Childminder in Somerset

Overall effectiveness Outstanding

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

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The provision is outstanding

The childminder provides a very safe, secure, and nurturing environment where children establish very strong bonds with the adults and each other. They settle immediately on arrival; removing their coats and shoes, and become deeply engaged exploring the extensive resources. For example, children are fascinated by what they find, use tongs to pick up small items, developing their hand-to-eye coordination and pincer grip extremely well, ready for writing. The childminder has an excellent understanding of how children learn and develop. She uses her observations extremely well to plan her environment, activities, and outings. She skilfully builds on what children can already do and ensures a highly inclusive provision, meeting every child's individual learning needs exceptionally well.

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The provision is outstanding

Children have excellent opportunities to revisit and embed their learning. For example, after baking biscuits they use the play kitchen and dough to recall their learning and extend their ideas. Babies and toddlers rapidly learn from the older children. For example, engrossed by the story, they concentrate, point, and get excited, as older children predict what may happen next. Children make outstanding progress. During the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, the childminder provided care throughout for key worker children. Parents have extremely high praise for her, saying she went above and beyond to keep children and families safe. She provided activities, and shopping and food for those that needed it, and led fancy-dress walks to promote community spirit.

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need to do better?

n The childminder works extremely well with parents and outside agencies to ensure no child is left behind. She immediately identifies where children may need additional support and is proactive in ensuring they get it, quickly narrowing any gaps in their development. The childminder places a strong emphasis on building children's self-worth, belief in their capabilities and pride in their achievements. n Parents confirm how rapidly their children learning English as an additional language develop. The childminder works exceptionally well with parents to include their culture. Children feel highly valued and learn to respect other people's differences. n The childminder and her assistant expertly support children in working out solutions to problems through trial and error, so they become highly resilient and persistent. For example, when a lid of a tin gets stuck, children try a range of ways to get it out before succeeding. Later, a younger child, who had been

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need to do better?

watching them, recalls what to do straight away and manages without any frustration. n Children's manners and behaviour are exemplary. They demonstrate wonderful

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need to do better?

8 December 2021 consideration towards each other. For example, when music starts playing, they spontaneously ensure that they are all included in forming a circle and dancing together. The childminder prepares children extremely well for their transition to school. Teachers confirm that children start with high confidence, excellent independence, and behaviour, and are willing to give everything a go. n Children are impressively independent and develop superb healthy practices. For example, older children manage their personal hygiene extremely well. Even very young children cover their mouth when coughing, and children confidently explain how to prevent germs making them ill. The childminder skilfully uses daily routines and activities to enable children from a young age to manage as much as they can for themselves. They have extensive opportunities to be outdoors and active. n The childminder is an excellent role model for her new assistant, and they share

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need to do better?

the same high-quality ambition for children. She provides inspirational on-the- job training and support, to ensure they work together seamlessly. She has very high expectations of the children, herself, and her assistant. n The highly experienced childminder makes excellent use of her continuous professional development. She has trained in communication, as she has an outstanding awareness of its importance on children's future learning. She is extremely skilled in talking to children as they play and learn. Children listen to instructions, ask questions and are highly confident communicators. n Partnerships with parents are exemplary. The childminder shares daily important information with parents and provides them with excellent summative assessments of their children's development. Parents confirm they find the childminder's support invaluable, such as getting children sleeping through the night or managing their behaviour. This has had an amazing impact, not only on

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need to do better?

parents but also on children's ability to concentrate better on their learning. Parents conclude that the childminder has set the bar so high their expectations going forward are enormous.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The childminder and her assistant are extremely vigilant in monitoring children to safeguard them. They have a comprehensive knowledge of all aspects of safeguarding children and how to report concerns. Children have an outstanding awareness of keeping themselves safe. For example, when it is time to go inside, they know to hold each other's hands and walk calmly down the garden, looking out for the youngest- and less-able children. When they come to steps, they let go of hands and walk down individually, older children explain that they could all fall if they didn't.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY369391 Local authority Somerset Inspection number 10125655 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 18 Date of previous inspection 13 August 2015

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2008. She works with two assistants in Merriott, near Crewkerne, Somerset. They provide care each weekday, including before and after school, for 47 weeks a year. The childminder receives funding to provide free early years education for children aged two, three and four years. She holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 3.

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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 led the inspector on a walk around her provision to discuss her intentions for children's learning and check the safety and suitability of the premises. n The inspector spoke with children and parents and took account of parents' written feedback left for the inspection. n The inspector observed the quality of education provided indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this was having on children's learning. n The childminder, her assistant and the inspector held discussions at convenient times throughout the inspection. n The inspector checked safeguarding information and the safety and security of the premises. n The childminder and inspector carried out a joint observation.

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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

8 December 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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