Childminder in Cheshire East

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

Children play and learn in an active, enquiring manner. The childminder is alert to children's individual interests and helps them to extend their ideas and thinking. The childminder's daily routine includes lots of story times. Babies and toddlers readily cuddle up to her to hear new and familiar tales. The childminder's expressive reading helps children to understand the events in the stories. They listen with obvious fascination and enjoyment to a story about farm animals. At the end, when all of the animals are fast asleep, the childminder and the children talk in quiet voices to avoid disturbing them. This helps children to learn about being considerate to others. Children make good progress in their learning and development.

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The provision is good

Parents and carers are particularly pleased with the outings that are a regular part of the childminder's curriculum. They say that the adventures help children to develop confidence and a love of the outdoors. Parents and the childminder exchange information about children's development and care. This helps everyone to promote children's learning and well-being effectively. At tidy-up time, the children are enthusiastic helpers. Their participation promotes children's independence and personal responsibility. They learn from an early age to play their part in group tasks.

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need to do better?

n The childminder includes a balance of planned and spontaneous activities in her curriculum. For example, children are learning about relative size. They have fun finding out which small-world figures are 'too big' to sit safely in the zoo train carriage. The childminder checks and consolidates children's knowledge about size during an adult-led activity. This helps her to assess children's progress and identify what they are ready to learn next. n The childminder has a positive attitude to her own professional development. She seeks out new ideas that help her to extend children's knowledge. This is demonstrated when a conversation with a colleague prompts the childminder to show children the rings in the trunks of felled trees. She helps children to count the rings. This promotes children's mathematical development, and they begin to understand more about growth and the seasonal cycle. n Children join in eagerly with songs and action rhymes. They work hard to copy

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need to do better?

what the childminder does. The rhyming words and the rhythm help to prepare children for early literacy. The actions promote their coordination and physical development. For example, children reach their arms up to touch their heads and shoulders, then bend down to touch their knees and toes. n Children acquire new vocabulary in meaningful ways. The childminder demonstrates her own excitement about seeing a kingfisher during a recent

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need to do better?

11 January 2024 outing with the children. The memorable event helps children to learn the new word. The childminder names the things that children play with and encourages them to look closely at them. For example, she introduces the word 'tusks' and asks children to check whether all of the toy elephants have them. n The childminder models words and sentence structure to children. She does this particularly well when she joins in with and narrates children's play. For example, when children say 'cow', the childminder extends this to, 'Yes, the cow is in the shed.' Children are obviously keen to communicate. However, there are occasions when the childminder does not make sure that she encourages them to speak and take part in conversations. n The experienced childminder helps children to form habits that promote their good health. At snack time, children enjoy a portion of banana and ask for more. The childminder shows children the empty banana skin and tells them that it is

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need to do better?

all gone. She explains that they have eaten enough and that it will be lunchtime soon. This promotes children's early understanding of the importance of eating a balanced diet across the day. n The childminder identifies and minimises risks to children's safety in her work place. Her rules and routines help her to keep children safe. At snack time, children know that they must stay seated until they have finished eating. This helps to avoid incidents of choking. In addition, children learn to exercise self- control and to behave politely at the table.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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should:

n strengthen techniques for further encouraging children to participate in conversations.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY475029 Local authority Cheshire East Inspection number 10308457 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 5 Date of previous inspection 9 March 2018

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2014 and works in Nantwich. She operates all year round, from 7.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. She sometimes works with an assistant.

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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 childminder discussed her curriculum and daily routine with the inspector. They conducted a joint evaluation of children's learning. n The inspector observed and joined in with children's play. She read parents' written feedback and took account of their views. n Documents used in the childminder's provision were viewed and evaluated by the inspector.

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Inspection activities

11 January 2024 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

11 January 2024 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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