Birks Kathryn

Overall effectiveness Good

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

p.1

The provision is good

Children enjoy the time they spend with the childminder and their friends. They play happily together. Children are involved in everything the childminder does and they work together as a team. The childminder forms close attachments with the children, caring for them well and keeping them safe. Children confidently express their opinions to the childminder and they show each other mutual respect. They have choices in their play and spend long periods of time making different concoctions in the 'mud kitchen'. Children concentrate, filling a variety of containers with herbs and water. They explain their ideas to the childminder with increasing fluency.

p.2

The provision is good

Children learn to be polite and use good manners. The childminder clearly communicates her high expectations for behaviour and children show they understand this. Children are supported to manage their feelings and behaviour. When their emotions overwhelm them, the childminder calmly and patiently helps children to understand why they are feeling this way and how to overcome the situation. Young children struggle to share a book. The childminder reminds them that it is kind to share and they must consider one another's feelings. Children quickly resolve their disagreement and take it in turns with the book, pointing out their favourite pictures and smiling to each other.

p.2

need to do better?

n The childminder has worked hard to make the necessary improvements since her last inspection. She has achieved this during the COVID-19 pandemic which has been an extremely challenging time. The childminder accurately assesses children's progress. She plans activities to help children achieve their next steps in learning and development. This ensures that all children make good progress and any gaps in their learning are identified promptly. n Children's learning is supported well. They recall information they have learned previously. Children excitedly prepare for the arrival of some caterpillars. The childminder asks children what caterpillars eat and at first, children find this difficult to answer. They persevere in remembering, and with the childminder's support they look in books and at photographs to find out the information. Children are praised highly by the childminder for their determination which

p.2

need to do better?

boosts their self-esteem and hunger for learning. n Children's small-physical skills are developed as they roll, squash and pinch play dough to make different-sized 'caterpillars'. These activities strengthen children's hand muscles and improve their dexterity. This helps to prepare children for writing when they start school. n Children enjoy planting flowers for Mother's Day. They take their time filling the pots they have decorated, with soil. Children learn to make a well in the soil to

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need to do better?

23 March 2022 plant the flowers and to press the soil down with their hands. When they have finished planting, children independently get water from the tap to water their newly potted plants. This contributes to children's understanding of the world. n The childminder finds out information from parents about children's family life and what they do at home. She aims to broaden children's experiences by taking them to new places and providing different activities for them. Parents comment that their children enjoy their time with the childminder and constantly learn new things. They say that they appreciate the regular updates and photographs that the childminder sends them during the day. n Children have daily opportunities for physical play in the childminder's garden and when they go out and about in the local area. They bounce up and down on inflatable toys. Children enjoy moving their bodies in different ways as they

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need to do better?

compete in running and jumping races. n Overall, children's good health is promoted well. The childminder's home is clean and children learn some good hygiene practices. For example, when they wash their hands after using the toilet and before they eat their lunch. Children sing a song while washing their hands which makes sure they do a thorough job. However, this practice is not consistently promoted. When children drop their food and cutlery on the floor, they are allowed to pick these up and continue eating and using them. In addition, when children are playing outside, the childminder forgets to wash their hands before they have a biscuit. n The childminder is dedicated to her continuous professional development. She accesses regular training, on a broad range of topics, which keeps her up to date and enables her to enhance her interactions with children and to support their learning further.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The childminder ensures her home environment is safe and secure and she supervises children closely to keep them safe. Children learn to keep themselves safe as they carefully climb up and down the steps in the garden. Before they go outside on hot days, the childminder applies sun cream to the children and they put on their sun hats. Children discuss why they are doing this and learn that the sun can damage their skin. The childminder understands how to protect children from harm. She knows the signs of abuse to look out for and the procedures to follow if she has any concerns about children's welfare.

p.3

should:

n improve hygiene practice to better support children's good health.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY292074 Local authority Nottinghamshire County Council Inspection number 10119681 Type of provision Childminder

p.4

Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Childminder

p.4

inspection

Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 7 Date of previous inspection 29 July 2019

p.4

Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2004 and lives in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire. She operates all year round from 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder provides funded early education for three- and four-year-old children.

p.4

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 childminder showed the inspector the premises and discussed how they ensure it is safe and suitable. n The childminder spoke to the inspector about their intentions for children's learning. n The inspector spoke to children about what they enjoy doing while with the childminder. 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 childminder and inspector discussed how the curriculum had been implemented and the impact that this had on children's learning. n Parents shared their views with the inspector via written questionnaires. n The childminder provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation on

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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

23 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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