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 Inadequate

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The provision is good

The childminder creates a homely, inviting and engaging environment for children. She places high value on children leading their own play and learning and having uninterrupted time to explore and engage in play following their own interests. Children are highly emotionally secure owing to the strong and healthy relationships they have with the childminder. The childminder values and firmly acknowledges children's feelings. She supports children to express their emotions and to talk through why they are feeling the way they do. As a result, children are skilled at sharing how they feel and begin to develop the ability to manage their own behaviour very well.

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The provision is good

The childminder is highly skilled at steering children's learning in different directions to draw out their knowledge and challenge their thinking. Children use their mathematical skills to search for shapes around the room, which the childminder enthusiastically entices them to find. Children use excellent thinking and language skills as they answer the childminder's questions about their favourite role-play characters. Children develop a love of reading as they excitedly explore books with the childminder. They relish the opportunity to tell the childminder all about the planets, what shape they are and a host of other learned information about space.

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need to do better?

n The childminder has made many improvements since the last inspection. She has addressed all actions and recommendations raised and shows an extremely positive attitude towards ongoing improvements. n The childminder has an in-depth knowledge of early years and how children learn. She uses her skills to carefully understand what children know and can do and the skills they need to develop. The childminder uses this information to plan activities and experiences and to inform her interactions with children to help them make good progress. n Overall, the childminder implements her intentions for children's learning very well. Older children benefit greatly from the well-informed and purposeful interactions that promote their learning well. However, the childminder is less focused on the learning intentions for the younger children. As a result, these children benefit less from activities and interactions as their learning is not

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need to do better?

always fully considered. n The childminder promotes children's language skills very well. She asks well- posed questions that encourage back-and-forth conversation with the older children. As a result, children learn to form long sentences and use a wide vocabulary to express their thoughts. n Good hygiene practices help to ensure that children's personal needs are met. The childminder ensures that surfaces are clean before children sit to eat and

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need to do better?

6 November 2023 implements handwashing as part of the daily routine. Children learn important healthy habits, which promotes their well-being. n The childminder helps children to respect and celebrate what makes them unique. For example, children learn about different family dynamics through books and discussions and have opportunities to talk about their own home experiences. This good focus on promoting diversity helps children to develop positive attitudes and respect for different people. n Children build extremely positive attitudes to learning. They become deeply engaged in their play, using their imagination to role play with the small-world toys. Children show high levels of curiosity during planned activities. They sit for long periods, investigating different ways to spread paint. Children rapidly become motivated and keen learners. n The childminder is experienced, well qualified and keeps her knowledge up to

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need to do better?

date through frequent professional development opportunities. She reflects well on new knowledge gained and implements this into her practice. Following recent training around children's play, the childminder now ensures that children have plenty of opportunities to play independently without unnecessary interruption. n The childminder fully understands and values the impact that working in partnership with parents has on children. There is an effective two-way flow of communication, which means that the childminder and parents understand each child's care and learning needs. Parents speak highly of the childminder and her assistant and of the experiences they provide for their children.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Children are kept safe in the childminder's secure premises. They have access to indoor and outdoor play spaces, which the childminder frequently assesses for risks. Children are well supervised, especially when eating. The childminder is alert to signs a child may be at risk of abuse and is confident in the procedures to follow in the event of a concern. The childminder has attended recent training in safeguarding children. Therefore, she has up-to-date knowledge on new information and the latest concerns around child protection.

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should:

n focus more precisely on the learning intentions for younger children to strengthen implementation of the curriculum for these children.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY542459 Local authority Lancashire Inspection number 10304768 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 12 Date of previous inspection 27 June 2023

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2017 and lives in Heysham. She operates all year round from 7.45am to 5.30pm, Monday to Thursday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder works together with an assistant on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The childminder provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. She holds early years professional status. The childminder's assistant holds an appropriate qualification at level 3.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic with the childminder and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the setting. n The childminder spoke to the inspector about how she organises her early years provision, including the aims and rationale for her early years foundation stage curriculum. n The childminder showed the inspector the premises and discussed how she ensures that they are safe and suitable. n Children spoke to the inspector about what they enjoy doing while with the childminder. n The childminder and the inspector carried out a joint observation during a planned activity. n The childminder provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation.

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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

6 November 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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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