Childminder in Devon

Overall effectiveness Outstanding

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

p.1

The provision is outstanding

Children flourish in this highly stimulating setting where their well-being and development is at the forefront. Children continually benefit from the rich child- centred curriculum, where they make excellent progress from their starting points. The childminder meticulously plans activities that fully incorporate children's interests and patterns of repeated behaviours. For instance, younger children enjoy 'posting' items into different-sized boxes, tubes and pieces of gutter, helping to confidently develop their small-muscle skills. Older children collect various natural items in their baskets, such as buttons, and use these to replicate swirly patterns they have seen on a snail's shell during their scavenger hunt.

p.2

The provision is outstanding

Children feel safe and secure. They have formed nurturing relationships with the childminder, who provides them with the utmost care and attention. Children behave well. The childminder is highly supportive in helping children to understand sharing and taking turns. She uses her innovative handmade resources to help children understand emotions and how others may feel.

p.2

The provision is outstanding

The childminder enables children to have opportunities to express their feelings openly within a safe environment. The calm and neutral play space the childminder has created enables children to develop strong concentration skills and focus for long periods of time to aid their listening and attention.

p.2

need to do better?

n The childminder has an excellent understanding of child development and consistently researches new and innovative approaches to children's learning. This means her ideas are continually evolving to provide children with the highest-quality care and education to benefit their overall development. n Children develop an excellent understanding of nature. They take part in activities such as 'World Bee Day' and '30 Days Wild'. Children learn to make 'dandelion biscuits', make chlorophyll rubbings of leaves and plan to make a worm farm. Children observe the bees moving in and out of the bamboo tubes of their 'bug hotel' and enjoy scooping, pouring and filling containers with yellow and black coloured rice to develop strong physical skills. n Parents and headteachers from local schools speak exceptionally highly of the childminder's dedication and passion for childcare. They comment positively on her communication of daily activities, what children are learning and how these

p.2

need to do better?

skills transpire to enable children to succeed. Schools comment on how children are confident communicators, independent and settle exceptionally well when starting primary education. n Children develop strong vocabulary skills. The childminder is an excellent role model, using clear and concise language to support children's ever-growing

p.2

need to do better?

23 May 2022 language development. Younger children repeat simple words, such as 'bye' and 'look'. Older children use descriptive words, such as 'stripy' and 'swirls' when observing ladybirds and snails. n The childminder ensures children can see letters, words and numbers within the environment. She creatively uses 'scrabble' letters in children's play and makes beautiful resources from natural materials, such as individualised self-registration tools to encourage children's early reading skills. Older children later practise writing initial letters of their name using water. Younger children make marks using crayons and wooden combs in sensory materials. Positive affirmations surround the environment, helping children to believe in their own abilities and provide them with a strong self-esteem. n Children have excellent opportunities to develop their literacy skills. The childminder ensures books are in abundance and link closely to all the activities

p.2

need to do better?

she provides. Children use these to find out information, such as what snails eat. Children then prepare and provide this, such as cucumber. They compare how much the snail has eaten over a few days, using excellent mathematical language to describe quantity. n The childminder ensures children receive a wide range of experiences and develop an understanding of cultural celebrations. Children use an extensive range of tools, such as hand whisks, cake stands and metal cake moulds, to create 'cakes' using sand for The Queen's Platinum Jubilee. They talk about what this means and read stories around this. Children use tongs to pick up pom- poms and place them into holes on the creative crowns they have made and persevere when using scissors to cut.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The childminder has a deep understanding of how to recognise and report any concerns she may have about children's welfare to relevant safeguarding partners. She attends extensive child protection training and passes her new-found knowledge onto parents, such as how to keep their children safe online. When children first start, the childminder finds out from parents about 'pet names' children use for private parts of their body, so she is clear about terminology used, to help her further protect children from potential harm. The childminder is vigilant in attending new training. For instance, she has joined a 'sun safety accreditation scheme' to help children and parents understand sun safety and prevent risks such as skin cancer.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY481417 Local authority Devon Inspection number 10125797 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 5 Number of children on roll 16 Date of previous inspection 27 June 2016

p.4

Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2014 and lives in Newton Abbot, Devon. She provides care Monday to Friday, from 7.45am to 6pm, all year round. She is also able to offer overnight care. The childminder has a level 3 childcare qualification. She is in receipt of free early education funding for children aged two, three and four years.

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 provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the childminder. n The childminder and the inspector completed a learning walk to discuss the childminder's intentions for children's learning. n The inspector spoke to children throughout the inspection. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector through written documentation. n The childminder and the inspector carried out a joint observation outside. n The childminder provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation on request.

p.4

Inspection activities

23 May 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.

p.4

Inspection activities

23 May 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.

p.5

Inspection activities

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.6

Inspection activities

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.6

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6