Childminder in Essex

Overall effectiveness Good

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

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The provision is good

Children are happy, relaxed and settled. They move confidently and safely between the purpose-built cabin and the outdoor space. Children have plenty of opportunities to make choices in their play. For example, they decide to find some scissors so they can cut up the fresh herbs to make a potion. Children refine their physical skills and develop their resilience well. For example, older children skilfully climb to reach the top of the apparatus and show a good awareness of how to do this safely. Children are starting to manage their own self-care needs. They wipe their own nose and put the tissues in the bin.

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The provision is good

Children build secure bonds with the childminder and her assistants. Older children show care towards others. They provide encouragement and support to younger children who are feeling less confident about using the climbing wall. Children behave and follow instructions and routines well. They keenly help with tasks, such as tidying the small plastic bugs and helping to sweep up the soil. Younger children's needs are well met. They enjoy time to relax and engage in quieter craft activities alongside the childminder's assistant. Children with specific dietary needs receive tailored support to help motivate them to try new healthy foods. For example, they are inspired to have a taste of berries when the childminder freezes them in yoghurt.

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need to do better?

n The childminder has a secure understanding of how children learn. Together with her assistants, she plans and provides an interesting and broad curriculum to help children to develop their knowledge and skills. For example, children's interest in nature is supported when they observe real tadpoles. The childminder also provides pictures and written information to help extend children's knowledge of the life cycle of a frog. n Children are supported to make good progress in their communication and language development. The childminder talks to children about their actions and asks them questions to help encourage them to communicate their ideas. For example, she asks children to use new vocabulary to describe the different scents of fresh herbs. The childminder's assistants also initiate meaningful conversations with children and revisit new words with them. n There are good opportunities for children to develop their skills in solving

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need to do better?

problems. The childminder makes sure children have time to think things through and consider different solutions. When children decide that they would like to add water to their potions, the childminder prompts them to work out how they could collect and transport it. Children quickly find a watering can. They learn how to operate the outside tap, before filling the watering can and carefully carrying it over to pour into their pots.

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need to do better?

19 May 2022 n Younger children are supported to explore mathematical concepts in their play. For instance, the childminder prompts them to estimate how many more bricks they will need to make a tower that is taller than themselves. The childminder often incorporates counting into activities and encourages children to sing songs featuring numbers. These activities help to extend children's mathematical knowledge further. n The childminder teaches children to lead a healthy lifestyle. She explains the benefits of drinking lots of water and provides children with healthy food. The childminder encourages children to independently find their hats to wear in the sunny weather. She takes time to explain to children the other ways they can protect themselves from the effects of the sun. n In the main, the childminder fosters an effective two-way flow of information with parents. For example, she discusses changes in children's routines and

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need to do better?

dietary needs with parents. However, parents are not consistently provided with detailed information about their children's development or how they can help to extend learning at home. n The childminder is reflective in her approach. Recently, she has introduced more robust supervision arrangements for her assistants. This helps the childminder to have a good understanding of their individual training needs and general well- being. The childminder acts swiftly to implement support from local authority advisers and bring about further improvements to the provision for children.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The childminder checks that her assistants understand how to implement the setting's policies and procedures for safeguarding children. All those working with children have recently attended safeguarding training and they discuss safeguarding matters during supervision meetings. This helps to ensure they know how to identify when a child's welfare is at risk and what they must do if they are concerned. The childminder provides information to parents about new safeguarding issues, including those associated with online activities. This helps them to understand how they can further protect their children from harm.

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should:

n share more-detailed information about children's progress with parents and extend the opportunities for them to support their children's learning at home.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY265547 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10127104 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 18 Number of children on roll 24 Date of previous inspection 10 October 2014

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2003 and lives in Walton-on-the-Naze in Essex. She operates all year round from 8am until 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds an appropriate qualification at level 5. She provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. The childminder regularly works with up to two assistants. The childminder is also registered to provide childcare on domestic premises when she is not operating as a childminder.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the provider 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 provider. n The childminder and inspector discussed how the early years provision and curriculum are organised. 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 Children and the childminder's assistants spoke to the inspector at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n Parents spoke to the inspector and shared their views in writing and the inspector took these into account. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of all persons living and working at the setting.

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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

19 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.

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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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