Childminder in West Northamptonshire

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

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The provision is outstanding

Children flourish in the childminder's care. Additionally, they are supported by the childminder's able assistant. Children become fully engrossed in their play, sustain high levels of concentration, grow in confidence and behave very well. They thoroughly enjoy independently exploring the wide range of resources and activities. Children use utensils, such as a mortar and pestle to grind down herbs. They demonstrate curiosity and use materials in creative, imaginative ways. For example, they delight in making cups of tea using fruit scented tea leaves. They smell the different scents, learn how to use a real tea strainer, and proudly serve their pretend cup of tea. Younger children develop their hand-to-eye coordination skills as they carefully pour water from one container to another, and are frequently introduced to new words as they play, such as 'splash'.

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The provision is outstanding

Children demonstrate that they feel very safe in the childminder's care. They form close friendships with their peers, show respect and happily share their experiences together. Children giggle and chat as they push each other on the swing and compare their 'silly monster' paintings as they paint on the plastic picture frame. They become fascinated as they experiment and mix different coloured paints together, proudly announcing that they have made 'purple'. Children explore and problem solve using a wide range of natural materials. They effectively use crates and wooden planks to make balance beams, and create repeated patterns using different coloured bottle tops.

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need to do better?

n The experienced, well-qualified childminder excels at putting the children at the centre of everything she does. She shows a genuine enthusiasm for her work. The childminder's curriculum is very securely embedded and implemented extremely well. The childminder proactively undertakes a wide range of relevant training and has obtained early years teacher status since her last inspection. The childminder is very successful in supporting the work of her assistant. n The childminder's interactions with the children are of a high quality. She skilfully structures and sequences her high-quality curriculum, and adapts her teaching skills accordingly. Children are shown how to do things to broaden their knowledge and are frequently challenged to think and solve problems for themselves. The childminder and her assistant develop extremely kind and caring relationships with the children. They respond to children's interactions

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need to do better?

with genuine interest. This results in animated conversations about their ideas and experiences. Additionally, the childminder is very skilled at knowing when to stand back and allow the children to extend their own play, ideas and imaginations. n The childminder provides children with an extremely wide range of varied

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need to do better?

21 June 2022 activities to broaden their range of experiences. Children groom and ride Shetland ponies, view Japanese art at the museum and visit National Trust properties. They harvest and taste fruits, and thoroughly enjoy shelling peas from their pods. Children learn to take risks and to challenge their developing physical skills as they climb trees. The childminder also fully supports the children to appreciate and respect the diversity of others. Children purchase foods at a local Chinese supermarket, and make coconut sweets and decorate tea lights in celebration of Diwali. n The childminder places a high priority on the development of children's language. Older children confidently use language to describe how they are making their 'apple pie cake', and are introduced to an abundance of vocabulary, such as 'cocoon' and 'enormous', as they play. The childminder and her assistant continually talk to younger children, which successfully supports them to learn

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need to do better?

language associated to their play. Children are also skilfully introduced to language through familiar rhymes and songs. They enthusiastically pretend to shiver like a polar bear as they sing 'Row, row, row your boat'. Older children confidently read letters by their sounds as they play letters in the sand and confidently describe the life cycle of a butterfly. n Parents are extremely complimentary in their praise of the childminder. They state that the childminder provides a broad and balanced curriculum and that children make progress in all areas of their development. The childminder gains in-depth information from parents about their child's early experiences and home routines, which ensures continuity in their care and development. There is an excellent two-way flow of information.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The childminder places high priority on the safety and well-being of the children in her care. She demonstrates a broad safeguarding knowledge and is able to confidently identify signs of possible abuse and neglect, including wider safeguarding issues, such as extremism and domestic abuse. The childminder and her assistant regularly complete and update their child protection training and fully understand the importance of swiftly making a referral if they have concerns about a child in their care. The childminder and her assistant supervise the children and remain vigilant at all times, which effectively supports them to remain safe.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY100202 Local authority West Northamptonshire Inspection number 10138508 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 12 Number of children on roll 12 Date of previous inspection 1 August 2014

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2001. She lives in the village of Hardingstone, Northampton. She operates from 8am to 5pm on a Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, all year round except for family and bank holidays. The childminder 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 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 showed the inspector the areas of her home that children access. They discussed how the childminder organises her setting and plans the curriculum and experiences for children. n The inspector observed children taking part in activities with the childminder and her assistant, and assessed the impact on children's learning. n Children spoke to the inspector about what they enjoy doing at the childminder's house. n The inspector held discussions with the childminder and her assistant. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of all persons living and working at the premises. n The inspector took account of the views of parents from written feedback

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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

21 June 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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