Childminder in West Berkshire

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 childminder provides a welcoming and safe home for the children. She has built good relationships with them and engages and supports them all very well, including their independence skills. Children confidently make choices about what to play with from the good range of activities and resources. The childminder supports children's learning and development effectively. She knows what she wants children to achieve before moving on and supports their next stage in learning. She demonstrates a good awareness of the curriculum and understands how activities can be used to build on children's development.

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The provision is good

The childminder knows the children well. She plans and provides activities that engage and excite them while supporting their next stage of learning. For example, children gain good concentration and physical skills as they fill containers with water and rice. On the day of the inspection, children were motivated and focused as they explored with magnets and used tweezers to pick up small plastic bears. The childminder is an effective communicator with the children. She engages them in discussions and conversations well, offering a narrative to their play. Overall, children behave well. The childminder praises and encourages the children throughout their play, which supports their self-esteem.

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need to do better?

n The childminder plans a broad curriculum that focuses on developing children's communication. For example, she confidently engages children in meaningful conversations, helping them learn new words and develop skills for communicating with others. The childminder speaks slowly and clearly to the children, which helps them to hear how words are pronounced. Children learn early mathematical concepts in preparation for school. For example, they play and explore with magnets and puzzles to learn the vocabulary of shape and size. n Children enjoy the activities on offer. They have fun playing and exploring with resources of their own choice. They have good relationships with the childminder, who is kind and caring and offers them good reassurance. The childminder talks to the children about sharing and using 'kind hands'. However, at times, the childminder does not always give children consistent messages to

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need to do better?

help them manage their behaviour, particularly about how their actions might affect others. Children are developing a sense of responsibility. For example, they know to put on their own boots and coats before going out to play. n Children follow good hygiene routines and develop their understanding about why this is important, such as washing their hands regularly. Children sit at the table together at mealtimes and enjoy healthy snacks. The childminder uses mealtimes to talk to the children about healthy eating, which helps them to learn about the impact food has on their bodies. Children have many opportunities to

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need to do better?

12 October 2023 develop their physical skills. For instance, they develop muscle control as they negotiate the stepping stones in the garden and pour and fill water with various containers. n Children's creativity is supported well. For example, they have great fun dancing and singing to nursery rhymes, using props in play and exploring with imaginative role-play toys. Children enjoy going out to places of interest, such as the library, toddler groups, local parks and shops. This helps them to learn about the world around them. However, the childminder gives less focus to supporting children's knowledge and understanding of the similarities and differences between people in the world as well as other aspects of their learning. n Partnerships with parents is strong. The childminder ensures that she keeps parents well informed of their children's development through written communication, discussions and daily messaging. This helps to maintain

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need to do better?

continuity of care. Parents praise the quality of care provided by the childminder highly. They comment on the effective communication they receive from her, and how she helped their children to settled quickly. n The childminder reflects on her own practice well and demonstrates a commitment to self-reflection. She keeps her practice up to date, attends training and regularly asks parents for feedback to enhance her provision and practice further.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The childminder has a good understanding of her role to keep children safe from harm. She has completed safeguarding training, which has helped her to be confident in the signs and indicators that may mean a child is at risk of harm. Furthermore, she understands the referral systems to follow if she has concerns about a child's welfare. The childminder understands how to keep children safe. She has appropriate risk assessments in place and procedures that she follows to help maintain children's safety. For example, when out in the community, she teaches children about the green cross code.

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should:

n provide more consistent support for children to help build on their understanding of how to manage their feelings and behaviour n extend children's knowledge and understanding of the similarities and differences between themselves and others to further develop their awareness of diversity.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY472950 Local authority West Berkshire Inspection number 10289434 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 6 Date of previous inspection 24 November 2017

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2014. She lives in Thatcham, West Berkshire. She operates from 8am to 6pm from, Monday to Thursday.

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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 provision. n The childminder explained the curriculum during a learning walk with the inspector. n The childminder and the inspector completed a joint observation of an activity together and discussed the quality of teaching and learning afterwards. n Children spoke to the inspector about the activities they took part in. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector.

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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

12 October 2023 12 October 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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