Childminder in Cambridgeshire

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 confidently select toys and equipment that they enjoy and that interest them. They are keen for the childminder to join in their games, offering her imaginary food and drink. Children recall previous games and activities and, with the childminder's support, build on what they already know and understand.

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The provision is good

Children are treated as part of the childminder's family. They help to care for the family's pet dog, which gives them meaningful experiences of how to care for an animal. Children understand that the dog needs water, food and exercise. Children follow the rules the childminder has to help to keep themselves safe when caring for the dog.

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The provision is good

Regular walks to the shops, parks and local school provide opportunities for children to find out about the world around them. Children who will eventually attend the local school familiarise themselves with the building. The childminder answers questions children might have about starting school, which helps to make the move to school as smooth as possible.

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The provision is good

Children enjoy books and stories. They snuggle up close to the childminder and repeat familiar words and phrases from their favourite stories. Children know that some books contain information. They look at maps and remember where Great Britain is in an atlas. The childminder points out where other friends and relatives live, which helps children to begin to think about different locations.

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need to do better?

n The well-qualified childminder updates and refreshes her own knowledge and understanding through online and, where possible, face-to-face training courses and workshops. She shares ideas with other local childminders and staff from a nearby nursery. This contributes to continued improvements to the childminder's provision. n Children concentrate for long periods. They work out how many toy bears they need to place in balancing scales to correspond to a number. The childminder helps children to break the task down into smaller steps and to recall what they did last time if they struggle to make the scales balance. This helps them to begin to understand mathematical concepts. Children respond well to the childminder's support and ask her questions if they are unsure. In turn, the childminder encourages them to think through possible answers and solutions, which helps to strengthen their thinking skills.

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need to do better?

n The childminder works closely with staff from other settings that children attend. She shares information about individual children's progress and finds out what they have been learning about at nursery. This helps to provide continuity in

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need to do better?

2 March 2022 children's learning and development. n The childminder has carefully arranged her playroom to provide resources which cover all areas of children's learning. Children enjoy simple daily routines, such as finding their name when they arrive. Older children help set rules for all to follow, which helps children to make positive choices in their behaviour and attitudes towards others. n The childminder plans novel and interesting activities, including blowing bubbles and games involving drinking straws, to help children strengthen the muscles they use to form sounds and words. This helps to support children's communication and language development. n The childminder gathers key information from parents when they first enrol their children. She finds out about allergies and medical information, daily routines followed at home and about people who are important to the child. However, the childminder does not obtain detailed information about what children can

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need to do better?

already do and understand, to help her plan focused activities right from the start. n During the COVID-19 pandemic, the childminder reviewed her policies and procedures to help to ensure that children are not exposed to significant risk of infection. As a result, parents do not routinely enter the childminder's home. The childminder gives a verbal daily update of what children have been doing and any important information. The childminder has not yet fully established ways to pass on more detailed information about children's long-term learning achievements and future learning goals to help parents to provide further support at home.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The childminder regularly refreshes her knowledge and understanding of child protection and wider safeguarding issues. She has a good understanding of local and national procedures, which helps her to know who to contact if she has any concerns about a child's well-being. This includes signs and symptoms of abuse and extreme views and practices. This helps the childminder to keep children safe in her care. The childminder has set house rules that children, including school-age children, follow and respect. This includes not using personal mobile devices in the childminder's home, which reduces the risk of exposure to inappropriate and unsafe material.

p.3

should:

n review and develop more ways to share detailed information with parents about children's past and present learning and support.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY439695 Local authority Cambridgeshire Inspection number 10075028 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 8 Date of previous inspection 12 May 2016

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2012 and lives in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire. She operates all year round from 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds an appropriate qualification at level 3. She 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 their evaluation of the setting. n The inspector observed activities in the childminder's home. She spoke to the childminder and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n The childminder explained how and why she plans activities to help to support children's continued learning. She described the impact this has on children's development. n Responses to parental questionnaires about the quality of the childminder's care and education were read by the inspector. She took account of these views. n The inspector looked at a range of documents, including evidence of the suitability of the childminder and other household members.

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Inspection activities

2 March 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

2 March 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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