Maxine Laura Hammond

Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

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The provision is good

Nature plays a big part in the childminder's ethos and approach to everything she does. Children delight in playing outside in the garden. They have the freedom to play with the stimulating resources and create their 'new potions' from soap and water. They water the plants and notice how their leaves change over time, getting 'bigger'.

p.2

The provision is good

The childminder has considered the impact of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic and has adapted her routines. This ensures that she and the children remain safe from harm. Children wash their hands on a very regular basis, helping to develop their understanding of germs and how these can make people ill. Where children were worried about coming back after the national restrictions, the childminder worked with the parents to offer the right support. As a result, children were quick to settle back into familiar routines.

p.2

The provision is good

Children have developed strong relationships with the childminder, helping them to feel safe and secure. Children are happy and settled, and they are developing a deep sense of themselves. They have a positive attitude and are motivated to learn. The childminder is very attentive to what each individual child needs to help them move on in their play. All children, regardless of their backgrounds or past experiences, make good progress and thrive.

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need to do better?

n The childminder is very clear about what she wants children to know and learn. She is inspired by her own research into outdoor play and she provides plenty of outdoor play and fresh air to promote children's mental health. Her focus on plants offers children a wide variety of learning experiences. For example, children watch how pea plants change and develop, then pick the mature peas to eat, learning about nature. n Children play with home-made resources, enabling different ways of learning, according to their individual needs. Children make choices as they play. Younger children, for example, enjoy climbing in and out of a tyre or pouring water from a jug. Older children describe in detail how they are designing a rocket from different-sized bits of wood. They add colour to the 'fire bits' and talk about the different rocket parts. Children become engrossed in their own play. However, the childminder does not always plan the best way of keeping children's interest

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need to do better?

during adult-led activities. This means that sometimes children do not stay on task. n Partnerships with parents are strong. The childminder shares their children's progress and achievements regularly, verbally and via social media. Parents value her caring approach and enjoy trying out the same activities at home.

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need to do better?

18 May 2021 However, the childminder does not consistently help parents to extend their children's learning or provide further challenge. n The childminder promotes children's physical skills well, still allowing them to take risks. Building consistently on what they can do, she provides each child with further challenge. Younger children use sticks with ribbons attached to make big circles in the air as they move their arms. They learn how to move safely up the steps on the climbing frame, feeling proud when they reach the top. Children with established physical skills dig the soil and mix in water to create mud. They use big pieces of coloured chalk to create marks on the path. They create dinosaurs from play dough and develop their small muscles by adding fine spaghetti strands to the bodies. n The childminder talks to children about what they are doing, offering them new words, when needed. She understands the sequence of language development

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need to do better?

and what each child can say. Children are excited to pick out the painted stones to remind them of stories, rhymes and songs. The childminder repeats the word 'butterfly' when the younger children say 'utterfy'. This helps them to hear all the correct sounds. n Children have the freedom to learn at their own pace, follow their imagination, and develop their ideas. This helps them to become confident and independent learners. Children eat and prepare healthy and nutritious food, eating together as a social occasion. They behave very well, given their age and stage of development. Children enjoy following the care routines, which help to develop their self-help skills. n The childminder thinks about what she does and finds different ways to widen her current knowledge. She has developed firm links with teachers, helping children to move on to their next stage of learning.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The childminder has a good knowledge of safeguarding procedures. She knows the different signs and symptoms of abuse and neglect. She understands what to do and who to contact if she has a concern about a child. The childminder ensures that her paediatric first-aid qualification and safeguarding training are up to date. She has done further research into wider safeguarding issues, such as radicalisation, having extreme views and female genital mutilation. Her home environments, inside and outside, are securely maintained. She pays very careful attention to any potential dangers while the children are playing, and during activities and routines.

p.3

should:

18 May 2021 n think more carefully about the planning details of any adult-led activities so that children can be consistently engaged in their learning n reflect on and offer parents practical ways to challenge and extend their children's learning in the home environment.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY553915 Local authority Durham Inspection number 10143627 Type of provision Childminder

p.5

Registers

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

p.5

inspection

Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 4 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

p.5

Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2017 and lives in Crook. She operates Monday to Thursday, from 7.30am to 5.30pm, all year round. She provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

p.5

Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the provider received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the setting. n The childminder explained to the inspector how she organises her provision and supports children's learning. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities and assessed the impact this had on children's learning. n The inspector completed two joint observations with the childminder. n Children spoke to the inspector about their activities. n The inspector looked at a range of documentation. She also checked evidence of the suitability of the childminder and adult members of the household. n The inspector took account of the views of parents through telephone calls.

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Inspection activities

18 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

18 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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