Childminder in Medway

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 are happy and settled at the childminder's. They are dropped off at the self-contained cabin in the garden where the childminder operates from. Children can freely access resources to support their play and happily engage with each other. Older children offer younger children resources to play with and show care for their friends. Children follow the routines well. They change into their slippers upon arrival and understand they must change into their shoes before going outside. Children enjoy helping the childminder let her two dogs out into the garden in the morning. The childminder's dogs have a separate area in the garden to the children. Children enjoy watching the dogs play together and talk to them through the fence.

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The provision is good

Children spend a lot of their day outside. They enjoy playing in the sand and making sandcastles. Older children learn that adding water to the sand helps it to stick together. Children are learning about caterpillars and butterflies. They show delight when they find snails in the garden and compare their sizes. Children decide to check for other bugs living in the 'bug hotel', and pretend to be the bugs they find. They curl up as small as they can pretending to be caterpillars. Children comment on the clouds in the sky that keep covering up the sunshine.

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need to do better?

n The childminder regularly assesses the provision to ensure it is accessible for all children. She has recently rearranged the environment to ensure more privacy at nappy-changing times. The childminder has added some learning areas to provide more opportunities for mark making. n The childminder works with one assistant. They meet regularly to discuss the children's needs and the activities they have planned. The childminder's assistant has attended recent training, and feels able to request training that she feels will improve her practice. The childminder's assistant feels supported in her role. n Children are learning about life cycles. At circle time, the childminder talks to the children about caterpillars they have growing. She encourages the children to look at baby photographs and identify things that have changed as they have grown up. For example, one child says he didn't have hair when he was a baby.

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need to do better?

n The childminder follows the children's interests and plans activities to support their individual needs. Older children are supported to use scissors to cut out pictures relating to the life cycle of a caterpillar. However, the curriculum for younger children is not as clear or well sequenced. The childminder does not always plan activities which support their age and stage of development. n Parents' feedback is extremely positive. They are happy with the care their children receive and feel informed about what their children do when they are at

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need to do better?

25 April 2023 the childminder's. Parents report how well their children settled in and how much their confidence has grown. The childminder takes children out regularly on visits to the local park and woodland areas. She documents what the children do in 'outdoor learning books' that she shares with parents. n Children know the routines well and are encouraged to manage their own self- care. For example, older children independently wash their hands before mealtimes and after toileting. However, the organisation around some routines impacts on the children's learning. For example, younger children are not always given time to finish their play before having their nappies changed. Children tidy up for mealtimes and then have to wait to wash their hands. As a result, children can become disengaged and less focused. n Children generally behave well. They are supported to understand how their behaviour can affect others. For example, children are reminded not to throw

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need to do better?

the sand as it may go in other children's eyes. The childminder uses visual aids to support children's behaviour. n The childminder promotes healthy eating. She provides a cooked lunch for children and encourages them to try new foods. Children have fresh fruit at snack times and are supported to use safety knives to cut this up themselves.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The childminder and her assistant have recently updated their safeguarding training and understand their role and responsibility to safeguard children. They understand how to identify signs of abuse, including if a child is being exposed to extreme views. The childminder has a secure risk assessment in place for drop-off and pick-up times. She records and monitors children's attendance to ensure that they are safe. The childminder and her assistant understand the local safeguarding procedures.

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should:

n review the planning of some activities for younger children to precisely target their next steps in learning n improve the organisation of routines to ensure there is minimal impact on children's learning and development.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY547958 Local authority Medway Inspection number 10286658 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 9 Number of children on roll 14 Date of previous inspection 13 December 2019

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2017. She lives in Rochester, Kent. The childminding service is open on Monday to Thursday from 7am to 6pm, all year round. The childminder receives funding to provide free early education for children age two and three years. She works with an assistant.

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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 setting. n The childminder showed the inspector the premises and discussed how they ensure those are safe and suitable. n Children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. 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.

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Inspection activities

25 April 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

25 April 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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