Childminder in Suffolk

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 Good

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The provision requires improvement

Children have established close bonds with the childminder and her family. They are welcomed by the calm and gentle childminder who gets to know the children before they attend. This supports their emotional attachments, and children are settled in the home. While children enjoy a selection of activities, the childminder does not plan an ambitious and challenging curriculum to effectively meet the children's individual learning needs. Some toys provided support children's interests. However, the organisation of the play areas mean children cannot easily initiate their own ideas. They lose concentration quickly, as play is often interrupted due to the cramped floor space. Children therefore do not consistently make good progress in their learning.

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The provision requires improvement

Despite this, children develop their speech and language skills. They listen carefully to the childminder. She introduces new words to extend their vocabulary. For example, they look at owls in the story and talk about their talons. The childminder explains to them how birds migrate. Simple mathematics is used in their play as they count knitted bumble bees and order them by size. Children demonstrate they feel safe and secure. They learn to take turns, and the childminder praises them for their efforts. The childminder is attentive to their personal needs. She greets them as they wake from a sleep. They are happy to see the childminder and enjoy cuddles as they wake.

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need to do better?

n The quality of teaching is not at a consistently good level. Although the childminder knows the children well and observes them as they play, she is not always ambitious and does not always extend or challenge children's knowledge. This means that, although children make some progress, the childminder does not fully support them to make the best possible progress they can. n The organisation of the play areas and accessibility of resources does not promote a strong focus on learning. This is because children cannot easily initiate their own play without the support of the childminder. She is aware that storage of equipment and resources has had an impact on the space and accessibility of resources but is yet to rectify this. Children demonstrate they are frustrated when their play is interrupted. n Parents speak highly of the childminder. They say they feel fully supported and appreciate the childminder's 'home-from-home' setting. Parents say that the

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need to do better?

childminder is caring, and that their children are settled, happy and making progress. They comment that there is good communication and that they feel assured their children are in good hands. n Children enjoy the attention they receive from the childminder. They ask lots of questions as they engage in conversation. Their speech and language skills are

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need to do better?

7 September 2022 progressing well. Children are confident to ask when they need help. The childminder encourages them to make choices, such as when they want to eat and if they want to remove their jumper when they are hot. n The childminder spoke of how she evaluates her setting and wants to provide children with quality care and education. She is beginning to plan outings outside of the home to broaden their experiences. However, the childminder is yet to provide opportunities for children to be creative. For example, children have fewer opportunities to express their creativity and imagination as resources are not available to support them. n Young children enjoy books. They concentrate as they become engrossed in the pictures. The childminder captures their interest and asks appropriate questions to encourage the children to think critically and make predictions. She poses questions well and understands the importance of allowing children enough time

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need to do better?

to think and respond. n The childminder keeps her first-aid qualification and safeguarding knowledge up to date. However, she has not committed to ongoing training, and she does not review her practice enough to identify her own training needs. Consequently, she has not focused on improving her understanding of how young children learn, to ensure that her teaching is beneficial for the children in her care.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The childminder understands her responsibility to protect children's welfare. She has a secure knowledge of the possible signs and behaviours that may cause concern. The childminder is also familiar with wider aspects of child protection, such as the 'Prevent' duty and domestic violence. She is aware of how to report any concerns to ensure children are kept safe. Children are taught about staying safe outdoors as the childminder teaches them about road safety. The childminder regularly completes risk assessments to ensure children play in a safe environment. This includes the outdoor space and large pond in the garden. The childminder closely supervises the children throughout the day to ensure they are always kept safe.

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Due date

7 September 2022 improve the planning and implementation of the curriculum to ensure that it is ambitious and sequenced and builds on what children know and can do to help them make good progress 05/10/2022

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Due date

seek professional development opportunities to improve knowledge on how children learn and how to provide an exciting play environment. 05/10/2022

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should:

n ensure the indoor play space enables children to easily access all resources available to them and they have sufficient space to play n provide opportunities for children to access a wider range of resources that enable them to explore and develop their own ideas and creativity.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY472730 Local authority Suffolk Inspection number 10236308 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 5 Date of previous inspection 6 October 2016

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2014 and lives in Red Lodge, Suffolk. She operates all year round, from 8am to 5pm, Monday to Thursday, except for bank holidays and family holidays.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the childminder has 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 had a learning walk together to discuss the childminder's intentions for children's learning. n The inspector observed interactions between the childminder and children. n The inspector took account of the views of the parents. n The childminder provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation on request. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided indoors and assessed the impact on children's learning.

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Inspection activities

7 September 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

7 September 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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