Childminder in Cheshire East

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

The childminder provides a safe and stimulating environment for children. Resources are freely accessible, which allows children to make their own choices. Children have access to a secure back garden with lots of activities to support their learning. Children enjoy caring for the childminder's numerous pets, including the family dog, cat, guinea pigs and hamster. They stroke animals and help to feed them. This helps children to develop a sense of responsibility and to respect living creatures. Children care for eggs and eagerly observe as chicks hatch. They regularly watch as caterpillars turn into butterflies and release them. This helps children to learn about life cycles.

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The provision is good

Children visit the library and local playgroups. They also visit local parks and take part in nature walks. Children learn about people who help them during visits to places such as the fire station. They regularly take part in charity events, where they learn about others who may need help. This helps to develop children's understanding of the wider world they live in. Children's behaviour is generally good. For example, overall, children follow instructions when asked to help tidy up. The childminder has high expectations of children's learning. The rich and varied curriculum provides many opportunities for children to learn and to have a variety of experiences. Children have a strong bond with the childminder. They go to her for cuddles and are eager to involve her in their play. Children learn new words as the childminder reads expressively to them.

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need to do better?

n The childminder knows the children very well. She plans next steps for children that precisely focus on what they need to learn next, for example focusing on speaking single words before putting two and three words together. This means that children's knowledge and skills develop over time. n The childminder provides some good support for children's communication and language skills, such as by narrating and repeating keywords. However, children are not fully supported in their understanding. For example, occasionally, the childminder uses sentences and instructions that are too long for young children to understand. This means that children are sometimes unable to follow instructions. n Children develop positive attitudes to learning. For example, children are eager to join in with song time. They excitedly choose something out of the bag and join in with singing. This helps children to become fully engaged in their learning

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need to do better?

during the activity. n Children are encouraged to be independent. For example, toddlers clean their own noses and put their tissues in the bin. This helps children to develop important skills in health and self-care.

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need to do better?

9 February 2023 n Although children generally behave well, the childminder does not consistently communicate her expectations for children's good behaviour. This means that, on occasion, children do not always know what is expected of them. n The childminder is able to accurately reflect on her own practice and knows which areas that she would like to develop. For example, the childminder identifies when children are distracted from an activity. She knows what she would do differently next time to help ensure that children are able to focus on their learning. n The childminder is a reflective practitioner. She undertakes a programme of professional development to help her improve over time. For example, she has attended courses on child psychology and children's mental health. This has helped her to support children following the pandemic and helps to ensure her practice is always improving. n The childminder actively seeks the views of parents to help her to develop her

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need to do better?

provision. Parents are very pleased with the communication they receive from the childminder through daily messages, photos and videos. They praise the 'warm and homely feel' and the 'strong bond' she has with children. The childminder shares information with parents about what children are learning so that parents can extend this at home. For example, the childminder has shared with parents that children have been birdwatching so that they can continue this at home.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The childminder has a good knowledge of the different types of abuse and the signs and symptoms of each. She knows how to report any concerns she has to the relevant authorities. The childminder undertakes regular safeguarding training to help ensure her safeguarding knowledge is up to date. The childminder completes risk assessment checks to ensure that her home remains a safe place in which children can play and learn. Furthermore, she teaches children about road safety. This helps children to learn how to keep themselves safe. The childminder provides a safe place for children to sleep. This helps to ensure children's safety at all times.

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should:

n communicate the highest expectations of children's behaviour and consistently share and reinforce boundaries n strengthen the teaching of communication and language further to build on children's ability to listen, think and understand more effectively.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY488667 Local authority Cheshire East Inspection number 10276367 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 12 Date of previous inspection 12 July 2017

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2015 and lives in Nantwich, Cheshire. She operates from 7.30am to 5.15pm, Monday to Thursday. The childminder has a recognised 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 childminder and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the childminder. n The childminder and inspector completed a learning walk together and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children communicated 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 Parents shared their views with the inspector. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the childminder. n The childminder provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation on request.

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Inspection activities

9 February 2023 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

9 February 2023 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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