Childminder in West Northamptonshire

Overall effectiveness Outstanding

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

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The provision is outstanding

Children relish their time with the childminder. They are very keen to go outside to feed and care for the pet rabbits themselves. The younger children use all their strength to handle the large container of dry food and pour it into the dishes. Older children recognise and find the right vegetables from the refrigerator. The childminder has very high expectations of the children. She is highly skilled in using open-ended questions. This helps children think carefully and use sentences to explain what they need or are going to do. For example, children work out how many slopes and sections of train track they need to support their bridge. They eagerly respond to her challenges. For example, younger children spend a considerable time matching pictures of different-shaped train tunnels and making more tunnels from cardboard tubes.

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The provision is outstanding

Children's behaviour is exemplary. The children show real kindness to each other. The older children warn the younger ones not to sit on the wet bicycles until they have been dried. They offer other children pretend cakes and tea and remember to say 'please' and 'thank you'. The childminder takes great care to ensure the spaces used by the children are safe. Children's understanding of keeping safe is excellent, for example they know not to touch the oven when the light is on. This is due to the excellent reinforcement from the childminder.

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need to do better?

n The childminder builds exceptionally good relationships with parents. They are highly appreciative of her dedication to their children and all that she provides. She regularly sends home a story book and activity ideas. This helps parents support their child with what they need to learn next. Parent frequently post examples of what they have been doing with their children to the online application that they use. The childminder uses this information to further extend children's learning. n The children take part in a rich variety of activities that broaden their experiences exceptionally well. Children's confidence develops rapidly, for example as they interact with larger groups of children. They love going to the singing and signing group and joining in with dance and action songs. Children excitedly join in with cooking activities. They learn about weighing ingredients and how things change when cooked.

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need to do better?

n Children are highly enthusiastic about books and stories. They listen extremely well and readily finish sentences and recite familiar phrases. The childminder is highly thoughtful about how to extend children's learning from their favourite books. For example, the children, with support from the childminder, have reorganised the home corner so they can act out their favourite story about a tiger who came to tea.

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need to do better?

6 February 2020 n The childminder is excellent at providing interesting opportunities for children to draw and make marks. For example, children become absorbed in being the doctor caring for the baby dolls. They carefully chart the baby's injuries on the accident form, making marks on the body map to represent a broken leg. n The childminder is highly skilled in using children's interests to help them learn. Children move the different diggers through the sand and find and name different plastic shapes. They work out how to transport the shapes they find and match them to the pictures using the diggers. Younger children recognise triangles and squares, while older ones are starting to recognise harder shapes, such as hexagons. n Children are particularly confident in their physical skills. They dance and giggle with each other as they copy the moves of the figure on the screen. The childminder is excellent at encouraging them to persevere, for example when

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need to do better?

balancing on the two-wheeled bicycles and scooters. n The childminder is highly accurate in evaluating her practice. She is constantly looking for ways to improve. The childminder readily takes up training to broaden her knowledge. For example, she has learned about the theory of attachment to help her understand the importance of building close relationships and security for young children. The childminder has also undertaken training in play therapy so that she can identify problems and help children develop more rapidly. n The childminder puts great thought into developing children's understanding of other people and communities. She helps children find out about a festival or event using books or the internet. She then builds on this learning through taking the children to different places. For example, the children learn about the purple poppies used to remember animals in military service for Remembrance

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need to do better?

Day. They enjoy visiting a Chinese restaurant to try different foods for Chinese New Year.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The childminder is extremely knowledgeable about protecting children. She has excellent procedures in place to record and report her concerns about children. The childminder is very vigilant and highly alert to changes in children's circumstances which might indicate they are at risk of harm. She is well aware of signs which may indicate that a child has been exposed to radical or extreme ideas. The childminder takes great care to keep children safe. For example, she checks the video display before answering the door to unknown visitors. Her home is very secure.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY484280 Local authority Northamptonshire Inspection number 10076366 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 0 to 5 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 5 Date of previous inspection 29 January 2016

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2014 and lives in Northampton. She operates all year round from 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder provides funded early education for three-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

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 held discussions with the childminder and children during the inspection. n The inspector reviewed relevant documentation, including confirmation of first- aid qualifications and suitability to work with children. n The inspector took account of the views of parents through written feedback.

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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

6 February 2020 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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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