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 Inadequate

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The provision is good

Children are happy, settle easily and have good relationships with the childminder and her assistants. Older children confidently use their good communication and language skills to share their thoughts and ideas. Babies, even those new to the setting, babble away and enjoy supportive cuddles from the childminder's assistants. They enjoy exploring toys that make different sounds. They hold them in their hands and learn how to move them about to create a shaking or rustling sound.

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The provision is good

Children are keen to play outside in the childminder's garden. They run about on the grass and take shelter from the sun, sitting in the shade to listen to a story. Children play nicely together, taking turns to use scooters and a doll's pram. This provides opportunities to learn good social skills to support the next stage in their learning. Children's physical health and well-being are supported well. For example, children eat fresh fruit and play outside daily.

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The provision is good

Children behave well. They follow instructions, such as putting on their shoes and sun hats. Children know they must wash their hands ready for snack or lunch. They enjoy role play. For example, children carefully style their 'customer's' hair in the salon, talking to the assistants about what they are doing. They use pretend hair straighteners and brushes to make their 'customer's' hair look 'lovely'.

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need to do better?

n The childminder has made good progress in meeting the actions set previously. For example, she now has robust risk assessments which help to identify possible hazards to children and she ensures that her assistants have completed mandatory training. n The childminder remained open during most of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, staying in touch with those parents who isolated or shielded. She sent out assessment sheets to find out where children were in their learning, prior to them returning to the setting. This helped her to plan for children's return and their continued learning. n Overall, the childminder and her assistants provide children with a wide range of educational opportunities which reflect their current interests and stages of learning. Regular observations, which link into ongoing assessment, enable the childminder to monitor children's achievements. However, at times, the curriculum is not ambitious enough to help children make the best possible

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need to do better?

progress. For example, planned activities are too broad and do not always focus precisely on what children need to learn next. n Children enjoy pretending to go on an aeroplane with the assistants. They get their 'boarding passes' and jump into their seats ready for take-off. However, the

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need to do better?

13 July 2021 organisation of the activity means that children are unable to continue their play without support. The stools which form the 'aeroplane seats' are too high for children to get into independently. n The childminder helps children learn about the world around them. Those who speak English as an additional language are keen to share their home language. Children are able to experience different foods at mealtimes. They try chicken curry for lunch and then use a world globe to see where countries are in relation to the United Kingdom. This helps to support children's understanding of the world around them and they learn to value and respect other cultures. n The childminder encourages her assistants to improve their knowledge and practice further. They are both working towards higher-level childcare qualifications to help develop a greater understanding of how children learn through play. Regular supervision meetings and weekly discussions help to keep

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need to do better?

everyone aware of children's interests and achievements. The childminder gathers the views of her assistants, parents and children to help her identify areas of her practice to develop next. This feedback enables her to make changes to meet the needs of the children and support their development further. n The childminder and her assistants have good partnerships with parents and local schools. There is an effective two-way flow of information, which helps parents to understand how their children have been during the day. This helps to support good continuity in all children's care and learning.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The childminder ensures that her assistants have a clear understanding of child protection and wider safeguarding matters. They confidently describe the signs and symptoms that would indicate a child is at risk of harm and know what to do in the event of any concerns. The childminder knows what to do should an allegation be made against herself, her assistants or a family member. She has a good understanding of the dangers posed to children through radicalisation and of how to report any concerns to the appropriate authorities. The childminder keeps detailed registers to monitor children's attendance, which enables her to call parents promptly should their children fail to arrive.

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should:

n review and develop ongoing planning to provide an ambitious curriculum that focuses precisely on what children need to learn next n enhance the use of resources to promote children's independence.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY493527 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10144297 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 18 Number of children on roll 34 Date of previous inspection 14 January 2020

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2015. She lives in Hatfield Peverel, Essex. She operates all year round from 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder works with two assistants. She provides early education funding for children aged two, three and four years old. The childminder is registered to work from approved non-domestic premises to provide out-of-school care.

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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 provider. n The childminder showed the inspector all areas of their premises and discussed how they ensure that they are safe and suitable. n Children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector and the childminder carried out a joint observation and discussed how the curriculum had been implemented and the impact this had on children's learning. n The childminder provided the inspector with a sample of key documents on request. n The childminder and the inspector completed a learning walk to discuss the childminder's intentions for what she wants children to learn.

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Inspection activities

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

13 July 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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