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 Not applicable

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The provision is good

Children are happy and content. They feel safe in the childminder's care and they enjoy the activities that are provided. Children explore confidently in the indoor and outdoor play spaces. Children have positive self-esteem and can express their feelings. They have opportunities to interact with children of different ages. This has a positive impact on their early social development.

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The provision is good

Children have some opportunities to practise skills to help them become independent. They help to prepare snack and wash their hands independently. Children make healthy choices about food and drink. Children enjoy listening to stories and develop new vocabulary from a wide range of books. They join in with singing the days of the week and months of the year song. Children explore counting in daily games and activities. They mark make and are encouraged to explore early writing in their play.

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The provision is good

Children are keen to persevere and challenge themselves. They experiment with pouring water and problem-solve when transporting water. Children explore imaginatively with the well-resourced role play. They make each other pretend sandwiches and choose their favourite fillings. Children explore different sensory experiences that enhance their learning. The children are keen to melt the frozen dinosaur figures in ice and experiment using different tools to set them free.

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need to do better?

n The childminder plans activities following the children's interests. The small- world play area is set up with grass, logs, twigs and toy dinosaurs. Children name dinosaurs confidently and can identify if it is a carnivore or herbivore. The children tick off what the dinosaur is having for their dinner today. The childminder picks some bay leaves from the garden and uses them to feed the dinosaurs. The children model the imitation play, and the dinosaurs have a feast of bay leaves. Children are making links in their learning and activities are extended in the moment. n Children learn through sensory experiences. They smell the basil and bay leaves, and the childminder talks about them being herbs. When playing with the dinosaurs, the childminder says, 'I think they may need to brush their teeth'. Children choose small logs to brush the dinosaurs' teeth. 'He's tired' the children say. 'I am not surprised from all that running and stomping' the childminder

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need to do better?

replies. The interactions are supportive of learning and benefit children's language and communication skills. n Children sort coloured foods into separate baskets. They explore numbers by counting and make attempts at using numbers up to 10. Children are invited to make choices about what coloured plates they have at snack. The hopscotch

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need to do better?

5 July 2022 board on the wooden hallway floor using masking tape and numbered boxes is imaginative. The children say the numbers and jump on the squares as they move between rooms. Children are eager and enthusiastic. However, the childminder does not always offer further challenge in activities to encourage children to learn even more, and to build on her already good teaching skills. n Children are reminded by the childminder to 'remember how we hold knives'. Children cut up their own bananas and enjoy 'magic wand' breadsticks. The childminder identifies how hot it is outside and puts on children's sun cream and hats for them. Children are given some opportunities to be independent in everyday routines. However, the childminder does not provide enough opportunities for children to repeat and master these skills. n Children make good progress and the childminder records this with photos to share with parents. Parent partnerships are positive and they are happy with the

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need to do better?

care received. They say that the childminder is professional and supportive. Parents feel their children are making progress and that communication with the childminder is good. Children talk positively about being at the childminder's house and enjoy the experiences they encounter. n The childminder knows the importance of training and keeping up to date. She is reflective and uses this to be adaptive in her practice. The childminder works well with other professionals and supports children with special educational needs and/or disabilities effectively. This is evident in the support she has given to ensure inclusive learning opportunities. The children are prepared for the next stage of their education and have a good foundation of skills to move on with.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The childminder has a good level of safeguarding knowledge. She understands her role in protecting children and keeping them safe. The childminder can recognise potential signs of abuse and vulnerable children. She attends regular training to keep her child protection practice up to date. The childminder knows how to report any concerns to the local authority designated officer. Children are kept safe in the childminder's home and they are appropriately supervised. The childminder checks that her environment and resources are safe for children to use. Children are encouraged to keep themselves safe and practise this through meaningful activity opportunities.

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should:

n build on the good teaching already in place, to consistently challenge children further, including their level of independence, and to make even more progress in all areas of learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY561826 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10190790 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 13 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2018. She provides care Monday to Friday, 7am until 6pm, all year round. The childminder holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 3. There are early years funded places for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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 provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the childminder. 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 The inspector observed the interactions between staff and children. n The childminder and the inspector discussed an observation and how the curriculum had been implemented, and the impact that this had on children's learning. n The manager provided the inspector with written testimonials from parents, which the inspector took into account. n The childminder provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation on request.

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Inspection activities

5 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

5 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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