Childminder in Somerset

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 in the care of this exceptional childminder. They take part in a superb range of learning experiences which capture their imaginations. Children excitedly search for different minibeasts as part of a bug hunt around the garden. They demonstrate great focus as they tick off the minibeasts they have found on their clipboards. Toddlers are extremely well supported to join in activities with the pre-school age children. Vocabulary development is exceptionally good. Children frequently learn challenging words, such as 'red admiral' butterfly. They relish spending time with the childminder and laugh as they play together. The childminder is highly reflective and uses every opportunity to extend children's learning in a fun and meaningful way. Teaching is incredibly effective and children remain actively engaged for extensive periods of time.

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The provision is outstanding

The childminder encourages children to be creative and develop their talents. They explore mixing different colours with play dough and carefully add pipe cleaners to their creations to make minibeasts. They experiment with soapy water in a tray and take great delight as they squeeze sponges to make bubbles. Children share resources and are unfailingly kind to each other. They listen extremely well to the childminder and expertly recreate her teaching in their independent play. They excitedly investigate insects and spiders preserved in resin using magnifying glasses. Toddlers line the insects up and accurately practise counting to 10. They demonstrate excellent mathematical skills and knowledge.

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need to do better?

n The childminder provides an extremely well-thought-out curriculum. She makes links across all areas of learning as part of a highly effective topic-based approach. Children choose from very well-planned and stimulating activities designed to provoke their interest. She uses high-quality books to extend children's understanding and to introduce ambitious vocabulary, such as 'drone bees'. Children make rapid progress in all areas of learning. n Children develop a great love of singing. The childminder skilfully interweaves learning new nursery rhymes and songs into the children's day. Children become engrossed in listening to the rhymes and enthusiastically join in words and actions. They joyfully sing the songs they have learned as they play independently. n Children who speak English as an additional language make excellent progress. They are confident communicators in both languages. The childminder

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need to do better?

enthusiastically encourages children to teach her words from their home language. She delights as she states that this week she learned the Polish word for spider. Younger children receive highly effective additional support, such as through the use of pictures to explain meaning. The childminder promotes

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need to do better?

13 September 2023 children's language development exceptionally well. n Behaviour is incredibly good. Children initiate activities and enthusiastically invite others to join in their play. They harmoniously work together to create their own simple games and take turns sharing resources. The childminder encourages children to vote for activities they want to take part in next. Children engage exceptionally well in the decision-making process and happily accept the majority vote. The childminder supports children's character development very well. n The childminder makes excellent use of outdoor learning opportunities. Children learn to plant seeds to grow an extensive range of their own fruit and vegetables. Children help to harvest the produce which the childminder then uses to provide them with healthy snacks and meals. Children have a fantastic knowledge of where their food has come from and develop a rich understanding

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need to do better?

of different ways of life. n The childminder continuously updates her skills and knowledge through targeted learning. She attends groups with the children where she enhances her own knowledge, such as forest-school sessions. She regularly listens to early education podcasts and takes part in webinars. She skilfully adapts her teaching to include new learning and monitors the impact on children. For example, she has recently made changes to her practice to allow children to become more deeply immersed in their learning. n Parent partnerships are excellent. The childminder fully considers the best way to communicate with parents, especially parents who speak English as an additional language. Parents appreciate communication in the form of written daily diaries and photographs on an online learning journal where they can take their time to translate information at home. They feel very well informed of their

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The childminder is extremely vigilant at keeping children safe from harm. She has an excellent knowledge of a wide range of safeguarding issues. She is very confident in recognising the signs and symptoms of a wide range of abuse and knows how to report any concerns she may have. The childminder carries out thorough, daily risk assessments of her home and garden. Children learn to stay safe as they play. The childminder teaches them about plants they can safely touch and those which they need to be more careful near, such as blackberry bushes. She ensures that areas of her garden that are less visible are only accessed with direct adult supervision.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY494859 Local authority Somerset Inspection number 10305262 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 13 Date of previous inspection 15 February 2018

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2015 and lives in Yeovil, Somerset. She holds a relevant qualification at level 3. She operates all year round, Monday to Friday, from 8am to 6pm, except for bank holidays and family holidays. She is in receipt of funding for early years education for children aged two- and three-years-old.

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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 discussed how the childminder organises their early years provision, including the aims and rationale for their early years foundation stage curriculum. n Children spoke to the inspector about what they enjoy doing while with the childminder. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, both indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n Parents shared their views on 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

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

13 September 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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