James, Mrs Denise

Overall effectiveness Good

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

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The provision is good

The childminder and her assistant provide a safe and stimulating setting. Children are happy and very secure in their care. They have warm relationships and form close bonds, which supports their emotional development well. Children feel very much at home and move around with confidence. Younger children show delight as they explore with interest. Children develop skills for future learning because they are curious and inquisitive. The childminder responds to their interest in seeing the refuse collectors through the window, by engaging them in discussion about the houses the workers will visit.

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The provision is good

Children are familiar with the routines and behave well. They learn to be helpful and understand when it is time to put things away. The childminder provides daily outings and takes children to groups, nature areas and places of interest. She teaches children safe boundaries, such as to stay together and not to climb too high. Children enjoy fascinating activities that help them to learn about healthy options. They learn how fruit and vegetables grow, which they pick and cook. They develop a keen interest in books and enjoy frequent stories. Younger children are keen to sit on a lap and look at pictures, supporting their early literacy skills.

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need to do better?

n The childminder updates and refreshes her good knowledge through regular training. She shares ideas and information from these courses with her assistant to further develop their practice. Following a course on outdoor learning, the childminder has extended the range of activities for children. She successfully encourages them to find natural resources to use in their creations. The childminder is a good role model to her assistant, which supports further development in practice. They reflect on their effectiveness and make further improvements, for example recently adding a mud kitchen, playhouse, balance boards and a sandpit for children to enjoy. n Partnerships with parents are strong. The childminder provides a wealth of information to keep parents well informed about children's activities and progress. Parents provide detailed feedback and highly commend the care that their children receive. They describe 'excellent communication' and explain that

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need to do better?

children's speech and confidence develop quickly. Parents are confident that their children are safe, happy and have fun as they learn. The childminder shares information with other settings that children attend, to promote continuity of care and learning. n The childminder and her assistant know the children well and provide activities to support individual learning. For example, they skilfully incorporate number, shape and colour recognition for older children. The childminder is aware of children's preferences, such as playing with toy vehicles. Children play well and

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need to do better?

27 February 2020 for sustained periods, which develops concentration skills. However, at times, the childminder misses opportunities to use her good knowledge of children's individual interests, to extend learning further. n The childminder provides interesting resources for children to experience and explore. For example, children show keen interest as they scoop and pour cereals into containers. Younger children enjoy the sensations of taste and texture as they play. The childminder and her assistant use mathematical language to develop children's understanding. Children learn about size, amounts and capacity as they listen to adults and watch them demonstrate. They make good progress in their overall development from their starting points. The childminder encourages speech and language development well as she talks to children and sings with them. Younger children show their developing vocabulary as they begin to put words together.

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need to do better?

n The childminder plans a rolling programme of educational activities, so that all children experience exciting seasonal events. Children learn about the natural world and life cycles, such as chicks hatching and tadpoles becoming frogs. Overall, the childminder and her assistant engage children well in their activities. However, sometimes the challenges for learning in group activities are not consistently effective to suit children of different ages. For instance, some children lose interest sooner than others because they do not understand.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The childminder and her assistant have a good understanding of the safeguarding policies and procedures. They recognise signs for concern and know what action to take to protect children from risk of harm. The childminder and her assistant work well together to maintain ratios and provide continuous supervision to children. They have effective arrangements in place to transport children and keep them safe on outings. The childminder is conscientious about the safety of the premises and minimises potential hazards. For example, she has signs to indicate that the decking can be slippery and puts mats down to form a safe path and prevent accidents.

p.3

should:

n make greater use of children's individual interests and preferences, to further extend their learning n review and enhance the organisation of some of the group activities, to extend the learning benefits for all children.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 102547 Local authority Cornwall Inspection number 10125371 Type of provision Childminder

p.4

Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Childminder Age range of children 1 to 8 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 28 Date of previous inspection 7 December 2015

p.4

Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 1991 and lives in Bodmin, Cornwall. She operates on weekdays, all year round. The childminder receives funding for the provision of free early education to children aged two, three and four years. She is qualified to level 3. The childminder works with an assistant, who is her daughter.

p.4

Inspection activities

n The inspector held discussions with the childminder and her assistant and spoke to children during the inspection. n The childminder explained her aims and how she organises her provision to the inspector. n Children's activities were observed by the inspector and joint observations were discussed with the childminder. n The inspector checked required documentation, including evidence of suitability and qualifications. n The inspector read feedback letters from parents and viewed a selection of photographic evidence of children's activities.

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Inspection activities

27 February 2020 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

27 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

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