Childminder in Somerset

Overall effectiveness Outstanding

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

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The provision is outstanding

The childminder provides children with the highest quality of care. Children are extremely happy and feel safe, secure and ready to learn. The childminder greets children with a warm welcome and a smile. The stimulating environment and high- quality resources and activities ensure children are highly motivated to learn. They show high levels of curiosity and wonder. Children enjoy dissecting a pumpkin with the childminder and are extremely focused and engaged in their learning. They learn how to solve problems and are given time to think critically. For example, children are given time to decide from a variety of tools which one is best to cut the pumpkin with.

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The provision is outstanding

The childminder engages children through highly skilled interactions that deepen children's understanding and introduces new words into their vocabulary. For example, children learn the words 'bumpy', 'spikey' and 'hibernation' when learning about hedgehogs. Children engage regularly in conversations and their language develops rapidly.

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The provision is outstanding

The childminder provides a wonderful range of outings for children. Children develop excellent knowledge and understanding of the wider community, including the natural world. For example, children explore autumn changes when on a walk and enjoy throwing the sycamores into the air and watching them fall. Children recall this event, showing learning is embedded.

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The provision is outstanding

The childminder has strong and trusting relationships with parents, ensuring that information about their children's care, welfare and learning is shared regularly. Parents feel consistently supported and involved in their children's learning, and the childminder regularly shares various strategies to support parents with home learning. The childminder supported parents during the COVID-19 pandemic with regular contact and toy bags.

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need to do better?

n The childminder constantly demonstrates characteristics of high-quality teaching and uses every opportunity to model language, support new skills and deepen knowledge. She enables children to explore their own thoughts and provides constant opportunities for them to make individual choices. n There is excellent support for children's communication and language. The childminder introduces new vocabulary as she reads 'That's not my Hedgehog' to the children and skilfully incorporates aspects of children's own experiences, linking a discussion about hibernation to a child's pet they have at home, for example. n The childminder asks children questions and leaves them time to reflect on their

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need to do better?

14 October 2022 answer. For example, before they cut the pumpkin, the childminder asks, 'what colour is the pumpkin inside?' The child pauses and answers with 'we do not know yet.' n The childminder has many years of exceptional knowledge and experience of working with children. This is clear in the way she demonstrates a deep understanding of children's learning and development. For example, the childminder incorporates children's interests into daily activities that ignite and extend children's learning and development. n The childminder pays attention to detail when implementing activities and provides children with a broad and varied curriculum. For example, she provides a range of tools, such as tongs, spoons and tweezers, to support the children's physical development. The childminder revisits learning to ensure it is embedded. n The childminder's approach to learning is unique to each child. She robustly

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need to do better?

plans activities and ensures she focuses on each child's individual next steps. As a result, children swiftly develop new skills and are well prepared for their next stage of learning. For example, younger children enjoy experiencing an array of sensory opportunities, from touch to smell, supporting learning on how to differentiate these. n The childminder supports children to lead a healthy lifestyle. She encourages them to be physically active and ensures they follow hygiene routines, such as washing their hands before mealtimes. For example, children enjoy holding discussions about healthy eating while helping to prepare their own snack and lunch. n Opportunities for children to develop their mathematical skills are excellent. For example, children count seeds to 10, and the childminder uses phrases such as 'how many more'. Together, they make comparisons between big and small. The childminder ensures that children have a deep understanding of this by checking

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need to do better?

what the children know after the activity. n The childminder works well with other professionals to support children's transitions to dual placement and to school. For example, she links once a term with local pre-schools and schools to ensure consistency in children's care and learning. n Parents are overwhelmingly happy with the care provided for their children and report that they feel the childminder 'leads with kindness and care'. Excellent relationships with parents enable the childminder to fully support all aspects of the children's well-being.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The childminder is highly experienced and fully understands the signs that may indicate a child is at risk of harm. She is confident in her ability to identify and report concerns to other agencies if required. The childminder regularly updates her knowledge of safeguarding. The childminder ensures that safeguarding and children's welfare are paramount. She carefully considers the planning of activities

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Safeguarding

14 October 2022 to ensure the safety of all children. For example, she uses child-friendly cutters so that children can be independent. Children are encouraged to develop an understanding of items that may cause them harm, such as sharp objects.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 142607 Local authority Somerset Inspection number 10234220 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 9 Date of previous inspection 1 February 2017

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 1992 and lives in Bruton, Somerset. She cares for children Monday to Friday, all year round. The childminder receives funding to provide free early years education for children aged three and four years. The childminder holds a childcare qualification at level 3.

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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 provider. n The childminder and inspector discussed how the curriculum had been implemented and the impact that this had on children's learning. n The inspector observed the interactions between the childminder and children. n The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The childminder provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation on request. n Children communicated with the inspector during the inspection.

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Inspection activities

14 October 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 October 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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