Childminder in Lancashire

Overall effectiveness Good

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

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The provision is good

The childminder provides the children with a warm and nurturing environment. Children are made to feel welcome by the childminder's caring and friendly manner. They form close and secure relationships with the childminder and enjoy her company. The childminder is attentive and thoughtful and ensures that children's well-being is considered at all times. The childminder has created a curriculum with a child-centred approach. Children make their own choices about what they want to learn or do and cooperate well with their peers when sharing resources. Children explore in their own way and test out their ideas. For example, when using play dough, children make different shapes and discuss with each other about their successes and what they want to do next.

p.2

The provision is good

Children are motivated to explore the interesting areas in the setting. They are keen to learn and show positive attitudes to the skills and knowledge they have learned. The childminder is clear about what she wants children to learn next. She finds out about children's existing knowledge and their current interests when they start. This information is used to plan meaningful and interesting activities to help support children's learning.

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need to do better?

n Children respect the rules and boundaries in the setting and listen intently to what the childminder has to say. They show considerate behaviour to their peers and interact well with other adults. For example, they readily take turns, use good manners and share their thoughts with the inspector. n The childminder encourages children to do things for themselves. As a result, children develop their independence skills well. Children are keen to take on roles and responsibilities, such as deciding where to eat snack and then setting up accordingly. They persevere with arranging their chairs and independently go to use the toilet and wash their hands. This develops their self-confidence and sense of responsibility well. n The childminder takes children out into the community to visit the beach, shops and watch public performances in the park. They learn about road safety on all these outings. The childminder embraces opportunities to meet people of

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need to do better?

different ethnicities outside the setting. This helps children to understand and respect cultural backgrounds that are different to their own. n Parents have nothing but praise for the childminder. They say that the childminder's loving nature and knowledge of development goes above and beyond what they expected. They say that she is very understanding of children's different needs and home situations. Parents feel communications are excellent, and they are kept well informed of all aspects. These partnerships help to provide a consistent approach for children.

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need to do better?

25 May 2023 n The childminder provides children with good interactions as she plays games with them. She sensitively supports children in their understanding of activities, such as when playing a recycling board game with specific rules to follow. The childminder sits at children's level and ensures that she makes eye contact when interacting with them. However, at times, the childminder does not give children enough time to share their own thoughts or ideas during activities. This impacts on their communication, as they do not always have time to process what is said to them. n The childminder works effectively with the other settings that children attend, such as schools and nurseries. For example, they share strategies for transition and settling in to help support children's emotional well-being. This ensures high levels of continuity for children's care and learning and enables her to plan a curriculum to meet the needs of the children who attend her provision.

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need to do better?

n The childminder has a wide range of resources for children to access. She has a good range of books available, and they are well presented and accessible for all ages. However, children do not always access books independently or readily engage with the stories read to them. Likewise, they do not always sing songs or listen to rhymes with the childminder. This can impact on the development of children's imagination and love of books. n The childminder is well qualified and values her own continuous professional development. For example, she has formed professional relationships with other childminders who share best practice and ideas with each other. The childminder seeks out courses of value and invests her time and resources into further developing her knowledge and skills.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The childminder shows good knowledge of the procedures to follow in the event of concerns about a child. She understands her responsibilities to keep children safe, and she renews her safeguarding knowledge regularly through training. The childminder creates risk assessments for all external outings and follows suitable processes when she takes children on these trips. She carries out thorough assessments of all areas of her home to outline any hazards or risks, including the garden area, which is enhanced with safety matting.

p.3

should:

n plan more opportunities for children to develop their love of reading through stories, songs and rhymes n allow more time for children to think and formulate answers to questions to build on their learning.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 308152 Local authority Lancashire Inspection number 10285964 Type of provision Childminder

p.4

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 13 Date of previous inspection 26 October 2017

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 1994 and lives in the Bowerham area of Lancaster. She operates all year round from 7:30am until 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, except bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 3. She 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 setting. n The inspector took into account parents' views. n The inspector spoke to children during the inspection. n The inspector observed a planned activity and evaluated this together with the childminder. n The childminder and the inspector completed a learning walk together to discuss the areas of learning, the curriculum and what they want children to learn. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation, including the childminder's first- aid certificate.

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Inspection activities

25 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

25 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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