Childminder in Darlington

Inspection date 20 August 2019 Previous inspection date 12 January 2016

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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 and assistant support the development of children's communication and language skills effectively. They interact well with children, providing lots of explanation about what is happening and introducing new words. This helps children to develop their speaking skills and expand their vocabulary. n The childminder places a high priority on children's emotional development. Children are happy, confident and well settled in the childminder's care. They move around the setting, choosing what they want to do. They enthusiastically join in with activities and show good levels of concentration. n The childminder and assistant promote children's social skills well. Children are given gentle reminders of what is expected at the setting and, as a result, young children play cooperatively together, share and take turns. n Children enjoy home-cooked meals and discuss the benefits of nutritious food. This

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This provision is good

helps them to develop an understanding of healthy eating. n The childminder helps children to develop an understanding of keeping themselves and other children safe. For example, when a piece of equipment breaks, the childminder talks to children about removing equipment to prevent accidents. n Although the childminder works well with parents, information gathered from them is not used effectively to plan highly challenging activities that help children to make rapid progress from the very beginning. n The childminder does not always make the best use of supervision sessions with her assistant in order to raise the quality of practice to an even higher level.

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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 use information gathered from parents about what children can already do when they first start at the setting, in order to plan effective and challenging activities from the very beginning n focus specifically on how supervision can be used to further strengthen the quality of teaching and learning.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

n The inspector observed the quality of teaching and assessed its impact on children's learning and development. n The inspector had a tour of all areas of the childminder's home that are used for childminding. n The inspector talked to the childminder and assistant at appropriate times during the inspection. She looked at a selection of documents, including evidence of the suitability checks carried out on the childminder and members of the household. n The inspector carried out an evaluation of an activity with the childminder. n The inspector spoke to children at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of written feedback provided by parents.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The childminder and her assistant understand the signs and symptoms which may indicate a child's welfare is at risk and know how to respond if they have concerns. This includes where children may be at risk of harm from extreme behaviours or views. The childminder has a good programme of professional development. She works with her local authority and regularly attends courses which have a positive impact on the quality of teaching. The childminder collects regular feedback from parents to make continuous improvements to the setting. Parents are very happy with the standards of care and learning provided. They comment that they could not ask for better personalised care. The childminder uses her assessments effectively to help her quickly identify any gaps in children's learning. Where children are identified as requiring additional support, the childminder makes the necessary referrals

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is good

swiftly and works closely with other professionals to ensure children's individual needs are met.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The childminder uses her observations of children's play to help identify their next steps for learning and plan exciting and interesting activities. This helps children to remain engaged and motivated. The childminder provides a good range of resources and organises her play area well. This helps children to make independent choices about what they would like to play with. Children enjoy digging in the sand. The childminder introduces number, colour and shape as children build sandcastles, which helps to develop their mathematical understanding. Children have many opportunities to be physically active. They regularly use the well-resourced garden to run and climb, which helps to support their physical well-being effectively. Furthermore, children develop their small-muscle skills as they fill pipettes and large syringes with coloured water.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children eagerly arrive and quickly settle, and immediately become involved in activities. Children are happy and at ease in the childminder's care. Warm relationships are evident. The childminder and assistant place a high priority on creating a secure, homely environment. Children benefit from plenty of praise and encouragement, which helps to raise their self-esteem. The childminder and assistant take time to settle children in gradually. This includes spending time with children and their families before they start. Children have established strong bonds and attachments with the childminder and assistant, which helps to support their emotional well-being.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children make good progress in their learning and development. Children have plenty of opportunities to develop key skills in early literacy. For example, they practise making marks and learn about letter sounds as they listen to the childminder read. Children are confident learners and are developing the skills they need for their next stage in learning, including the eventual move to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY472562 Local authority Darlington Inspection number 10062425 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 - 9 Total number of places 12 Number of children on roll 12 Date of previous inspection 12 January 2016

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Registers

The childminder registered in 2014 and lives in Darlington. She operates all year round from 6.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Saturday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year- old children. She works with an assistant.

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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

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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