Childminder in Gloucestershire

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 have very close bonds with the childminder and her assistant. They demonstrate they feel safe, secure and very comfortable in the adults' company. The childminder makes good use of her garden, to enable children to wander freely between the inside and outside spaces. Children are highly motivated and eager to learn. They thoroughly enjoy pretending they are at a restaurant, they use available clipboards, paper and pens to write menus of the food that is on offer.

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The provision is good

Children are very well behaved and polite. They respond well to the childminder and her assistant as they encourage, and praise the children's achievements. Children understand the difference between right and wrong through clear explanations from the adults and are good at taking turns.

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The provision is good

Children enjoy the wide range of activities on offer. They take part with enthusiasm and excitement. They are able to count confidently, develop their early writing skills and develop good concentration skills. They have a positive attitude and quickly develop the skills they will need for future learning. The childminder has continued to offer childcare during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, as some parents who use her service are key workers. However, not all children were able to attend as they previously did. The childminder stayed in contact with these families regularly, she offered support and activities for the parents to complete with their children at home.

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need to do better?

n The childminder and her assistant work very well together. They create a warm, friendly, caring environment where children develop and progress rapidly in their learning. The adults are good role models, which helps children learn appropriate behaviours. n Children are taken to the childminder's allotment where they can build on their understanding of healthy lifestyles. They follow good health and hygiene routines. Children are confident about when they need to wash their hands, and have the added bonus of a low outside sink for hand washing if they need to before they enter the home. For example, when children have been playing in the soil in the garden. n Children take great delight in cutting up fruit, following on from a story they have listened to. They listen carefully to the assistant as she explains about the sharp knife she is going to use and how to hold the knives she is giving them to use. The children confidently use the equipment to cut the fruit. They count the

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need to do better?

pieces confidently and respond to the questions asked by the assistant. The childminder has introduced mindfulness and yoga sessions with the children to help support their emotional well-being. Children demonstrate they really enjoy

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need to do better?

3 August 2021 taking part in these sessions. n The childminder and her assistant encourage children to develop their independence skills, such as putting on their own shoes, dressing themselves, pouring their own drinks, and making their own sandwiches during lunchtime. Older children were seen helping younger children to pour their drinks with no prompting from the childminder. n The childminder and her assistant make accurate assessments of what children know and can do. They observe the children closely and identify any gaps in learning. The childminder and her assistant are passionate about what they do. They regularly discuss how activities have gone and how they could change them. However, although the childminder has high ambitions for her setting, she does not precisely reflect on and extend the quality of her assistant's teaching to build their practice even further. Occasionally, the childminder's assistant does

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need to do better?

not fully extend children's learning and challenge them fully. n Partnerships with parents are very strong. The childminder gathers detailed information from parents before the children start with her to enable the planning of activities based on children's individual needs and interests. Good communication between the childminder and parents enables the regular sharing of information about how their child is progressing. The childminder works closely with parents and other professionals to help ensure children are supported well. All the children's parents provided comments for the inspection. These were highly complimentary regarding the childminder and her assistant, the support they provide for the children and family and the extremely good communication they receive.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The childminder and her assistant have a good knowledge of safeguarding and child protection procedures. They have a clear knowledge of the signs that may indicate a child is at risk and the procedures they need to follow in the event of having any concerns. The childminder and her assistant keep their training up to date. Clear policies and procedures support the childminder and her assistant in their good practice, to minimise risks and keep children safe while in their care.

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should:

n enhance current evaluation procedures and the support of any assistants, to extend the quality of teaching and drive practice to an even higher level.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY555193 Local authority Gloucestershire Inspection number 10174515 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 Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in December 2017. Her business is known as 'Muddy Knees & Bumble Bees'. She lives in Leonard Stanley, near Stonehouse, Gloucestershire. She offers care from 7.30am to 5.30pm Monday to Thursday, all year round except for family holidays, Christmas and bank holidays. She works with an assistant on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

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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 childminder and has taken that into account in her evaluation of the provider. n The inspector and childminder completed a learning walk of the childminder's home and discussed how the setting is organised. n The inspector observed children and their interactions with childminder and her assistant throughout the inspection. The inspector offered the opportunity of a joint observation to the childminder and assistant. n The inspector spoke to the childminder, her assistant, and the children during the inspection. The inspector took into account the views of all the parents from information gathered by the childminder. n The inspector looked at a sample of documentation. This included documents in relation to safeguarding, suitability of household members and the childminder's

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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

3 August 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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