Childminder in Knowsley

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 thoroughly enjoy spending their time with the childminder. They are happy and look forward to coming. Babies' needs are met consistently well, as they benefit from the close, nurturing attention and patient care that they receive. Children's behaviour indicates that they feel safe, such as when being gently cuddled in the childminder's arms.

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The provision is good

Children are excited by the well-thought-out learning activities and play that the childminder provides. They learn how to care for and feed George and Mildred, the allotment chickens. Children grow plants from seeds and take them to the allotment for planting. They learn important new words for their actions, such as 'planting' and 'watering'. Children gain valuable knowledge, for instance the different meanings of 'seeds' and 'seedlings'. They talk confidently about their experiences. Children remember their new knowledge when eating the fresh fruit and vegetables that they helped to grow.

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The provision is good

Children behave well. Guided by the childminder, they learn to care for the resources that they play with. Older children learn to share toys and tread carefully when they are close to babies playing on the floor. This is because the childminder has high expectations of all children. She gives them a lot of encouragement and support as they play.

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need to do better?

n The childminder has thought carefully about what she wants children to learn. She teaches children through activities that build on what she knows they have already learned. The childminder speaks to, sings to and plays with children gently and often. This supports children's language and thinking well. That said, the childminder has not thought carefully enough about how to develop some of children's learning in a logical order. This means that, on occasion, children do not learn some information as well as they should. n Children are confident and sensible in their use of books. They know many stories such as 'Stick Man' and 'Goldilocks'. The childminder helps them to remember their learning, for example, by encouraging children to eat some porridge, 'just like Goldilocks'. She thoughtfully displays children's books around her home and regularly reads aloud with them. Children further develop their

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need to do better?

understanding of books from weekly visits to the library with the childminder. n The childminder teaches children to skilfully use their hands and fingers when squeezing play dough and using rollers and cutters. She also teaches them key language, such as 'rolling' and 'pushing'. Children confidently develop their physical skills because of the help and guidance of the childminder. n The childminder creates space and opportunities so that babies can practise

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need to do better?

12 December 2022 moving their bodies. She knows just what babies need to entice them to move. As a result, babies confidently crawl and shuffle on their bottoms. n The childminder models language accurately to the children. She teaches children new vocabulary, such as 'sharp', when they pretend to cut up food. Babies learn new language related to feelings, such as when the childminder explains very simply, 'you are tired'. However, on occasion, the childminder asks too many closed questions in quick succession where children can only give one- word responses. This prevents children from holding longer, back-and-forth conversations. n The childminder knows the children in her care in detail. She uses assessment strategies effectively to check on their progress and to improve her teaching. The childminder meets children's learning and development needs well. n Parents are very positive about the childminder's work. One typical parental

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need to do better?

comment about the childminder is, 'I can't sing her praises enough.' The childminder keeps parents fully informed about their children's development and interests. This helps them to support children's learning at home. n The childminder teaches children to respect differences between people. For example, she provides opportunities for the children to mix with pupils from a special school. Children learn about the importance of wheelchairs for some children's physical mobility. n The childminder successfully helps children to learn new knowledge about managing their personal care needs. Children beam with pride as they learn to use the toilet independently.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The childminder understands her responsibility to protect children from harm. She knows the possible signs that a child's welfare may be at risk. The childminder understands the many safeguarding issues that children may face. She knows the steps to take if she has concerns about children's safety. The childminder ensures that she is up to date with training about safeguarding and makes this a regular priority. She is vigilant about children's safety, for example by carefully assessing risks when taking children to the allotment. Children learn how to act safely, such as by wearing high-visibility jackets near roads.

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should:

n improve the use of questioning techniques so that children develop longer back- and-forth conversations n strengthen understanding of what knowledge to, teach to children and in what order.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY486694 Local authority Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council Inspection number 10263873 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 3 Number of children on roll 3 Date of previous inspection 15 May 2017

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2015 and lives in Kirkby, Liverpool. She operates all year round, from 8am to 6pm, 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 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 showed the inspector the premises and explained how she ensures that it is safe and suitable. n The inspector discussed how the childminder organises her early years provision and provides for children's learning activities. n Children's learning and development records were sampled, and the inspector tracked the progress of a sample of individual children. n The inspector observed children playing indoors. n The inspector completed a joint observation with the childminder to assess the quality of teaching. n A range of documentation was reviewed by the inspector, including examples of the childminder's training certificates.

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Inspection activities

12 December 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

12 December 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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