Concannon, Melanie Ann

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

p.1

The provision is good

Children enjoy the time they spend in the childminder's stimulating care. New children settle smoothly into daily routines and form strong attachments to the childminder. They are secure and content in the familiar surroundings. Children enjoy the freedom the childminder offers to follow their interests and develop skills and knowledge through many motivating activities. For example, they develop mathematical skills by participating in a dinosaur-counting story. They build finger and hand control excavating 'dinosaur bones' in a sand-filled treasure chest and enrich language and imaginative skills in role play with dinosaur toys.

p.2

The provision is good

Children are very well behaved. They respond positively to the childminder's consistent, calm and clear approach. Children learn to concentrate and solve problems. For example, they enjoy trying to thread pasta shapes onto rods of dry spaghetti or place wooden pegs in the correct-shaped holder. They listen intently to well-told stories the childminder reads to them.

p.2

The provision is good

Children learn to become independent in the childminder's care. They are proud of their achievements and appreciate the praise and support the childminder gives them. Children learn to enjoy a healthy lifestyle through, for example, regular park and woodland visits. The childminder effectively adjusted her practice during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as changing drop-off and collection procedures to keep children safe and changing the way she communicated with parents.

p.2

need to do better?

n The childminder plans carefully to support children to make good progress overall in all areas of their development. She regularly consults with parents to develop her knowledge of children's achievements and interests. However, during activities, she does not always respond to opportunities as they arise to further deepen and extend the children's learning. For example, she sometimes focuses too much on what she has planned for children to do rather than what they are actually engaged in and motivated by. n The childminder promotes children's communication and language skills well. She uses a wide range of strategies to introduce children to new words and phrases and helps them to remember them. For example, she asks thoughtful questions that help children identify the colours they create when they squirt paint into their water tray. She then helps them recall and use the words in their paintings and other activities.

p.2

need to do better?

n The childminder strongly encourages children's love of books. She introduces them to storytelling through songs, action songs and nursery rhymes. For instance, children choose their favourite songs by selecting from the attractively displayed picture cards. The childminder helps children to select books that

p.2

need to do better?

20 September 2022 engage them from a wide range of children's fiction and non-fiction books. She encourages them to join her in saying key phrases and anticipate what will happen next. n Children develop their early mathematics skills well. They regularly sing counting songs with the childminder and use resources, such as puppets, to help them organise and remember their experiences. The childminder helps children to understand different measurements. For example, they compare the size of the sunflowers they have grown and fill and empty containers in their muddy kitchen play. n The childminder helps children to behave well and strongly supports their personal development. She helps children to share their toys and to show kindness and consideration to others. Children develop their social skills as they play with each other and regularly visit play sessions with other childminder's children. The childminder provides healthy and nutritious meals and snacks as

p.2

need to do better?

well as many opportunities for children to be active and physically engaged. They learn to take risks safely in their play. n The experienced childminder is ambitious to provide high-quality childcare. She asks the children and parents for their views to help her develop her practice. She makes good use of training and time with other professionals, such as other childcare providers, to strengthen the learning opportunities she plans for children. n Parents strongly recommend the childminder. They welcome the very regular information the childminder shares with them about their children's daily activities and ongoing progress. They especially comment on how happy and eager their children are to spend time with the childminder.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The childminder has a good knowledge of the signs that children may be at risk of possible harm. She makes certain her knowledge of how to keep children safe is up to date through regular training, personal reading and updates from the local authority. The childminder knows what to do and who to contact if she has a concern about a child's welfare. She understands the signs that a child or family may be at risk of being exposed to or drawn into extremist behaviours. She teaches children how to stay safe in her home and on their frequent visits to parks and other places of interest.

p.3

should:

n focus on developing good quality teaching further by responding to opportunities to enrich and deepen children's learning that develop as they play.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY424832 Local authority Sheffield Inspection number 10074737 Type of provision Childminder

p.4

Registers

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

p.4

inspection

Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 5 Date of previous inspection 2 March 2016

p.4

Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2011 and lives in the Chapletown area of Sheffield. She operates all year round, from 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Thursday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds an appropriate qualification at level 3. She provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

p.4

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 the setting. n The childminder spoke to the inspector at convenient times during the inspection. n The inspector observed the quality of education and discussed the childminder's practice. n The inspector looked at a range of documents relevant to the childminder's practice. n The children spoke to the inspector during their play. n The inspector viewed the areas of the childminder's home that children use. n The inspector obtained parents' views about the service that the childminder provides from written evidence.

p.5

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.

p.5

Inspection activities

20 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.

p.5

Inspection activities

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.6

Inspection activities

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.6

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6