Childminder in Lancashire

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

All children thrive from the moment they enter this positive and stimulating setting. Children of all ages have formed secure attachments with the childminder and her assistant, who are highly positive and responsive to the changing needs of every child. All children are confident to express how they feel. For example, babies who cannot yet speak are able to make facial expressions to communicate different emotions when the childminder asks them about feelings. Toddlers independently recognise when they are feeling tired and confidently discuss with the childminder when they might need to sleep. Children's well-being and emotional development are extremely well supported.

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The provision is outstanding

Children of all ages are excited by the wide range of experiences on offer. Babies are eager to join the activities from the minute they wake up from their sleep, and older children spontaneously clap as they discover new things. Children focus for long periods of time in self-chosen activities and are highly skilled at extending their play. Toddlers say they need more dolls as they create a bed with cardboard boxes, and older children talk about the armour they are designing. Children consistently show high levels of resilience. Toddlers use knives to cut through large strawberries and do not give up when it becomes difficult. Older children find alternative ways of using different tools when the blades of the scissors are too big for what they need. Children of all ages are highly confident learners.

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The provision is outstanding

Children's behaviour is exemplary. Children of all ages play happily together and have the confidence and skills to resolve things that occasionally arise in social situations. Children demonstrate high levels of respect. They listen intently to each other during conversations and always respond promptly and positively to any instructions given by adults.

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need to do better?

n The childminder has an in-depth knowledge of every child at the setting. She understands the individual journey that each child is on in their development and seamlessly adapts her provision to meet all children's needs. n The childminder is ambitious in what she wants children to learn and plans a broad range of rich experiences that successfully build on children's knowledge and skills over time. She ensures that the delivery of her curriculum is supported by children having access to an array of high-quality resources that promote learning at all stages of children's development. All children make significant progress from their starting points. n Interactions with all children are consistently of an exceptional quality. The childminder and her assistant sensitively check children's understanding and carefully build on what children know and can do, through thoughtful questions

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need to do better?

6 July 2022 and clear explanations. They model high-level vocabulary to children, which children then use in their play. For example, babies are taught how to say long words such as 'hippopotamus', and older children learn what a bale of hay is as they use cereal with their farm animals. Children are becoming confident communicators in this language-rich environment. n The childminder and her assistant promote a love of reading to all children. They are animated as they read, which entices children to join in. Children's eyes remain fixed on the book as the page turns in anticipation of what might happen next. Babies stay focused for the whole length of a story, enthusiastically making the sounds of the animals in the book as it is read. Children demonstrate very high levels of understanding as they recall stories they have previously read. n Parents say that their children are 'going from strength to strength' in this

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need to do better?

'home-from-home environment'. They say that the childminder communicates with them well and ensures that children's needs are met, including when they have health needs. Parents say that they noticed a difference in their child's confidence and skills soon after they started. They are often surprised by the high levels of knowledge their children have gained. n Children have many opportunities to develop their understanding of early mathematical concepts. Toddlers confidently sing number rhymes from memory and can be heard accurately counting. Older children use mathematical language as they talk about the sizes of the dressing-up clothes and compare the heights of the children. Children compare the different sizes of their strawberries at snack time. Children's mathematical knowledge is beyond expectations for their ages. n The childminder and her assistant celebrate the uniqueness of every child. They

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need to do better?

are sensitive to children's individual circumstances and use resources and activities to support them to develop an understanding that all families are different. Children benefit from the broad range of experiences on offer that help them to develop their understanding of the world around them and a respect for differences.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The childminder and her assistant are committed to continually developing their safeguarding knowledge to ensure children's safety remains paramount. They attend regular child protection and safeguarding training. The childminder understands her responsibility to protect children and assesses risk effectively to ensure that her setting is safe and suitable for children. Children show that they are aware of possible risks as they play and have been taught ways to keep themselves safe. For example, they know that the blades of scissors are sharp and that you must point them away from you as you cut.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY299685 Local authority Lancashire Inspection number 10232972 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 24 Date of previous inspection 13 February 2018

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2005. She lives in Upholland near Skelmersdale. The childminder operates all year round, from 7am to 7pm, Monday to Friday, except bank holidays and family holidays. She works with another registered childminder and assistants.

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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 childminder and has taken that into account in their evaluation. n The childminder and the inspector discussed the childminder's intentions for children's learning. n The inspector observed the childminder and her assistant's interactions with the children and the impact of these on children's learning. n Parents shared their views of the childminder with the inspector. n Children spoke to the inspector during the inspection.

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Inspection activities

6 July 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

6 July 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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