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 maintains a safe and welcoming home for the children. She provides children with a good range of accessible toys and resources that support their interests. Children are happy and behave well. They are developing positive relationships with their peers. The childminder praises and encourages the children effectively throughout their play, which in turn supports their self-confidence.

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The provision is good

The childminder knows the children in her care well and understands what they need to learn next to help them make effective progress. She has a good awareness of the curriculum and understands how activities can be tailored to support more than one area of learning. For example, she recognises that offering daily singing sessions helps to support children's developing co-ordination and communication skills. Furthermore, children enjoy using props and respond to simple actions in the songs. However, at times, the childminder does not ensure that all children, in particular the quieter children, are as fully engaged in all learning opportunities as the most able children. Nevertheless, all children were motivated and focused as they explored with resources of their choice, such as technology toys.

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need to do better?

n The childminder has a good awareness of how to build on what children know and can do. She understands the importance of ensuring that children's individual needs are well supported to help them achieve. The childminder monitors children's progress accordingly and is confident in what they need to know next. She is able to talk about the progress they have made since starting with her. n The childminder has built warm relationships with the children in her care. Younger children approach her for comfort, as needed, and older children thrive due to the reassurance she gives them on the routine for the day. The childminder helps children to learn the importance of sharing as she talks to them about turn-taking. Children are learning good skills to help them manage their emotional development well. For instance, they show care and consideration for their dolls as they play. n The childminder supports children's developing communication and language

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need to do better?

skills well. For example, she talks and models language purposefully and asks questions to encourage children's thinking. Children enjoy looking at and reading books together, with good support from the childminder. The childminder speaks clearly to the children and repeats back words well, this helps them to hear how words are pronounced. Children have many opportunities to play and explore with resources that support their development in early mathematics. For instance, children play and explore with magnets and puzzles to learn about a

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need to do better?

21 November 2023 space, shape, number and size. n The childminder teaches children about healthy lifestyles carefully. She provides children with toothbrushes and toothpaste to use in their play to give them opportunities to talk about oral health. Children benefit from regular walks, visits to other childminders' homes and local toddler groups. This provides opportunities for them to meet and socialise with other children and be physically active. n Children understand the routines in the childminder's home. For instance, they know they need to tidy away before they have snack or lunch. Children enjoy mealtimes, when they sit together and engage in conversations with the childminder. n The childminder has a good working relationship with the parents. She ensures that they are kept regularly up to date on how their children have been and shares photos of what the children have been doing during the day with her.

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need to do better?

Parents' references speak highly of the childminder. n The childminder understands the need to work with other professionals involved in the children's care and education. However, she does not make the best use of all opportunities to do this successfully. n The childminder evaluates the quality of her setting well. She regularly reflects on what she is offering to children and has successfully met her last inspection recommendations. The childminder is committed to improving her own knowledge and attends frequent training to advance her skills.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The childminder is confident in her roles and responsibilities for safeguarding children. She is able to recognise the signs and indicators that may mean a child is at risk of harm or neglect. In addition, she knows how to make a referral to help protect children's welfare. The childminder completes regular risk assessments and ensures that her premises are safe and secure. The childminder has a current paediatric first-aid certificate. This helps her to respond appropriately in the event of an accident.

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should:

n consider more closely how to monitor and adapt activities to ensure that all children, in particular quieter children, can fully engage and benefit from the learning opportunities n strengthen partnerships with other early years settings that children attend to develop more effective ways to share information about their learning and development.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY442884 Local authority West Berkshire Inspection number 10305567 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 3 Date of previous inspection 26 February 2018

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2012. She lives in Tilehurst, West Berkshire. The childminder offers her service Monday to Thursday, from 7.30am to 5.30pm, for most of the year. She has a relevant childcare qualification at level 3.

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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 The inspector observed the interactions between the childminder and children. n The inspector looked at references and letters left for her by the parents to gauge their views of the childminder. n The childminder provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation on request.

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Inspection activities

21 November 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

21 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

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