Childminder in Kent

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 thoroughly enjoy their time with the childminder and make good progress in their learning and development. The childminder understands how children learn and provides activities and experiences that offer a good level of challenge. Children concentrate well on their chosen activities. For example, they explore mixing paint colours to produce unique artwork. They also create elaborate role- play games, declaring themselves to be chefs and organising menus for their restaurant.

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The provision is good

Children are settled and understand the routines of the day, which helps them to feel safe. They are confident, independent and demonstrate good social skills. Children make strong friendships and display very caring behaviour. For example, they show genuine concern and offer support to a child who has a minor accident. Children are also careful to study the insects, worms and snails in the garden in a way that does not harm them.

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The provision is good

Children use their rapidly developing language skills to voice their opinions and negotiate confidently, secure in the knowledge that they will be listened to. They respond well to the encouragement they receive to make choices and decisions. For example, they use their impressive knowledge of healthy eating when deciding what they want for lunch and snacks.

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need to do better?

n The childminder has recently made significant improvements to the organisation of her provision, specifically relating to the use of an assistant. She has implemented new recruitment procedures, including more thorough suitability checks and a comprehensive induction procedure. The childminder has also taken action to ensure that she maintains all required records. n The childminder has a good knowledge of the care and learning needs of each child. She accurately identifies their future learning goals, although activities are not always planned as effectively as possible. The childminder is sometimes overly ambitious when identifying the aims for her activity, meaning that the intended focus is lost. However, overall, she is a very skilful teacher and is particularly successful when responding to spontaneous opportunities that arise to extend children's learning. n Children gain a lot from their interactions with the childminder. For example,

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need to do better?

when they have the idea to be chefs, she supports them to create menus and takes on the role of a customer in their restaurant. This extends children's learning very successfully and makes the activity more enjoyable. The childminder provides a good range of resources to support children's play. However, she does not always organise these effectively. For example, children

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need to do better?

5 October 2021 love to paint but the table set out is small. This has an impact on children's creativity as they need to constantly reposition their paper and move the paints. In addition, there are times when the childminder has to interrupt activities to collect items that she has forgotten to set out. n The childminder promotes children's language very effectively. She clearly explains what is happening, encourages children to express their opinions and introduces new vocabulary. For example, during role play she uses language relevant to running and to visiting a restaurant. She also teaches children the language they need to discuss the creatures they find in the garden. As a result, children are animated and confident talkers, which helps to prepare them well for their future learning. n Children's health is promoted well. Children enjoy nutritious meals and snacks and learn about the importance of good personal hygiene. The childminder

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need to do better?

reminds them to wash their hands regularly and to blow their noses when necessary. She recognises the importance of regular physical exercise and makes this enjoyable. For example, she embraces the role of 'monster' assigned to her by the children as she chases them around the garden. She also regularly takes children to parks so that they can use equipment that provides more challenge to support their developing coordination. n Partnerships with parents are effective. Parents provide very positive feedback in the questionnaires the childminder uses to seek their views. The childminder has appropriate arrangements to work in partnership with other professionals to meet the needs of individual children where necessary.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The childminder has a secure knowledge of her responsibilities to keep children safe. She knows the procedure to follow if she has concerns about the welfare of any child, including risks associated with extreme views and beliefs. The childminder has made improvements to her safeguarding policy to make it clearer for her assistant to follow. She has also implemented more robust arrangements to monitor the ongoing suitability and safeguarding knowledge of her assistant.

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should:

n refine the planning and delivery of adult-led activities to identify and achieve intended learning outcomes for individual children more clearly n give greater consideration to the organisation and availability of resources to enable children to concentrate on their chosen activities.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY561070 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10209561 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 8 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2018. She lives in Maidstone, Kent. The childminder works with an assistant. She provides care Monday to Friday, from 7am to 5.30pm, all year round.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the childminder 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 childminder. n The childminder showed the inspector all the areas used by children and outlined her aims for their learning. n The inspector observed the interaction between the childminder and children during a range of activities. n The childminder and the inspector discussed the organisation of the provision including recent improvements. n The inspector spoke to children at appropriate times and gathered the views of parents from their written feedback. n The inspector viewed a range of relevant documents.

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Inspection activities

5 October 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

5 October 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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