Childminder in Wiltshire

Overall effectiveness Good

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

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The provision is good

Children thrive in the safe and welcoming care of this friendly childminder. They enjoy spending time with her and build warm relationships with her and her family. After the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic, some children have felt anxious in new social situations. The childminder has made sure that they experience new situations frequently. For instance, children go shopping and attend playgroups to help build their confidence around unfamiliar people.

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The provision is good

The childminder's gentle and consistent approach helps children to behave well. They follow her instructions willingly, such as washing their hands before lunch and putting on their shoes before going outside. With the childminder's encouragement, children persevere with difficult tasks. For example, they are pleased when they manage to thread cereal hoops onto a pipe cleaner when making a bird feeder. Children practise counting as they do this, supporting their mathematical skills well and then enjoy watching the birds visiting the bird table.

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The provision is good

The childminder makes activities interesting and practical so that children join in eagerly and concentrate for extended periods. Toddlers learn unfamiliar words quickly to help support their language development. The childminder speaks clearly to them as they play, and children love snuggling up with her to share books throughout the day.

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need to do better?

n The childminder plans a broad range of activities based on children's interests. For example, children delight in recognising faces as they discover photographs buried in coloured rice. She extends the activity by burying matching picture cards in the rice. She builds gradually on children's skills and understanding to help them gain an overall firm foundation for their future learning. n Children enjoy playing with the childminder. She gives them her full attention and responds positively to toddlers as they try to communicate. The childminder supports children's language development very well. She reads with them every day and uses stories to introduce new words and ideas. The childminder has made song books and story bags with attractive props for parents to borrow and share with their children at home. These capture children's imagination and help them to understand and re-enact the stories using the words they have learned.

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need to do better?

n The childminder exchanges a wealth of information with parents when children first start, to enable her to meet their individual needs. She works closely with parents and they value her advice, for example about toilet training. The childminder keeps a close check on children's progress and makes sure that they get the support they need if they are falling behind. She follows advice from professionals, such as speech therapists, to help children catch up.

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need to do better?

3 February 2022 n Children practise counting and matching, and use their growing mathematical skills, such as learning about quantities, when they fill bowls to feed the birds. However, the childminder does not plan frequent and varied experiences, especially for older children, to help them gain a deeper understanding of numbers and other mathematical concepts. n Children regularly paint, draw and build with a variety of materials. While they do have opportunities to experiment as they create, the childminder sometimes has her own idea of what the finished product should look like. This means that children cannot always freely express their own ideas and creativity. n The childminder promotes children's good health and follows excellent hygiene practices. She teaches children the importance of this, including how to reduce the risk of COVID-19. Children learn to wash their hands independently. Additionally, the childminder helps them to clean their teeth after lunch and uses

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need to do better?

stories to reassure them before they visit the dentist. Children learn about healthy eating as they help to grow and tend vegetables and fruit on the childminder's allotment. They enjoy being physically active every day. n The childminder considers what she does well and what she could improve. She keeps up to date with changes in legislation and finds ideas to keep her practice interesting for children. The childminder selects training that targets children's specific needs. This enables her to continually improve her provision for all the children she cares for.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The childminder clearly understands her role in helping to keep children safe. She and her assistant regularly update their safeguarding knowledge, including on wider aspects, such as online safety. They know what to do if they have concerns about children's well-being. They both have current paediatric first-aid certificates so they can act appropriately if a child becomes unwell or has an accident. The childminder identifies potential hazards in the home and takes action to reduce or minimise these. For example, she uses a safety gate to keep children from going into the kitchen on their own.

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should:

n provide frequent and varied opportunities to enable children to gain a deep understanding of numbers and other mathematical concepts, to support their overall development n encourage children to develop and create their own artistic ideas during activities, to help develop their creativity and imaginative skills even further.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 145267 Local authority Wiltshire Inspection number 10066858 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 9 Date of previous inspection 18 July 2016

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 1998. She lives in Ludgershall, Hampshire and works from her parents' house in the same village. Her mother is registered to work as her assistant. The childminder is available to care for children from between 7am and 6pm, Monday to Friday, all year round. She receives funding to provide free early education for children aged three years.

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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 her evaluation of the provision. n The childminder discussed with the inspector how she monitors children's development and identifies what they need to learn. She showed the inspector how she organises the environment and resources and how she provides children with experiences that support their learning. n The inspector observed the childminder interacting with children during care routines and play activities. The inspector assessed the impact this has on children's well-being and development. n Parents shared their written views with the inspector, who took account of their comments. n The inspector sampled documentation, including evidence of the suitability of adults in the household, children's records and training certificates.

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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

3 February 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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