Childminder in Essex

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

Children are happy and settled in the childminder's care. They settle quickly and choose what they want to play with. The childminder ensures that children feel comfortable and emotionally secure. She gathers information from parents about children's routines and what they can already do when they start. Children show positive attitudes and explore the childminder's home with curiosity. They are particularly keen to interact with the childminder and suggest games they want to play. The childminder has high expectations for children's behaviour and children respond well to her. She teaches them how to share toys and to take care of them. This helps children to understand right from wrong from an early age. They are keen to tidy toys away when they have finished with them. Children develop a positive sense of themselves and excellent social skills. This helps them to deal well with occasional disappointments or frustration. Children learn good manners and

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The provision is good

Children delight in activities where they develop their hand muscles ready for writing. They carefully grasp bottles and scoops in their hands, using them to transfer water into containers. Children enthusiastically explore in sensory trays. They count the scoops of water and comment on the colours they see and what they can feel. Children demonstrate curiosity as they play. The childminder knows the children exceptionally well. She builds on children's individual interests and ideas to help keep them motivated and engaged to learn.

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need to do better?

n The childminder provides good quality care and learning experiences. She structures the curriculum to support and build on what children know and can already do, as well as taking account of their interests. The childminder joins in the children's play and promotes their learning. She completes ongoing observations of children's achievements and evaluates this information to consider what they need to learn next. n Partnerships with parents are strong. Parents are overwhelmingly positive about the care their children receive. They comment that they have confidence in the childminder and feel their children make good progress in her care. The childminder develops good relationships with them from the outset. For instance, she talks to parents about their children's routines, likes and dislikes. This helps her to effectively plan their initial visits to the setting. Parents receive regular updates on their child's progress and detailed daily information about

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need to do better?

their child's activities and care routines. n The childminder has a positive attitude to improving her own practice. For example, following professional development activities, she identified that the children would benefit from the development of open-ended play with loose

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need to do better?

17 June 2021 parts. She considered how to organise her environment to help her implement this, sourced a range of appropriate resources and evaluated the impact of these changes on children's learning. Alongside the childminder, the children use a range of open-ended materials, such as stones and driftwood. They create some very imaginative play settings with play dough, such as an ice cream parlour and a jungle. n Great importance is given to children's physical health and well-being. The childminder provides a varied range of healthy, nutritious foods and ensures that children take part in daily physical exercise. Children confidently solve problems as they build with logs and planks outside with the childminder. She helps children to explore their own ideas and they delight in successfully making a see-saw and a balance beam that tips as they carefully walk across it. n Children have good opportunities to explore and investigate the natural world.

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need to do better?

For example, they watch carefully as a bee lands on a flower. The childminder introduces children to new words in response to their interests, such as 'pollen' and 'nectar' and explains how bees pollinate the flowers. n Children have ample opportunity to be creative. They confidently add a range of craft materials to cards for Father's Day. They are given choices over the colour of card and the materials to use and discuss the reasons for these. However, the childminder sometimes does things for the children rather than allowing them to be independent in completing their own tasks. For example, she pours out materials and folds their card.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The childminder has a secure understanding of her responsibility to protect children from harm. Clear policies and procedures are implemented by the childminder to ensure children's safety is promoted effectively. The childminder keeps her safeguarding knowledge up to date and completes regular child protection training. The childminder confidently identifies possible indicators of abuse. She knows how to keep children safe, referring to relevant agencies as required. The childminder keeps the children in her care safe and regularly assesses her provision for any potential hazards.

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should:

n extend opportunities for children to become more independent in completing tasks.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY552663 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10174258 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 3 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2017 and lives in Witham, Essex. She operates all year round from 7.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds a childcare qualification at level 3.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the provider received since the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector spoke with children during the inspection and took account of parents' written feedback. n The inspector and childminder held a number of discussions. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of the childminder and persons living in the household. n The childminder talked to the inspector about how she keeps children safe in her setting.

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Inspection activities

17 June 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 June 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

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

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