Childminder in Leicestershire

Overall effectiveness Good

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

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The provision is good

Children have strong bonds with the childminder and her assistant and show that they are settled and secure. They go to the childminder for hugs and excitedly talk to her about what they would like to do. Children are listened to and their interests are acted upon. For instance, children's interest in rabbits is furthered as they pretend to jump and hop like bunnies in time to music.

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The provision is good

Children show delight in being in the outside area. They have plenty of opportunities to practise their physical skills as they ride balance bicycles and use climbing equipment. The garden provides safe opportunities for children to experience age-appropriate risk-taking. For instance, children learn to climb onto large rocks where they balance, jump off and land safely on the grass.

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The provision is good

Children show a positive attitude towards learning and are eager to try out new activities. For example, children play with cooked coloured spaghetti. Older children safely use scissors to cut the 'monster's hair', while younger children use tongs to pinch and grab the spaghetti. Children squeal with delight, saying, 'it's cold and sticky,' as they relish in the sensory experience of the activity. Children observe how the food colouring has stained their fingers, saying, 'my hands look like rainbows,' as they identify the colours they see.

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need to do better?

n The childminder plans a curriculum that reflects not only what children need to learn next, but also their individual interests. She obtains children's starting points through her own observations and from her discussions with parents. She then closely observes the progress children make to enable her to identify how to support their next steps in learning. This information is then used to plan activities to help children make good progress in their development. n Children are confident communicators. The childminder supports children's speaking and listening skills effectively as they learn about bees. She models language clearly as children study the honeycomb they collected from the farm. Older children learn words such as 'pollen' and 'honeycomb', and babies practise sounds as they buzz like bees. This supports and enhances children's language development. n Outside, children learn about the natural world through first-hand experiences.

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need to do better?

For example, children observe a bird nesting in a tree and follow the progress it makes, helping them to learn about life cycles. The children recall when the baby bird hatched and flew away. Outside, children play with dolls and the mud kitchen as they act out real-life scenarios. However, imaginative activities are not always well extended to captivate and challenge children's interests and encourage their thinking further.

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need to do better?

14 September 2022 n The childminder and her assistant have high expectations of children's behaviour and are consistent when setting rules and boundaries. This ensures children understand what is expected of them. Children's behaviour is good, and the childminder swiftly responds to any minor conflicts that arise. Children learn to take turns and are taught to be patient when sharing resources. n Children are supported to lead a healthy lifestyle. Nutritious snacks and meals are offered, and children have access to fresh drinking water. Children benefit from daily fresh air and exercise as they enjoy trips out in the local community. Children learn where food comes from as they visit the local farm, developing their understanding of the world. n Children's independence and self-care skills are promoted as they are encouraged to wash their hands before snack and wipe their own noses. Children know to collect their own shoes and put them on before playing

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need to do better?

outside. n The childminder is passionate about her role and knows the children well. She completes mandatory training, such as paediatric first aid and safeguarding, to ensure key knowledge is up to date. However, she has not considered her continued professional development to build on her knowledge of the curriculum and develop her teaching skills even further. n Parents' written comments express their gratitude for the care provided. They write that their children 'feel happy and safe with the childminder' and are 'excited to arrive in the mornings'. They state that the additional support they receive from the childminder helps their children to make the progress they need. However, children's next steps in learning are not always shared effectively to further enable parents to support children's learning at home.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The childminder and her assistant understand their safeguarding role and responsibility to protect children. They recognise the signs that could indicate a child is at risk of harm and know the procedures to follow. The childminder is knowledgeable regarding the wider risks to children, such as domestic violence and the risks of radicalised views. The childminder and her assistant know who to contact in the event of an allegation being made against themselves or a household member. The childminder takes care to routinely carry out risk assessments of the home and for planned outings. She ensures family pets are kept separate from the children and closely supervises the children throughout the day.

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should:

14 September 2022 n continue professional development to build on knowledge of the curriculum and develop teaching skills to further support children's learning over time n secure ways to share children's next steps in learning with parents to enable them to further support children at home n clarify how imaginative activities can be extended to enable all children to explore and develop their own ideas.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY475444 Local authority Leicestershire Inspection number 10231876 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 12 Number of children on roll 17 Date of previous inspection 7 September 2016

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2014. She lives in Desford, Leicestershire. The childminder operates all year round, from 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays.

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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 her provision. n The childminder showed the inspector the premises and discussed how she ensures it is safe and suitable. n The childminder spoke to the inspector about her intentions for children's learning. n Children spoke with the inspector during the inspection. 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 childminder provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation on request.

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Inspection activities

14 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

14 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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