Childminder in Kent

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 are extremely settled and happy in the care of this supportive childminder. She provides a calm, welcoming and safe environment for children. They build warm, trusting relationships with the childminder and their peers, supporting them to be emotionally secure. All children have the confidence to freely explore the many resources on offer, supporting each other in playing games and even setting challenges for themselves. The childminder regularly takes children out to explore the local surroundings, parks and the beach, and to visit the family horses. Children thoroughly enjoy these outings and excitedly recount their adventures.

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The provision is outstanding

Children show exemplary behaviour. They are consistently caring, thoughtful and respectful. They are always looking out for each other, making sure they all take turns and have a space at each activity. They shout with excitement to each other when they discover something new and giggle while exploring their new-found fun. All children are highly motivated to focus on the many exciting activities. They relish extending their learning and experimenting with new ideas for themselves. This enables them all to grasp new concepts quickly and make exceptional progress.

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The provision is outstanding

The childminder is passionately dedicated to her role and takes exceptional care to provide a challenging and ambitious curriculum for all children. All activities are carefully planned to include all children and are exciting and engaging to ignite children's love of learning. The curriculum is skilfully planned to build on prior learning and extend children's knowledge and vocabulary each day.

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need to do better?

n The childminder has a very clear intent for the curriculum. She is highly inclusive and she securely and consistently provides a challenging curriculum for all children. This means every child makes exceptional progress. n The childminder is remarkably good at providing activities that constantly build on prior knowledge. For example, she supports children to learn about ocean creatures, then creates an activity to look at the impact of plastic on our sea life. Children delight in pretending to be creatures caught in plastic. Next they will visit the beach to see their learning in real life. This supports children to have a deeper understanding and a huge breadth of knowledge for the next stage of their learning. n The childminder provides excellent activities that captivate the interest of all children. Children are deeply engaged in play, sustaining high levels of concentration for long periods. They thoroughly enjoy naming each different

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need to do better?

mint leaf and flower as they make their own sensory bookmarks and carefully write their names on them. This means all children acquire new knowledge and

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need to do better?

15 July 2022 vocabulary from every experience. n Children consistently follow all rules and routines and can confidently explain why this keeps them safe. They remind each other of rules throughout the day and this allows them to safely take risks and explore in their play. n All children are highly motivated and eager to join in. They talk animatedly to each other and share new ideas. They create their own investigations, such as how long it takes for ice to melt and how long a wet footprint will last. They stare in awe as the sun makes their footprints disappear. This supports children to have a highly positive attitude towards learning, meaning they make excellent progress. n The childminder provides a rich set of experiences for children to understand and respect people and communities beyond their own. They explore different cultures and disabilities in a range of ways, including celebrations, dressing up,

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need to do better?

food, toys and books. This helps them to build a strong sense of self and understand similarities and differences. n The childminder superbly encourages children to build their own interests and talents, such as music, Rainbows and dance. These are celebrated and shared with each other through photographs and conversations. This supports children to have a real sense of pride in their achievements. n The experienced childminder is always striving to find new ideas and ways of working. She seeks support and advice from local specialists to improve her own knowledge and outcomes for all children. This constantly provides new and stimulating activities for the children, where they make amazing progress. n The childminder ensures that additional funding is spent wisely. She uses any funding to support children to feel included and able to understand differences and to enhance the experiences available to all children. This works well to

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need to do better?

address any gaps in learning. n Parents speak extremely highly of the childminder. They all say that they trust her completely and that she has enriched their lives in many ways. They say that she has 'a heart of gold' and 'would always go above and beyond to accommodate any child's needs'.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The childminder has a very secure knowledge of safeguarding and her responsibility in terms of keeping all children safe. She is clear on signs and symptoms to look out for, how to record safeguarding incidents and where to refer child protection concerns to. This supports children and their families' well-being. The childminder completes regular training to update and expand her knowledge. She undertakes daily effective risk assessments of the setting and external outings, to help reduce and minimise any potential hazards.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 126312 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10136256 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 10 Number of children on roll 17 Date of previous inspection 22 January 2016

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 1999. She lives in Bean, Dartford. The childminder operates her service all day, Monday to Friday, for the majority of the year, only closing for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder receives funding to provide free early years education to children aged two, three and four years.

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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 and the inspector completed a learning walk together to discuss the childminder's intentions for children's learning. n The inspector observed the interactions between the childminder and children and considered the impact on learning. n Parents shared their views with the inspector through both discussions and written comments. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of a group activity with the childminder. n The childminder provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation on request.

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Inspection activities

15 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

15 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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