Childminder in Durham

Overall effectiveness Outstanding

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

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The provision is outstanding

Young children have a very powerful sense of belonging in the childminder's home. They clearly demonstrate that they feel completely secure and approach the responsive childminder for cuddles and reassurance when needed. Children are wonderfully keen and excited to visit the childminder and her assistant. They form firm friendships across the age groups and are impressively kind and helpful.

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The provision is outstanding

Children's superb achievements are celebrated and their art work is proudly on show. This helps children to feel highly valued. The childminder gives children of all ages a wealth of choice in their play and routines. She very skilfully weaves learning into their stimulating play activities. Children confidently take the lead, for example, when choosing their own stories from a marvellous collection of fiction and factual books. The childminder sensitively adapts her reading of tales to suit the ages of the children and capture their whole attention. She has high expectations of what they can do and delights in their successes.

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The provision is outstanding

Children experience a marvellously language-rich environment. Excellent teaching techniques support children's development. For instance, young children listen carefully as the childminder provides an engaging ongoing commentary to their play. She introduces new words, such as naming individual food items and linking these to children's experiences and preferences. This helps to extend children's vocabulary while they delight in playing with a pretend shop.

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need to do better?

n The childminder and her assistant are both extremely passionate about their provision. They are highly ambitious and strive to deliver an exceptional quality of care and learning experiences for children of all ages. Self-evaluation is specific, rigorous and drives improvement. The childminder supports her assistant very well and ensures that he benefits strongly from professional development. n The childminder completes a comprehensive and targeted programme of continued professional development to maintain and extend her outstanding skills even further. For example, she researches relevant topics to benefit individual children, completes online training and regularly meets with other professionals. On occasions, the childminder also takes the lead in supporting her colleagues in childminding. n Partnerships with parents are exceptionally well established. The childminder is very effective in developing strong links with parents and with other settings

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need to do better?

that children attend. Shared communication is focused sharply on children's needs and achievements. This promotes superb continuity of care and learning for all children in her care.

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need to do better?

3 October 2019 n Children thrive emotionally, supported by the gentle and kind childminder and her calm and patient assistant. They are happy, confident, settled and content. The extremely warm and welcoming environment encourages children to explore and investigate using all of their senses. Children's behaviour is exemplary. Encouragement and praise from the childminder and her assistant are plentiful. They are marvellous role models for children. n The childminder and her assistant animatedly read familiar stories to children and sing their favourite songs. They skilfully use puppets and props to hold young children's interest. This supports the development of their early literacy abilities. Young children learn to name colours and practise their early mathematical skills, such as counting and recognising shapes. This helps to prepare them for future learning and the eventual move to nursery and school.

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need to do better?

Young children become independent as they tackle simple tasks. For example, they butter crackers for their snack and make choices about what fruit to eat. n Children enjoy a rich and exciting range of experiences in their local community. For instance, they visit local shops, cafes, museums, libraries, play groups, farms and parks. This promotes their good understanding of the wider world around them and provides opportunities to develop their excellent social skills. Children learn about the similarities and differences between themselves and others. n The childminder is an enthusiastic and inspiring teacher. She gets to know children and their interests extremely swiftly and well from the start. The childminder uses this information from the outset to plan and provide fun activities that engage and motivate children to learn across the areas of learning. For instance, children enjoy baking cakes and help to make and then

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need to do better?

eat home-made vegetable soup for their meals. They grow cress indoors and radishes in the outdoor area, where they smell fragrant herbs growing in pots. Young children use their imaginations as they play with small figures in the model fairy garden outdoors. n Parents speak extremely positively about the experienced childminder and her assistant. They describe them as 'wonderful', 'brilliant', 'outstanding' and say 'they go the extra mile'. Parents particularly value the 'great home-cooked, nutritious meals' that their children receive. Children enjoy plenty of fresh air and exercise, such as when they go for walks to feed the donkeys.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The childminder has a robust understanding of child protection and wider safeguarding issues. She is fully aware of her role and responsibilities in helping to keep children safe. The childminder is clear on the process for reporting any concerns about a child's welfare. She ensures that she updates her safeguarding training regularly. The childminder is highly vigilant and carries out frequent checks of her practice and the environment to minimise any risks for children. These procedures include recording visitors to the provision, testing smoke and carbon- monoxide alarms weekly and practising emergency evacuation procedures.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY103542 Local authority Durham Inspection number 10117048 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 2 to 10 Total number of places 12 Number of children on roll 12 Date of previous inspection 25 November 2014

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2002. Her husband is her assistant and they live in the Crossgate Moor area of Durham. The childminder operates all year round from 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Thursday and in the morning on Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector completed a learning walk with the childminder around the areas of the premises used for childminding. n The inspector observed the quality of activities indoors and outside and assessed the impact of this on children's learning. n The inspector talked to the childminder and children at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector took account of the views of parents expressed in written feedback. n The inspector completed a joint evaluation of an activity with the childminder.

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Inspection activities

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

3 October 2019 3 October 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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