Childminder in Cambridgeshire

Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

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

p.1

The provision requires improvement

The childminder knows what she wants children to learn and the skills they need to help prepare them for the eventual move to school. However, this is not always shared effectively with her assistants and leads to inconsistencies in children's learning experiences. The childminder understands the benefits for children to hear stories and sing songs to help them develop communication and language skills. However, the childminder's interactions with children tend to use everyday language and do not demonstrate an ambitious approach to help children build a good vocabulary and understanding. Children are not yet receiving the quality of education they deserve.

p.2

The provision requires improvement

The childminder has improved safety in the homely environment she provides for children. She ensures children are supervised effectively. Children form good bonds with the childminder and her assistants. They benefit from the childminder's kind and patient approach. However, children do not always receive consistent messages to help them learn how to regulate their behaviour. Children show good attention when they join in with adult-led activities but become less engaged at other times, with a tendency to run around or walk around while eating a snack. Children are happy and settled in the childminder's care. They make choices in their play. The childminder and her assistants sensitively support children with their intimate care routines.

p.2

need to do better?

n The childminder has taken appropriate measures to address the weaknesses identified at her last inspection. She has made changes to the environment that promote children's safety. The childminder knows that children need to feel safe and secure to be ready to learn. She is reflective in her practice and seeks ways to improve the children's learning experiences. n The childminder knows children well and establishes what they need to learn next. However, the childminder's assistants do not always know how to support children's individual learning. Children do not benefit from consistency in their learning. Although children achieve typical developmental milestones this is not always attributed to high-quality learning experiences provided by the childminder and her assistants. n Adult interactions with children tend to be mundane and use language that children already know. Children do not hear ambitious language to help them

p.2

need to do better?

build a wide and varied vocabulary that extends their learning. For example, when children engage in craft activities, adults do not talk about the materials they use or their actions. When older children make cakes, adults do not talk about the ingredients or how they change when mixed. They do not inspire children's curiosity to explore and ask questions.

p.2

need to do better?

3 March 2023 n Children receive praise and encouragement to join in with adult-led activities. However, at times, such as when children are getting ready for snack or to go outside, adults focus on routine tasks and children quickly lose attention. Children tend to run around or even pick up younger children. This is not consistently challenged by adults to help children understand how to behave well. For example, some children walk around and eat snacks, but adults do not remind them of the expectation to sit at the table when eating. n Children have regular opportunities to build good physical skills. They join in with age-appropriate yoga sessions with the childminder and gain increasing control as they move about. The childminder provides varied resources and activities that help children refine control when using tools. For example, they use a range of containers to pour and tip water. The childminder gives children

p.2

need to do better?

time to practise new skills, such as using scissors. She encourages children to design cards to give to their special people. Children use scissors to cut out shapes they stick to card using glue. n The childminder and her assistant help children to follow good hygiene routines. They teach children why it is important to wash their hands, such as before they eat meals and after wiping their nose. n Children enjoy cuddling the childminder as they listen to books that she reads to them. They take books home to share with their family. Children show that they are familiar with stories, as they anticipate what will happen next.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The childminder is committed to keeping children safe from harm. She attends regular training about safeguarding and child protection. She ensures that her assistants understand their role to protect children from harm. The childminder and her assistants identify possible signs of abuse and know the local safeguarding partner board process to refer any concerns about a child's welfare or any concerns about an adult working with children. The childminder has improved her risk assessment process and ensures her assistants understand how to identify and minimise any potential hazards to children's safety.

p.3

Due date

3 March 2023 improve the support, coaching and training for assistants, so that they understand the learning intention for children and how to help children make good and better progress in their learning and development 24/05/2023

p.3

Due date

ensure that children have rich opportunities to develop their communication and language skills, so that the development of their spoken language firmly underpins all seven areas of learning. 24/05/2023

p.4

should:

n improve the curriculum to help children learn how to regulate their emotions and behaviour.

p.4

Setting details

Unique reference number EY475002 Local authority Cambridgeshire Inspection number 10257468 Type of provision Childminder

p.5

Registers

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

p.5

inspection

Total number of places 12 Number of children on roll 9 Date of previous inspection 14 September 2022

p.5

Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2014 and lives in Highfields Caldecote. She employs five assistants. The childminder operates her service all year round from 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank and family holidays. The childminder provides early years funded places for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

p.5

Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued 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 discussed how they ensure they are safe and suitable. n The childminder and the inspector discussed how the childminder organises their early years provision, including the aims and rationale for their early years foundation stage curriculum. 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 and inspector discussed how the curriculum had been implemented and the impact that this had on children's learning. n The childminder provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation on request.

p.5

Inspection activities

3 March 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.

p.5

Inspection activities

3 March 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.

p.6

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.7

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.7

Inspection activities

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

p.7

Inspection activities

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

p.7