Childminder in Darlington

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 friendly childminder welcomes the children into her home-from-home environment. Children enter happy and wave goodbye to their parents. They form strong relationships with the childminder, which helps them to feel safe and secure. The childminder gives children lots of praise and reassurance, which builds their confidence and self-esteem.

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The provision is good

The children enjoy exploring a tray of dinosaurs and natural habitat materials. They pretend to move the dinosaurs and then add diggers to explore with movement. This strengthens the muscles needed for later writing. Children make marks in the soil and explore how it feels with their fingers. The childminder plays alongside the children. She models how to use the diggers to pick up small stones. Children copy her and show determination as they keep on trying. When children master the skills, the childminder claps and celebrates their achievements. This helps to create a positive attitude towards learning.

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The provision is good

The childminder encourages children's imagination and helps them to make sense of daily routines. She encourages children to make choices about what they want to play with. They explore a range of ride-on cars and tricycles and are keen to wash and dry the cars ready for their friends after nursery.

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need to do better?

n The childminder is passionate about the children in her care. She creates a well- balanced curriculum that uses a blend of child-led play and adult-led activities. The childminder engages with the children during their play. She follows their lead, enabling them to take ownership of their own learning. However, at times, the childminder occasionally misses opportunities to support and extend children's learning during planned activities. n The childminder evaluates what she provides for the children. She knows her strengths and is keen to improve her provision. She reflects on her practice and identifies areas for further development. For example, she has developed the outdoor area to encompass activities and resources for children who prefer to learn outside. However, she has not yet accessed additional training to develop her teaching skills to extend children's learning further. n The childminder works extremely well with parents. She offers them feedback on

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need to do better?

their children's well-being and achievements and takes their views on board to meet their children's needs. Parents comment on her calm, caring, nurturing nature and the inspiring activities that support their children's learning. n The childminder manages children's behaviour very well. She provides a positive role model for children and supports them to understand how to share and take turns. The childminder works closely with parents to agree strategies and

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need to do better?

27 April 2023 approaches to support behaviour management. n The childminder promotes children's language well. She provides a language-rich environment, where they hear new words. For instance, children learn new vocabulary, such as 'dinosaur', during an activity. The childminder skilfully asks children questions to assess their knowledge and understanding. Children confidently use their newly acquired knowledge as they describe how they move and make growling noises. n The childminder makes use of the services in her local community. For example, they visit community groups, local parks and woodland. This enhances children's knowledge of the wider world and gives them the opportunity to socialise with other children. n The childminder supports children to develop good hygiene habits. For example, she teaches children to wash their hands before they eat and after playing outside. The childminder provides a range of healthy meals and snacks. She

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need to do better?

supports children to learn about making healthy choices, such as drinking water. n The childminder works in partnership with other settings that children attend. Information is routinely shared between the settings to gain an understanding of where children are at in their learning. This two-way flow of information supports a consistent approach to helping children make good progress.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The childminder prioritises children's welfare and safety. She has a clear understanding of her responsibilities and is confident in identifying the signs of abuse. The childminder is aware of the action she would take to record and report concerns about a child. She has undertaken regular training on safeguarding issues, including preventing radicalisation. The childminder is vigilant in recognising any concerns, such as children using language that is not age-appropriate. A continuous risk assessment process ensures the environment and activities she provides are safe and suitable for all children. This helps to ensure all children are protected from harm.

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should:

n make better use of the opportunities to support and extend children's learning during planned activities n introduce ambitious professional development plans to build on the recent extensive improvement and continually enhance practice and teaching.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY475941 Local authority Darlington Inspection number 10280345 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 13 September 2017

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2014 and lives in Darlington. She operates all year round from 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds an appropriate qualification at level 3. The childminder provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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 the inspector completed a learning walk together to discuss the childminder's intentions for children's learning. 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 Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The childminder provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation on request.

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Inspection activities

27 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

27 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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