Childminder in Wiltshire

Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

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The provision is outstanding

Children of all ages demonstrate how happy and safe they feel in this stimulating setting, where there is a strong emphasis on outdoor play and learning. They relish freely exploring the extremely well-resourced environment and have excellent opportunities to learn in the garden as well as in the cosy outdoor playroom. Children show great respect for one another and comment positively when other children help them with activities. They successfully take turns without any adult intervention and thank each other when it is their turn.

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The provision is outstanding

The childminder and her assistants have the highest expectations for every child, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Even young toddlers are fully involved in activities. They sweep up after investigating the textures of lentils, chickpeas and pumpkin seeds, and put away their lunchboxes independently. The childminder has an excellent understanding of what children need to learn and ensures that her assistants also understand this fully. As a result, they actively support children to become extremely independent learners with a strong drive to explore.

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The provision is outstanding

The childminder's setting remained open throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. When most of the children were not attending, she used imaginative methods to keep them engaged in learning and exploration. For example, she set up a fairy trail in the local woods for the children and families to go to. She continued to make her book lending library available by leaving books outside her home for parents to collect during their daily exercise.

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need to do better?

n The childminder and her assistants know children exceptionally well and frequently share their observations of the children's progress with one another. This detailed knowledge enables them to identify next steps for each child that are highly personalised and designed to support them to make the best possible individual progress they can. n Children flourish in the exciting environment. For example, they enjoy using the exceptionally well-resourced outdoor mud kitchen to mix flour and water, adding dried and fresh herbs and real citrus fruits for added sensory interest. They ably use a water dispenser to add water to the mixture and explore the effect on the texture. n The childminder and her assistants work closely together to implement imaginative systems for managing children's behaviour. They have daily discussions with the children about the 'Elflin's values', which are the ground rules of the setting. Children are eager to earn coins for following the values

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need to do better?

every day and these are exchanged for a treat at the end of the week.

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need to do better?

24 January 2022 n Children have a strong drive to explore and relish solving problems. They have shown a recent fascination with frost and, in response, the childminder set up an activity where they have to free toy penguins from a block of ice. Children set to this task with determination. They use various tools to tap the ice and try different materials, such as flour, salt, sugar and water to see if they will melt the ice. After showing great perseverance, children proudly announce that they have freed the penguins and the childminder talks to them about how they did so. n The childminder works exceptionally closely with parents to ensure a seamless, joined-up approach to meeting children's care and learning needs. She uses a combination of communication books, discussion, online information, weekly newsletters and various social media platforms to involve them as much as possible in their children's learning. Parents give exceptional feedback,

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need to do better?

mentioning how their children are flourishing, how the outdoor activities are second to none, and how the provision is orientated around the children's care and happiness. n The childminder ensures that her assistants fully understand the ethos of the setting and the learning intentions for children. They work as an extremely close-knit team with a shared drive to help children make the best possible progress using their natural curiosity and providing them with excellent opportunities for outdoor-based learning. The childminder ensures that her assistants have ongoing opportunities to extend their knowledge and experience. For example, one has completed training in sign language and shared what she learned with her colleagues. This has enabled them to further extend their support for children's communication skills.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The childminder and her assistants have a thorough understanding of how to protect children. They are vigilant about ensuring that the environment is safe, and regularly refresh their safeguarding training to ensure that their knowledge is up to date. One assistant has recently completed level 3 safeguarding training to extend her understanding further. The childminder has hands-on experience of referring concerns about children's well-being and liaising with the relevant agencies involved in this process. Children learn about safety through the 'Elflin's values', which include using 'kind hands' and 'kind feet' to help them learn about how to play safely with one another.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2549715 Local authority Wiltshire Inspection number 10215689 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 15 Number of children on roll 15 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2019. She lives in Tidworth, Wiltshire. She cares for children Monday to Thursday from 8am until 5pm and on Friday from 8am to 4pm. The childminder holds a level 3 qualification in childcare. She works with assistants. She is in receipt of funding for nursery education sessions for children aged two, three and four years.

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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 and the inspector completed a learning walk together to discuss the childminder's intentions for children's learning. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of an activity with the childminder. n The inspector took account of the written views of parents. n Children communicated with the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector talked to the childminder's assistants during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Inspection activities

24 January 2022 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

24 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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