Childminder in Lincolnshire

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

This is a setting where the sound of young children giggling and laughing out loud is constant. Children show superb confidence and form strong bonds with the childminder and her assistant. Babies very regularly check in with the assistant for a cuddle. They lay their head on his shoulder and relax with their arms around his neck. Babies and toddlers develop a very positive sense of achievement in the exceptionally nurturing learning environment. For example, young children show pride in the activities that they take part in. The childminder has high expectations of all children to learn as much as they can. She supports toddlers to succeed in using scissors safely and effectively. The children turn to the childminder and say, 'I am proud'. This is met with lots of praise from the childminder.

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The provision is outstanding

Children have excellent opportunities to revisit and embed their learning. For example, after learning about animals that represent the Chinese New Year, children recall that the animal this year is a 'stripey tiger'. They find pretend tigers and use dough to make tiger footprints to extend their own ideas. During the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, the childminder provided care throughout for children of key workers. When tragedy hit some families, she immediately activated her overnight policy and offered overnight care to alleviate the stress for them.

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need to do better?

n The childminder has a secure understanding of how children learn. Together with her assistant, she delivers a rich curriculum which inspires children to learn about people and communities beyond their own. For example, babies and toddlers show a great interest in activities such as making Chinese hats. Toddlers and babies concentrate for long periods and thoroughly enjoy sticking and gluing. This helps to promote their creative skills. n Toddlers enthusiastically explore the outdoor soft-play zone. The assistant challenges the children to take manageable risks. He builds up a tower of soft play shapes, higher each time, for them to climb. They help each other up and squeal with delight as they balance on the top and carefully jump off the side. The assistant is equally impressed with toddlers' efforts and constantly praises them for their positive attitudes. This helps to further promote their sense of

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need to do better?

achievement. n The childminder places high priority on ensuring children receive a healthy and balanced diet. Her assistant prepares fresh, home-cooked meals daily. Fresh fish is delivered and prepared weekly. n The childminder cares for several children from military families. She goes above and beyond to help children and parents cope when the time comes for deployment away from their children. For instance, she prepares 'memory boxes' with the children for their leaving parent to take away. Added to this, during

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need to do better?

20 January 2022 their time away, the childminder supports the children to keep in touch with the absent parent, via the postal service. n The childminder knows the children very well. She asks them what they would like to do. Toddlers say they want to dance. Babies who are cruising the furniture hold onto low units and move to the music. Excitement and anticipation are etched on toddlers' faces as they await the appearance of 'the bear' on the screen. They follow the storyline, saying the words to the story and doing the actions. This helps to build up their imagination and role play. n The childminder promotes and enhances young children's listening skills and vocabulary. Children inch closer to the book as they become absorbed in listening to familiar stories. They point to the pictures and spontaneously say, 'Two strawberries'. The childminder challenges their thinking and asks if they can remember what an object is. Toddlers reply, 'A cocoon'. This helps children

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need to do better?

to build exceptional literacy skills. n Parents speak highly of the childminder and her assistant. Parents consistently write that they and their children feel like the setting is like an extension of their own family. Further comments about their child include, 'We knew she would be set for life with fulfilment, loving attentiveness and no pressure fun with of course learning'. n The childminder recognises the benefits of children having inter-generational relationships. For instance, they make a daily visit to vulnerable adults to deliver a newspaper, check on them and simply engage in social interactions. n The childminder is highly qualified. She continues to pursue training to enhance her knowledge even further. The childminder provides the very best care and education for all children. For example, when children in her care were facing difficult times, she accessed bereavement training to ensure she could offer the

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need to do better?

very best support. The childminder and her assistant work together seamlessly. They share the same high-quality ambition for children's care and development.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The childminder has created an extensive, 'at a glance' guide to all things safeguarding. This means she and her assistant have an instant reference guide. They can not only identify types of abuse but also access the correct authority's phone number with immediate effect if they have a concern. The childminder reflects on her practice and ensures that she and her assistant complete a broad range of training. This helps to continually improve their practice and to stay up to date with any policy changes. The childminder has robust systems in place to ensure that her premises are safe. For example, there is closed-circuit television and an interactive doorbell system to the entrance hall. This means no one can enter unannounced.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 134497 Local authority Lincolnshire Inspection number 10114381 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 12 Number of children on roll 20 Date of previous inspection 21 December 2015

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 1996 and lives in Lincoln. She operates all year round from 7.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. In emergency situations, the childminder is registered to offer overnight care. She has a degree in early years education and works with her husband, who is an assistant.

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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 inspector held discussions with the childminder, her assistant and the children throughout the inspection. n The childminder and the inspector carried out a joint evaluation of an activity together. n The inspector observed the quality of education during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector took account of written references from parents. n Relevant documentation was available for inspection, including qualifications, policies and procedures. n The inspector looked around the areas of the setting available to children.

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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

20 January 2022 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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