Childminder in Kent

Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

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

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The provision requires improvement

Overall, children enjoy their time with the childminder. She offers an interesting environment and children like the opportunity to play inside or outside throughout the day. Children enthusiastically mould dough to make shapes and talk to the childminder's assistant about what they are doing. However, at times, the support for children's learning and development is inconsistent. The childminder and her assistant do not consistently challenge children enough in their learning. At times, activities are not adapted well enough to children's changing needs.

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The provision requires improvement

Children build close relationships with the childminder and her assistant. The childminder knows children well and is aware if they are not their usual selves. Children go to the childminder for comfort, supporting them to feel safe. They are confident and express themselves well. For example, they talk about what they like to eat and drink at mealtimes.

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The provision requires improvement

Mostly, children play well together and make friends. They enthusiastically engage in games, such as role play in the small house. The childminder is aware of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children's learning experiences. She plans activities to incorporate the need for children to work together. However, the support for children's overall behaviour is inconsistent. This impacts on children's engagement in learning and on the support they receive to make consistently good progress.

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need to do better?

n Children engage well in some activities. For example, they enjoy using pipettes to fill up containers with coloured water. However, the childminder does not always offer a suitable level of support to extend children's learning throughout the day. At times, when children do not show interest, the childminder and her assistant struggle to adapt their approach. This means that children do not consistently gain a secure range of skills to help them be ready for school. n The childminder supports children well with their physical development for both small and large-muscle movements. For example, children enjoy using tweezers to pick up items during a matching game. They show that they can competently climb the steps when using the slide. n The childminder reports that parents are happy with her setting. She shares information with them about children's development and asks for information about their learning at home. For example, she works well with parents whose

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need to do better?

children speak English as an additional language. She knows children's development in their home language and is aware of key phrases so she can understand them. n Children confidently manage their own self-care skills and show some suitable

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need to do better?

26 July 2022 independence skills for their age. For example, they go to the toilet and wash their hands with minimal support. The childminder involves them in helping to count the number of children for lunch and children enjoy bringing more chairs to the table. n The childminder works with an assistant every day. They complete training together, such as local authority safeguarding training. The childminder and her assistant have ongoing discussions about the setting, for example, what children need to learn next. However, this has not extended to other areas of practice, such as their approach to behaviour management. The expectations for children are not always clear. The childminder and her assistant approach situations in different ways, which at times, is not effective. n The childminder ensures that children routinely have opportunities to listen to stories and discuss them. For example, they have discussions about how colours

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need to do better?

can represent feelings. Children openly talk about what the different colours mean. They use the book to retell the story to their friends. n The childminder has a secure knowledge of children's progress. She knows how to share her concerns with other professionals to take action if children have gaps in their development. The childminder involves parents in discussions to gain further information and support continuity. As a result, children receive appropriate support to help them catch up.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The childminder and her assistant have worked hard to develop their safeguarding knowledge. They are confident about what may give them cause for concern about a child's welfare. The childminder and her assistant know how to assess the information and refer to the relevant agencies. They have a clear policy in place to support their practice. The childminder and her assistant risk assess their setting well. They carefully consider the resources that children can play with and how to store them safely.

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Due date

ensure that support for children's behaviour is consistently applied to help children understand what is expected of them 29/08/2022

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Due date

26 July 2022 ensure that routines and activities take into consideration children's development and help to consistently extend and challenge their learning. 29/08/2022

p.3

should:

n develop teaching skills further to adapt more effectively to the changing needs of children during activities.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY558301 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10216809 Type of provision Childminder

p.5

Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Childminder

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inspection

Total number of places 11 Number of children on roll 9 Date of previous inspection 18 November 2021

p.5

Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2018 and lives in Greenhithe, Dartford, Kent. She offers flexible care on weekdays for most of the year, except bank holidays and planned family holidays. The childminder provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. She works with an assistant.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued 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 premises as part of the learning walk and discussed how they ensure it is safe and suitable. n The inspector spoke to children to find out about their time at the setting. n The inspector observed the interactions between the childminder and her assistant with children. n The childminder provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation on request.

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Inspection activities

26 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

26 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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