Childminder in Lancashire

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 explore the safe, welcoming environment provided by this nurturing childminder. Children are self-assured and feel at ease in her home. Children show a great deal of confidence and curiosity. They navigate the environment and select from resources offered with their interests in mind. Children relish being outside. They skilfully ride balance bikes around the garden and demonstrate good physical skills. Children have opportunities to build on their experiences and develop skills they will need for their future learning at school. They strengthen their core and finger muscles so that they can sit on a chair, hold a pencil and make marks. They draw and identify the marks they make as circles.

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The provision is good

Children respond very well to the friendly and caring childminder. She notices when they are tired, hungry or need a nappy change, and she responds quickly to their needs. Children go to the childminder for reassuring cuddles and include her in their play. She uses gentle reminders of her clear expectations. Children behave well. They are kind to others and learn how to take turns. Children are encouraged to persevere as they practise tasks such as putting on their shoes and zipping up their coats. Children help others who find these tasks challenging. This helps to promote children's respect for each other as well as their independence and self- help skills.

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need to do better?

n The childminder has a wealth of books which she uses well to motivate children's learning. She skilfully uses age-appropriate books with flaps, sounds and textures to capture children's attention. The childminder provides a variety of props to enhance her storytelling, including long grass, sticky mud and soapy water. Children develop their literacy skills and use these props to remember and retell the story in detail. n The childminder adapted well to the challenges faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When parents were unable to go into her setting, she worked tirelessly to ensure that parents were kept up to date, and she enhanced her electronic communication tools to do this. The childminder sent updates more frequently and shared ideas for home learning to provide more consistency in children's learning. n The childminder knows the children extremely well. She confidently talks about their abilities, likes, dislikes and family backgrounds. The childminder recognises

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need to do better?

what children can already do and quickly identifies when children need additional support. The childminder works closely with other professionals, including speech and language therapists. This helps her to provide children with any extra help that they need. n Children benefit from regular exercise and fresh air in the garden or through a

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need to do better?

17 November 2021 wide range of outings. They develop good social skills as they meet with other childminders and their children at soft-play centres or playgroups. The childminder uses these enjoyable activities well to encourage further learning. Children socialise with other children to promote their social skills. n The childminder is committed to her role and her ongoing professional development. She makes good use of online courses and training by the local authority to keep her knowledge and skills up to date. She meets with other childminders to share new ideas. This helps her to continually make improvements to the provision. n The childminder works closely with parents and gathers information about what children can do when they start. She sends photos and comments to parents so that they know what their children are learning. The childminder gives support to parents to help them with children's milestones, such as toilet training.

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need to do better?

Parents praise the childminder and comment on the high quality of care she provides for the children. n Overall, the childminder provides children with a wide range of educational opportunities which reflect their current interests and learning. Regular observations, which link to ongoing assessment, enable her to monitor children's achievements. However, sometimes, planned activities are too broad and do not focus precisely on what children need to learn next. n The childminder repeats phrases for children to hear to develop their understanding of words. She engages children in meaningful conversations and shows a genuine interest in what they have to say. However, she does not always model the correct words when children say them incorrectly, such as 'quack quack' for duck and 'woof woof' for dog. This means that the childminder is not consistently helping to improve children's speaking skills.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The childminder understands her role to keep children safe. She has a good understanding of the signs that may indicate a concern about children's welfare, including abuse and extremism. She knows the procedures to follow to report any concerns of this nature. The childminder knows what to do and who to contact if an allegation is made against herself or a member of her household. She supervises the children at all times and ensures that the premises are secure and well maintained.

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should:

n focus teaching so that learning intentions are consistently clear and precisely matched to children's learning needs during planned activities, to help them

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should:

17 November 2021 make the best possible progress n reinforce correct language with children to help to further develop their speaking skills.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY562593 Local authority Lancashire Inspection number 10191053 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 2018 and lives in Chorley, Lancashire. She operates all year round from 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds an appropriate childcare qualification at level 6.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the childminder received since the COVID- 19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the childminder and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the setting. 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 discussion and written feedback. n The childminder shared some documents with the inspector, including evidence of the suitability of persons living on the premises. n Children spoke to the inspector about things they like to do at the childminder's home and what they had been learning. n The childminder and the inspector carried out a joint observation together.

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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

17 November 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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