Childminder in Cambridgeshire

Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

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

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The provision requires improvement

The childminder cares for children in a clean and bright environment, which is well resourced. The childminder works alongside her husband, who is also a registered childminder. Children are active and show curiosity to explore and build on their current knowledge. However, the childminder's curriculum intent and implementation are not focused enough to build on what children currently know and can do. Planned activities are often too complicated and the childminder does not always respond positively to children's own interests. This contributes to children moving quickly from one resource to another, without appropriate support. Children are not being consistently supported to make the best possible progress in their learning and development.

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The provision requires improvement

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, parents now drop children off and collect them at the childminder's door. Despite this, children are happy to separate from their parents and greet each other warmly as they arrive. Children quickly settle into the care of the childminder and her husband. Children are confident to move about. They self-select toys and show interest when visitors arrive at the setting. Overall, children play well alongside each other and are supported to learn to share resources and take turns. They listen well to the childminder and help to tidy up toys when asked.

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need to do better?

n The childminder provides the children with some opportunities to extend their learning and development. For example, babies have space to crawl. Toddlers negotiate a low step out into the garden and work out how to pick up balls of different sizes. The childminder supports older children to fit the correct shapes into shape sorters and she encourages them to keep trying. She introduces some opportunities to count as children play with cars. However, she does not provide an ambitious curriculum that is tailored to children's current level of development and which supports them to make the very best possible progress. n As children play, the childminder generally narrates what they are doing, which provides some opportunities for language development. However, she does not make the best use of opportunities to fully enhance children's language. For example, as toddlers make 'meow' sounds when playing with soft toys, the

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need to do better?

childminder does not extend this further. n The childminder offers parents some information about their children's development, for example through a written termly development summary. She also provides daily feedback on care routines and how children have been. However, she does not fully support parents to extend their children's learning at home. n The childminder places a high priority on supporting children to feel secure and

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need to do better?

16 February 2022 confident in her care. She is aware of the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on children's opportunities to socialise and spend time with people outside their own families. The childminder supports children and their families when they first start, which helps children to feel confident and happy to be left in her care. n The childminder gives children some opportunities to learn to keep healthy and well. She regularly reminds children to have a drink of water, provides healthy snacks and helps the children to wash their hands before mealtimes. The children have regular fresh air as they play in the childminder's garden. n The childminder undertakes some professional development. However, she has not targeted this learning to areas that would help to enhance her teaching skills or improve her understanding of how children learn. As a result, she has gaps in her knowledge and does not have clear enough intent for what she wants

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need to do better?

children to learn and achieve across the seven areas of learning. n Parents, on the whole, are positive about the childminder. They describe her as being warm, calm and welcoming. They value the range of resources she has and talk about how their children enjoy their time in her care.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The childminder understands her responsibility to safeguard children and protect their welfare. She supervises them well to ensure their safety, including on trips out of the house. The childminder regularly updates her training and shows a good understanding of the different signs and symptoms of abuse. She can also discuss how she would monitor and report any concerns and seek additional advice. The childminder is fully aware of her responsibilities should an allegation be made against her or her co-childminder.

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Due date

undertake appropriate professional development and training opportunities to increase knowledge of how children learn, to ensure that they are provided with an ambitious curriculum that is well planned and meets their individual stages of development 02/05/2022

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Due date

16 February 2022 improve teaching to extend children's learning effectively across all areas of development, particularly by following children's lead during play and extending their language and vocabulary. 02/05/2022

p.3

should:

n extend the support offered to parents to aid them in continuing their children's learning at home.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY381397 Local authority Cambridgeshire Inspection number 10083544 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 7 Date of previous inspection 2 June 2014

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2008 and lives in Cambridge. She operates all year round from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder works alongside her husband, who is also a registered childminder. She holds a childcare qualification at level 3. The childminder provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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 setting. n The childminder showed the inspector the premises and discussed how she ensures that they are safe and suitable. She spoke to the inspector about her intentions for children's learning. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact on children's learning. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector through written testimonials. n The childminder provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation. n The inspector spoke with the childminder and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection.

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Inspection activities

16 February 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

16 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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