Registers

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