Childminder in Cambridgeshire

Overall effectiveness Good

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

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The provision is good

Children are confident, independent and happy. When they arrive back from school, they quickly take off their shoes and coats and hang them up. Older children enjoy showing younger children how to thoroughly wash and dry their hands. All children are extremely keen to play with the exciting range of colourful toys and games on offer. They show respect and are courteous when others speak, listening with interest to what they have to say. Children enjoy cooking activities and talk enthusiastically, describing how the dough feels and stretches. To their delight, they discover that by adding more flour the dough becomes less sticky. The children happily chat about their favourite foods and the countries these come from, showing their increasing understanding of other cultures.

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The provision is good

Children show they are safe and secure. They share their understanding of good hygiene and of safety practice in the kitchen. They tell the childminder that they must never touch the oven, and they leave the area while their pizzas are cooking. Talking about time spent outside 'at the green', children are excited as they describe how they ride bicycles and play chase with each other.

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need to do better?

n Professional development is high on the childminder's agenda. She has worked closely with the local authority and Pre-school Learning Alliance. This has helped her to evaluate and to strengthen her teaching and learning practice. The childminder has recently completed training about building healthy brains in young children. As a result, she has increased interactive activities that support children's overall development. n Following the first lockdown, the childminder identified that some children need extra support to develop their communication and language skills. She works with parents, encouraging them to seek extra support from other professionals. In addition, the childminder gives parents ideas and activities they can do with their children at home. n Children enjoy a very good range of fun, challenging activities that stimulate their curiosity. For example, children are fascinated as they watch colourful

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need to do better?

water beads grow when they are placed in water. The childminder uses her observations of children's play to help her identify their next steps for learning. She plans interesting activities that enable children to practise the new skills they have learnt. n Good interactions with parents ensure that they are kept updated about their children's achievements. Parents say that the childminder is always willing to adapt her service to meet their work commitments. They describe her care as 'a nurturing environment' with 'a homely atmosphere'. n The childminder works confidently with other professionals. She is always keen

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need to do better?

17 May 2021 to talk with staff at other settings children attend. These opportunities help her to keep up with the progress children make when they are not in her care. n The childminder conducts risk assessments to minimise potential hazards in her home and garden. n Children settle well in the childminder's home-from-home environment. They are happy and display a strong sense of belonging. Children develop close bonds with the childminder. They confidently show visitors photographs, from the childminder's phone, of letters and pictures they have drawn for the childminder at home. n Children use their imagination and make links to experiences from school. They thoroughly enjoy using the white board and begin spontaneously teaching other children about how to make pizzas. n The childminder understands each child's needs. She has adapted her planning to support children's progress effectively. The childminder is successfully using

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need to do better?

descriptive language, repetition and discussions to promote children's understanding. This helps children to speak clearly and increase their vocabulary. However, opportunities to extend children's mathematical skills during play are not as well planned and delivered by the childminder. n At times, the floor space in the childminder's home is overcrowded with toys and resources. This prevents children from developing their play and learning freely.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The childminder has a very good understanding of her role and responsibility to safeguard children. She can identify when a child may be at risk. The childminder knows what procedure to follow if she has any concerns about a child's welfare. The childminder keeps her safeguarding training up to date. This helps her to remain aware of any changes to safeguarding guidance and legislation. The childminder knows which agencies to contact should any allegations be made against her or a member of her family.

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should:

n increase the range of opportunities and experiences to extend children's mathematical skills n review the organisation of the learning environment to consistently provide children with the space that they need to move around freely and try out their play ideas.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY462196 Local authority Cambridgeshire Inspection number 10123555 Type of provision Childminder

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Registers

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

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inspection

Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 12 Date of previous inspection 2 September 2019

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2013 and lives in Willingham, Cambridgeshire. She operates all year round from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the setting received since the 2020-21 COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the childminder and has taken this into account in her evaluation of the setting. n The childminder and the inspector completed a learning walk of the setting, both inside and outside. n The inspector completed a joint observation with the childminder. n Children spoke with the inspector during this visit. They talked about how much they love coming to the childminder's home and how they enjoy all the creative activities available. n Parents sent messages to the inspector about their thoughts and experiences of using the childminder's setting.

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Inspection activities

17 May 2021 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

17 May 2021 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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