Childminder 304109

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

The childminder works with two assistants and all have an excellent understanding about how children learn. They provide consistently high levels of interaction and engagement with the children in their care. For example, the childminder and her assistants ensure a warm and welcoming atmosphere as children arrive and they quickly settle, ready to learn. The childminder makes excellent use of the local amenities to promote children's understanding about the natural world. For instance, children regularly visit the local zoo and safari park. Here, they learn about wild animals, how they live and the countries they come from. They visit the local farm to see animals and pets in the local shop. These experiences foster children's exceptionally high levels of empathy for living things.

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The provision is outstanding

The childminder and her assistants ensure activities provided for children actively contribute to their excellent learning. For example, children thoroughly enjoy extended garden play in all weathers. Here, they develop their imagination exceedingly well as they make their own snow using soapy foam bubbles. They are highly excited, giggle and run around with their friends. Children stop and look on in awe as the foam floats slowly down and covers the grass. Their imagination is further enhanced as they investigate the 'fairies' in their home-made fairy garden.

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need to do better?

n The childminder consistently shares her excellent vision with her assistants. She provides exceptional one-to-one meetings that ensure the assistants know the curriculum plans in place. The childminder and her assistants demonstrate that they know the children extremely well and how best to promote their next steps in learning. n The childminder is highly committed to continuous reflection. She ensures the views of her assistants, parents and their children are regularly sought and fully acknowledged. The childminder continually researches the latest developments in the early years sector. This ensures regular, exciting improvements are made that have a high impact on all children's learning and development. n The childminder works extremely closely with her assistants to ensure resources and activities are superbly well organised and accessible to the children. This ensures that children are able to make well-informed choices about what they

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need to do better?

want to play with and where. This superbly promotes children's independence. Children's independence is further enhanced as they remember to wash their hands and take their cups and plates back to the kitchen after eating. n Children demonstrate delight as they enjoy the 'what's in the box' activity. They become excited as they anticipate what they may find under the lid as they take their turn. They recognise what the toy represents. For example, on taking the bunny rabbit out of the box, all children know to do the 'bunny' activity. They

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need to do better?

6 December 2019 use their imagination as they sing the sleeping song while laying down, then jump up and down singing as they pretend to awaken. One child pulls out a boat and all children know this represents the 'row your boat' activity. They all quickly find a partner and in pairs row back and forth, laughing as they sing the familiar rhyme. These activities foster the areas of learning extremely well. n All children receive excellent, meaningful praise throughout the day. They have a fantastic attitude to learning and persevere during their activities. Children demonstrate they are very familiar with the rules. They behave well and have the highest regard for one another and the adults that care for them. This promotes children's sense of belonging exceptionally well and fosters their strong emotional attachments and developing friendships with others. n The childminder and her assistants place a high priority on developing children's

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need to do better?

communication, language and literacy skills. For example, they make storytime exciting as they use intonation to demonstrate different characters. Children become excited, sit and listen for extended periods of time and predict the story's ending, calling out with great confidence. n Partnerships with parents and providers at other settings, including the local schools, are excellent. The childminder ensures meaningful sharing of information between all parties. She and her assistants ensure parents know how to further promote their child's learning in the home environment. These positive relationships ensure the highest level of continuity and consistency for all children's care and learning.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The childminder and her assistants have a robust knowledge about the policy and procedure to be followed should they have any concerns about a child in their care. All three regularly attend child protection training and have a secure awareness about the possible signs of abuse and neglect. The childminder is vigilant about ensuring all areas of the house and the garden are checked each morning before the children arrive. She completes robust risk assessments for all outings off the premises. This, and the superb deployment of the childminder and her assistants, ensures that children are kept safe and well at all times.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 304109 Local authority Cheshire West and Chester Inspection number 10128948 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 10 Total number of places 18 Number of children on roll 22 Date of previous inspection 10 February 2016

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 1990 and lives in Chester. She employs two assistants. The childminder and one assistant hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. One assistant holds a qualification at level 5. The provision operates all year round from 8am to 5.30pm, Tuesday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector completed a learning walk with the childminder in all areas of the setting. n The inspector observed the quality of education during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector spoke with the assistants and children during the inspection. n A joint observation with the childminder was conducted. n The inspector took account of parents' views about the setting. n A meeting was held between the inspector and the childminder to sample documents, including evidence about staff's suitability and training.

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Inspection activities

6 December 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

6 December 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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