Childminder in Essex

Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Inadequate

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The provision is outstanding

Children are cared for in a rich and inspiring environment that ignites their enjoyment for learning. They develop exceptionally strong bonds with the childminder and are visibly happy, content and safe in her care. Children have easy access to a vast range of highly stimulating and exciting activities. They enjoy interesting nature walks where they gather leaves, flowers and hunt for bugs. Children spend time learning to problem solve and finding new ways to accomplish their chosen tasks. They show high levels of concentration and perseverance as they carefully fit a wooden train track together.

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The provision is outstanding

Children recall prior learning. They remember how to match colours as they put green and red objects into matching cups, without any help from the childminder. Children behave well and are happy to play cooperatively with the childminder. They throw the ball first and then let the childminder have a turn. Children learn about rigorous hygiene routines. They understand the importance of regularly washing their hands. Children develop an excellent understanding of the importance of keeping healthy. They enjoy a wide range of nutritious snacks and meals.

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need to do better?

n The childminder is experienced and well qualified. She has worked meticulously to address the actions and recommendations set at the previous inspection. She gives high focus to improving her practice and drives quality to the highest level. She ensures that she takes into account the views of parents and children in her extremely effective and robust self-evaluation. Since her last inspection, the childminder has completed a quality assurance scheme to help her develop the excellent experiences she offers to children. She plans a full and varied selection of well-organised activities to support children's swift development. n The childminder has an exceptional knowledge of supporting children's special educational needs and/or disabilities. She works incredibly well with parents and professionals to provide a fully inclusive environment where children's individual needs are extremely well met. For example, she ensures that high-quality

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need to do better?

resources and equipment, as well as health and education plans, are embedded into her practice to fully support children to access activities. n All children make outstanding progress in learning given their starting points. The childminder expertly adapts play activities so that all children can join in, feel valued and included. She successfully promotes children's physical development and exploration of sensory play by demonstrating how to roll and mould scented dough. Children thoroughly enjoy making marks in rice using twigs. They listen attentively to the childminder as she reads their favourite book.

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need to do better?

16 August 2021 n Children make exceptional progress in their speech and language development. The childminder provides an environment that is rich in language, with numerous opportunities for them to build on their vocabulary. For example, she encourages children to take the lead in their play and asks questions to help them make links in their learning. They discuss that cowboys ride horses and not cows and that kelp can be found under the sea. n The childminder successfully includes mathematical language and counting in activities. She consistently threads mathematical concepts though all her interactions with children. For example, they count three cows in the small world farm, show three fingers and associate the number three with the same age as the children. The childminder uses words, such as 'cube' and 'cuboid' when talking about shapes to support children's understanding of mathematical language.

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need to do better?

n The childminder makes the most of the local environment near her home to provide children with an extensive range of experiences and activities. For example, children have wonderful adventures when they visit the local pumpkin patch and the farmer's field to look at the large combine harvester. n The childminder provides children with rich and varied opportunities to learn about the local and wider communities. They enjoy planned activities with the fire service, and a mobile zoo. The childminder promotes equality, kindness and respect in her practice. For example, children have joined a scheme called 'Postcard for Kindness'. They make and send postcards to care homes and wards at the local hospital. n The childminder fosters excellent relationships with parents. They are extremely positive about the significant progress their children have made in her care. Parents regularly take home 'story sacks' and 'busy bags'. These contain

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need to do better?

carefully chosen books and home-made resources to support children's individual learning. Parents praise the fun family 'play and stay' and sign language information sessions, which help them to feel fully included in their child's learning and development.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The childminder is highly knowledgeable about child protection and wider safeguarding issues. She keeps up to date with relevant information, such as specific local procedures. The childminder understands her responsibilities to swiftly report concerns about children's safety and well-being. She places a great emphasis on developing children's understanding about how to keep themselves safe and manage appropriate risks. The childminder uses robust risk assessment to identify and eliminate any risks to children. Safeguarding policies and procedures are thoroughly embedded to promote children's health, safety and well-being.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY267141 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10132959 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 1 Date of previous inspection 22 November 2019

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2003 and lives in Rochford, Essex. She operates Monday to Friday from 6.30am to 6.30pm, throughout the year. The childminder holds qualified teacher status. The childminder provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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 the evaluation of the provider. n The childminder showed the inspector the areas of her home that children access. They discussed how the childminder plans and provides activities for children. n The childminder and the inspector spoke about the communication that the childminder has with parents. n The inspector obtained parents' views through written feedback. n The childminder shared some documents with the inspector, including the suitability of persons living in the premises. n The childminder and inspector completed a joint observation together.

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Inspection activities

16 August 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

16 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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