Childminder in Medway

Overall effectiveness Good

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

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The provision is good

Children enjoy their time with the childminder and respond warmly to her and her welcoming environment. They are inquisitive and relish opportunities to explore indoors and outdoors. Children know where to find their favourite toys and happily make choices about what they would like to do. They show that they feel safe and secure in the childminder's care as they confidently make choices.

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The provision is good

The childminder has high expectations for children's behaviour. Children behave very well. They listen carefully to what the childminder says and follow her instructions, such as when it is time to wash their hands. The childminder is a good role model. She speaks calmly to children and helps them to remember their manners.

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The provision is good

Outdoor learning is at the heart of the childminder's curriculum. Children have rich first-hand experiences to learn about the natural world. For example, they help to prepare the soil and plant seeds, and they make bird feeders ready to identify the birds that visit the garden. The childminder is passionate about providing children with a wide range of activities outdoors. Children regularly visit local woodland areas, where they have many opportunities to explore and take risks. They collect natural materials which they take back to the childminder's home and use in their learning.

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need to do better?

n The childminder is skilled at supporting children with good learning opportunities and provides an interesting curriculum. For example, as children create 'grass caterpillars' with soil and seeds, she interweaves mathematical language, such as 'bigger' and 'smaller', to help them learn about size. The childminder clearly knows the children in her care well. She monitors their progress and targets the next steps in their learning effectively. n Children develop a love of reading. The childminder reads stories in an engaging manner and children listen intently. They have favourite books and talk about key points in the story. Children talk about the characters and act out scenes from the book. The childminder takes children to visit the lending library. Children borrow carefully selected books and take them home to read. This provides children with good continuity of learning. n The childminder places a sharp focus on children's communication and language

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need to do better?

development. She clearly emphasises key words within her interactions, introduces new vocabulary and models the correct pronunciation of words. This helps to support children's understanding and speaking. n The childminder establishes very good partnerships with parents. She keeps them informed about the activities they take part in and the progress their

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need to do better?

7 March 2022 children make. Parents are very complimentary about the care and opportunities their children receive. They describe the childminder as passionate, calm and caring. Parents say that their children have made excellent progress while they have been in her care. However, the childminder does not use all opportunities to share what she knows about the children with other early years settings they attend. n The childminder evaluates her provision well. She frequently records what her reflections are and the strategies she will use to enhance her practice. The childminder is committed to improving her practice and regularly updates her knowledge and training to advance her skills. For instance, recent training has prompted the childminder to introduce more loose parts into children's play to develop their curiosity further. n The childminder supports children to develop healthy lifestyles. She encourages

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need to do better?

children to eat healthy food and offers them water to drink. The childminder embeds good personal care routines into her practice. Children have opportunities to socialise with a larger group of children and develop their physical skills at local playgroups. Children acquire a good range of key skills in preparation for the next stage in their development. n The childminder promotes opportunities for children to begin to understand some different cultures and traditional festivals. For example, children explore Chinese New Year through a range of activities and experiences. However, the childminder has not fully considered how to use children's own experiences, backgrounds and home languages to help them to develop a rich and meaningful understanding of what makes them unique.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The childminder is vigilant about children's safety. She has an accurate understanding of the signs and symptoms of abuse and neglect. The childminder knows the relevant agencies to report her concerns to. She keeps a well-organised folder of information which she can refer to if needed. The childminder is aware that some children may be at risk of extremism and has a good knowledge of how to identify possible concerns. She fully understands the procedures she needs to follow to keep children safe.

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should:

n develop further systems to share information with other early years settings that the children attend n strengthen opportunities for children to have rich experiences to learn about and value their similarities and differences.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2538044 Local authority Medway Inspection number 10215261 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 3 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2019 and lives in Rochester, Kent. She operates all year round from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Thursday. The childminder holds a relevant early years qualification.

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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 inspector looked at a sample of documents and certificates. n The inspector spoke to the childminder and children at various points throughout the visit. n The inspector took account of the views of parents through written feedback. n The inspector held a discussion with the childminder to understand how the early years provision and curriculum are organised. n The inspector observed the childminder to assess the impact of the teaching and learning.

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Inspection activities

7 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

7 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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