Childminder in Gloucestershire

Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Good

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The provision is good

Children are very cheerful and settled at this safe, lively and happy setting. The childminder and her nurturing assistant use their qualifications well and demonstrate high expectations and a deep understanding of child development. They are very consistent at prioritising children's well-being and respond sensitively to each child's individual needs. This helps children to develop very good levels of self-esteem and to be enthusiastic learners. Children are making good progress from their initial starting points. They enjoy the high-quality learning opportunities provided to them. Children are eager to explore and investigate. For instance, they noticed a spider hanging from a swing and decided to hunt for more. Children asked for help to lift the large logs in the 'fairy garden' and squealed with amazement at the spiders and insects they found 'under' and 'on top' of the log. They counted, compared sizes and noticed the variations of colour as they

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The provision is good

discussed why insects might like living in the dark. This actively helps to support children's growing mathematical skills and their understanding of the natural world; a clear focus of this childminder.

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The provision is good

The behaviour of children is good and they get on well together. Older children are particularly kind and caring to younger ones. They happily give up their equipment as they create spiky hedgehogs out of dough and pumpkin seeds, and instinctively offer their soft toys to children who need a comforting cuddle. The children play safely and learn about risks to themselves and others. At the inspection, children waited patiently at the doorway before going outside, where older children took time to explain to younger ones why the childminder needed to look out for anything that could hurt them.

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need to do better?

n Children are eager to speak and supported well to become confident talkers. During story and rhyme times, they listen enthusiastically as adults model language effectively and engage them in many conversations. For example, children took turns to select props from a 'song sack' and sang with delight, as they created 'nonsense rhymes' to traditional verses. n Children's detailed learning records show them making good progress. The childminder ensures that any gaps in learning are immediately addressed and discussed with all adults sharing care of the child. This means children are quickly gaining the skills they need for pre-school or school. n Partnership working is particularly good. Parents comment on how the childminder is a valuable source of advice and guidance, particularly in supporting their children's care and learning needs. She makes use of a wide variety of strategies to engage parents in sharing information. This helps ensure

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need to do better?

continuity of children's care and learning.

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need to do better?

25 September 2019 n Children enjoy a broad range of high-quality learning experiences, including many opportunities to learn about the local community and wider world. Children develop good social skills and show an excellent awareness of themselves and other people's differences. n The well-qualified childminder is highly reflective and works hard to ensure that everything she does has a positive impact on the outcomes for children. She and her assistant work well together to improve further the care and education they provide. The childminder supports her assistant's professional development, for example undertaking an early years qualification, to underpin the psychology degree she holds and develop the quality of what is offered. n The childminder monitors children's progress effectively, offering good support according to their needs. However, sometimes, she over-directs children's play and misses opportunities to encourage children to express their own choices,

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need to do better?

thoughts and suggestions. Occasionally, for instance, she and her assistant are too quick to answer their own questions, before younger children have had a chance to think about an answer. n The childminder provides a bright, spacious and well-organised environment both indoors and outside. This supports children's levels of engagement and they display high levels of confidence and self-motivation. However, this is not always the case for all children during group times. Sometimes, she tends to focus most of her attention on younger children's learning. At times, older children are not asked to think more deeply about things.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The childminder has an excellent understanding of how to meet the safeguarding and welfare requirements. She demonstrates a secure knowledge of what action to take should there be any concerns about the welfare of a child. The childminder is proactive in keeping herself and her assistant updated on any changes. She ensures her assistant is also clear about how to deal with any welfare concerns to protect children from harm, including how to follow her robust risk assessments. For example, the assistant constantly encourages children to think about how to play outside safely when the ground is wet. Children clearly remember and follow the simple rules, which supports their successful preparations for school.

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should:

n strengthen questioning techniques to give children more time to answer, to encourage younger children to express their thoughts and ideas n review group activities to make sure all children, in particular the most able children, are fully engaged and challenged.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY489851 Local authority Gloucestershire Inspection number 10076497 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 to 3 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 6 Date of previous inspection 2 March 2016

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2015 and lives in Greet, Cheltenham. She operates Monday to Friday from 7.45am to 6pm, all year round. The childminder receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. She holds early years teacher status. The childminder works with an assistant when required. Overnight care can be organised by prior arrangement.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector observed activities and the childminder and her assistant's interactions with children throughout the inspection. n The inspector sampled children's observation, planning and assessment information and looked at registration records. n The inspector checked evidence of the childminder and her assistant's suitability to work with children and sampled some policies and procedures. n The inspector spoke to children and parents, and read parents' testimonials and feedback forms to gather their views about the service and their children's progress. n The inspector undertook a joint observation with the childminder.

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Inspection activities

25 September 2019 We carried out this inspection 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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Inspection activities

25 September 2019 regulates and inspects to 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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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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