McCourt, Andrea Louise

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

p.1

The provision is good

The experienced and well-qualified childminder provides a highly stimulating playroom for the children. Children have access to a wide range of good-quality toys and resources that cover all areas of learning. Children contentedly play along with the childminder. Her purposeful interactions help to ignite children's curiosities and she supports them to make independent choices in their play. Children use their imaginations as they build houses from blocks. They demonstrate their developing mathematical skills as they describe features, such as 'big', 'small', 'tall' and 'short'. Additionally, they use chopsticks and their fingers to make marks, such as the letters of their name, in dried rice.

p.2

The provision is good

The childminder constantly reminds children of her behaviour expectations and encourages children to adopt a can-do attitude. She implements fair and age- appropriate strategies that support children to gain an appreciation of others' feelings. Children are polite and well mannered. They have many opportunities to practise their independence during routine times of the day. The childminder has some regard for hygiene practices. However, children are not consistently reminded to wash their hands before eating.

p.2

The provision is good

Partnerships with parents are a real strength of the setting. The childminder gets to know children and their families very well. She works with parents to include them in the life of the setting, gains their views on the quality of her service and regularly shares information with them about their child's learning. More can be done to strengthen partnership working with other relevant professionals, to ensure that any gaps in children's learning are quickly closed and to improve outcomes even further.

p.2

need to do better?

n The kind and nurturing childminder forges strong and trusting bonds with the children. Her calm voice and constant encouragement mean that children are highly responsive to her teaching. Children display high levels of self-confidence and self-esteem. Children are very happy in the childminder's care. n The childminder uses children's interests and her own assessments to plan exciting and enjoyable activities, both inside and outside of her home. When gaps appear in children's learning, she implements some targeted activities to support their continued progress. She shares strategies with parents and supports them to extend children's learning at home. These go some way to help children be ready for the next steps in their learning and school. However, she does not swiftly seek involvement from other relevant professionals to secure highly effective outcomes for all children. n The childminder consistently reflects on the quality of her service. She identifies

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need to do better?

22 January 2020 areas for improvement and puts plans in place to address these. For example, she is in the process of improving her outdoor area to include more natural and open-ended resources for children to explore. Furthermore, she has created some home-learning bags. These are designed to support and extend children's skills in all areas of learning. Parents comment they and their children 'enjoy the interactive activities' and that they feel these 'enhance their child's learning'. n The childminder takes great care to ensure the food and drinks she provides for children are highly nutritious and meet their individual needs. Children chop fresh fruit items using safety knives and sit sociably at the table. Children confidently chat about their favourite food and understand how it keeps their bodies healthy. Children know how to stay safe. For example, they know not to run in the kitchen. n Overall, hygiene practices are implemented well. Children wash their hands after

p.2

need to do better?

visiting the toilet, wash their own faces after eating and independently brush their own teeth. However, during the inspection, the childminder did not ensure that children washed their hands before sitting at the table to eat. n Mathematics and literacy are taught particularly well. Children fill and empty containers with rice and predict how many scoops it will take to fill them to the top. Children count during everyday routines and place objects in size order. Children love books and attentively listen to their favourite stories. Older children make meaningful marks and demonstrate good control as they use pens to draw, write and colour on printed sheets.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

Keeping children safe is at the heart of everything the childminder does. She attends training and works closely with local authority advisers to ensure her safeguarding and child protection knowledge is up to date. Her home is safe and secure. The childminder conducts robust risk assessments before she embarks on any visits. The childminder knows what she needs to do should she have concerns about a child's welfare. Additionally, there are robust procedures in place for the safe use of mobile phones and cameras.

p.3

should:

n review the process for contacting other relevant professionals to support the continued good progress of all children and help them to achieve the best possible outcomes n ensure hygiene procedures, such as handwashing, are consistently implemented to always ensure children's continued good health.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY340932 Local authority Lancashire Inspection number 10129055 Type of provision Childminder

p.4

Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Childminder

p.4

inspection

Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 4 Date of previous inspection 15 March 2016

p.4

Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2006 and lives in New Longton, Preston. She operates her service all year round from 7.45am to 5pm, Monday to Wednesday, except bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds a relevant qualification at level 3. She provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

p.4

Inspection activities

n A learning walk was conducted with the childminder. During this, the inspector discussed with the childminder how she organises her provision. The inspector observed the quality of teaching and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The childminder completed a joint observation of a planned activity with the inspector. n A meeting was held with the childminder. The inspector looked at relevant documentation and checked evidence of the suitability of the childminder and that of other household members. n The inspector spoke to the children throughout the inspection. n The views of parents were considered by means of written feedback provided on the day.

p.4

Inspection activities

22 January 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

22 January 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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