Childminder in Halton

Overall effectiveness Outstanding

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

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The provision is outstanding

Children flourish with this childminder. They are highly content because the childminder gives exacting thought to how she talks to them, the daily routine and the new experiences that she provides. Children engage in personalised and ambitious learning opportunities. This enables them to continually practise their developing skills and make rapid progress.

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The provision is outstanding

As soon as children arrive, they know to help the childminder to feed the guinea pigs and chickens. This is one of many real-life planned tasks that children help with, to practise their skills. Children confidently recall knowledge of number and colour as they select different quantities and colours of vegetable pieces. They practise their hand-to-eye coordination and throwing skills as they carefully throw the vegetable pieces 'as far as they can', aiming to reach the guinea pigs in the barn. Children listen very carefully to instructions and suggestions on how they can encourage the guinea pigs to come out of the barn to see them.

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The provision is outstanding

Children's well-being and self-esteem are given utmost priority. The childminder successfully helps children to feel a sense of belonging and calmness in her home. She is continually close by to nurture and soothe the youngest children, who clearly adore her. Children learn about how others might be feeling and what they can do to 'cheer them up'. Consequently, this helps children to develop genuine empathy and kindness. Children behave impeccably.

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need to do better?

n The childminder very much enjoys her role as an educator. This passion shines through in the detail and expert thought that she puts into her curriculum. She provides children with rich first-hand experiences of life and the world around them. Many of these are planned based on opportunities that children have not yet had at home. Gaps in children's experiences and learning are significantly reduced. n The childminder is innovative in how she organises learning opportunities. For example, after making bird feeders for the garden, children noticed that a squirrel came to feed. Following the children's observation of this, the childminder took them to a local area to watch squirrels more closely and have a go at hand feeding them. This helps children to pay close attention to nature and understand the importance of caring for living things. Furthermore, new learning is embedded more deeply. n The childminder fully understands the importance of children developing their

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need to do better?

communication skills early on. She expertly holds back-and-forth conversations, giving time for children to think and respond. She poses thought-provoking questions, which encourage children to think for themselves. She consistently

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need to do better?

11 May 2023 encourages babies to imitate actions in songs and make sounds while they play. Furthermore, she uses assessment exceptionally well to support language development more precisely for those who are becoming more fluent in conversation. By showing children that she is continually listening to them, they swiftly develop confidence to socialise and express their ideas. n At every possible opportunity, the childminder encourages children to have a go at a task first, before offering prompts or guidance. She enables children to have responsibilities, such as getting their friends tissues and a drink and finding toys for them. She says, 'My tummy is rumbling, is yours?' This encourages children to think for themselves. They then have time to have a go at opening boxes and count out rice crackers and raspberries for their snack. Children develop their problem-solving and independence skills exceptionally well.

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need to do better?

n When younger children are ready to learn to use the potty, the childminder makes this a special, personalised experience. She reads stories to them about their favourite characters using a potty, and they go on a special shopping trip to buy their own potty. This helps children to feel excited and prepared for this next stage of learning. n Older children's views are listened to and supported superbly. For example, having previously learned about adults voting at the polling station, older children complete a ballot to choose the name of a new guinea pig. The childminder facilitates children's ideas, providing resources and extending them even further. This helps children to have a voice and feel a sense of belonging. n Parents say that the childminder 'exceeds all expectations'. They feel 'involved every step of the way' in their children's learning. The childminder tells them in great detail about their children's progress. She gives parents practical

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need to do better?

suggestions so that they can make everyday learning fun while at home. n The childminder is extremely reflective of her practice and is committed to her own professional development. She accesses additional training and research to improve her teaching, so that it is targeted and highly focused on supporting individual children. She has recently accessed training on promoting children's well-being. This has helped her to maintain consistently high-quality education.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The childminder ensures that she closely supervises children so that they are safe. She uses risk assessment very well to enable children to take part safely in real-life activities. These include caring for animals and using spray bottles to effectively clean surfaces. As she takes children on many trips away from the home, she meticulously plans these in partnership with parents and a co-childminder. This is to ensure that learning is maximised and children's safety is paramount. She has extensive knowledge of types of abuse how they could impact children's welfare. She keeps her knowledge of safeguarding up to date by attending local authority meetings and often accessing refresher training. The childminder knows exactly how to respond if an allegation of harm was made about her co-childminder.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY490405 Local authority Halton Inspection number 10280816 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 12 Number of children on roll 9 Date of previous inspection 21 August 2017

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2015 and lives in Runcorn. She operates her childminding service all year round from 7.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. She works with a co- childminder.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first 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 her evaluation of the setting. n The childminder explained to the inspector how she organises her environment, learning opportunities and curriculum. n The inspector evaluated activities with the childminder and discussed the quality of education and learning opportunities that she provides. n Parents' views were taken into account by the inspector. n The inspector observed the children at play, the childminder's interactions with them, and tracked their experiences and learning. n The inspector reviewed documentation, including paediatric first-aid certificates, accident records, children's attendance records and insurance certificates.

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Inspection activities

11 May 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

11 May 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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