Childminder in Stockport

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

The childminder and her co-childminder work well together. They make children feel welcome and safe. Children arrive ready to have fun and play with their friends. The childminder's knowledge of how children learn is a strength of the provision. Children become deeply absorbed in rich play that promotes their good progress. They are given time and encouragement to pursue self-chosen learning. Pre-school children draw intricate, thoughtful pictures. This demonstrates their imagination and thinking. They begin to form written letters. Younger children are eager to join in. They make marks and begin to attach meaning to them. This promotes children's early literacy and conversation skills well.

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The provision is good

The provision is well organised and children confidently follow the clear routines. This helps to promote children's self-control and they behave well. For example, children know the expectations for their conduct at group times. They sit together quietly and calmly, ready to listen and talk. Parents and carers praise the childminder; they say that she teaches children to say please and thank you. Parents feel well informed about children's development and progress. They particularly like to receive pictures via the online app, which helps them initiate discussions with children about the day's events.

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need to do better?

n The experienced childminder and her co-childminder support and motivate each other to keep learning. They complete training that adds to their professional skills and knowledge. This helps the childminder to make changes that improve her practice. For example, the childminder changed the way that toys are stored in the playroom. She introduced open shelving to arrange toys in ways that encourage children's curiosity and entice them to explore. n The well-qualified team observe each other and give feedback about strengths and areas for development. Assistants report that the supervision process is supportive and helps them improve further. However, there are instances when the childminder does not evaluate the quality of her colleagues teaching accurately enough. This means that children do not consistently benefit from the ambitious vision that underpins the provision. n Children demonstrate that they like books and want to read them. The

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need to do better?

childminder's assistant skilfully uses props and a familiar story to engage children in talking about animals. This prompts children to ask questions about relative size. They wonder why elephants are 'big' but the toy elephant is 'small'. Children's thoughtful responses show that stories spark new knowledge and ideas. n The childminder plans interesting adult-led activities. Children busily make cornflour 'gloop' for small-world sharks to swim in. They learn the names of

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need to do better?

10 August 2022 different species of shark which extends their vocabulary. The childminder identifies a high number of possible learning intentions for planned activities. However, at times, she does not focus precisely enough on what she wants the children to learn next. n Children hear that the childminder's granddad has sent them a cucumber from his garden. Children talk about what the cucumber needed to help it grow. This consolidates and extends their knowledge about where food comes from. Children eat some cucumber and say whether they like it. They express different views. This helps children learn that there are similarities and differences between themselves and other people. n Children demonstrate independence. Pre-school children work together to set up an efficient production line to transport sand to the outdoor play kitchen. Toddlers gain self-help skills, such as using the potty and putting their shoes on.

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need to do better?

This helps promote children's confidence. Children become successful learners who are ready to start school when the time comes. n The childminder helps children to develop habits that keep them healthy. She makes sure that children have ready access to their water bottles. When the weather is hot, the childminder gathers children in the shade to take a drink. They learn the importance of keeping their body hydrated. n Parents describe the 'happy smiley faces' that greet the children every morning. They say that the creative, nurturing environment was sustained during the COVID-19 pandemic. This helped everyone work together to promote children's emotional well-being and progress.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The childminder has good knowledge of child protection matters. She trains her assistants to follow her provision's safeguarding policy. She knows what to do if she has concerns about a colleague's behaviour towards children. The childminder identifies and minimises hazards to children's safety. For example, the sand tray is covered at night to keep the sand clean. The childminder protects children's information. She takes close account of parents' wishes regarding publication of children's photos. Supervision of sleeping children is vigilant. There is someone with them at all times.

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should:

n scrutinise practice more meticulously, in order to support colleagues to implement the intended curriculum consistently n make better use of activities to focus even more precisely on what children are intended to learn next.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2562251 Local authority Stockport Inspection number 10232145 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 18 Number of children on roll 18 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2019. She works in the home of her co-childminder in Marple. Her provision operates all year round, from 7.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and two weeks at Christmas. The childminder and her co-minder work with two part-time assistants. She holds a qualification at level 3. The assistants hold level 3 qualifications. 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 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 setting. n The childminder and the inspector discussed the childminder's intentions for her curriculum. They conducted two joint observations of practice and considered the impact of activities on children's progress. n The inspector observed interactions between the childminder and children. She spoke with and played with children. n Parents and carers were spoken with. The inspector read written feedback from parents. She took account of parents' views. n Documents used in the childminder's setting were sampled by the inspector. The inspector checked evidence of the suitability of the childminder, her co- childminder and her two assistants.

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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

10 August 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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