Childminder in Norfolk

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 feel relaxed and safe, welcoming visitors with a huge smile before eagerly inviting them into the well-resourced and stimulating playroom. Children feel a sense of belonging and pride, when self-registering on arrival, and proudly admire their individual artwork that the childminder presents beautifully on the walls. The childminder has a calm and caring demeanour that means children swiftly build trusting and secure attachments with her.

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The provision is good

Children make significant progress in their communication skills. The childminder implements daily activities to develop their speech and language in fun and familiar ways. During daily rhyme time, the childminder ensures inclusivity and very good learning experiences for all children by introducing nursery rhyme props. Younger children maintain high levels of involvement with their older peers as they join in with familiar words to the song 'Hickory, dickory dock'. Children say, 'Boo' with the mouse, expressing their playful character.

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The provision is good

Children are well behaved and respond positively to the childminder's gentle reminders to say please and thank you. Young children show acts of kindness when independently offering their older peers a drink. The childminder prioritises children's emotional and physical well-being. Children benefit from a variety of outings, such as visits to the zoo, weekly toddler groups and the local library.

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need to do better?

n Teaching is meaningful and of a high quality. The childminder has a good knowledge of how children learn. She provides an ambitious curriculum that supports all areas of learning and development. The childminder has robust assessments in place to identify any gaps in children's learning. She ensures all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, thrive and have their individual needs met. n The childminder knows individual children well. She plans activities, both indoors and outdoors, around their unique interests and next stages of learning. Children learn about sustainability while developing mathematical concepts. They count in sequence, reusing natural objects, such as sticks, they have collected themselves on nature walks. n Real-life experiences are at the heart of this setting. Children enjoy making their own binoculars and use them to spot birds in the local woodlands. Children are

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need to do better?

motivated and curious to learn, inquisitively searching high and low for birds in a joyful way. The childminder introduces bird names, such as 'robin' and 'seagull'. She responds well to young children's first words and applauds their attempts to say them. Children's learning is enhanced when the childminder introduces an interactive book about birds in winter. The questions she asks help to embed this

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need to do better?

16 January 2024 new knowledge as children recall information they have learned. Children confidently point to a robin in the book and say, 'Robins eat worms in winter.' n Children play cooperatively. They learn to share and accept the needs of others effectively, with turn-taking games. Placing tokens in a 'kindness jar' increases children's self-esteem, affirming their positive behaviours and actions. n Children are confident to ask for help during their play. The childminder responds positively to their requests, listening to their needs patiently, before offering support. However, at times the childminder completes tasks for them. For example, during a play dough activity, she makes ball shapes for children's snowman creation. This reduced children's involvement in problem-solving, testing out ideas and developing or consolidating physical skills, such as developing finger muscles when rolling and kneading the dough.

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need to do better?

n Children develop good health and hygiene practices. The childminder provides fresh home-cooked meals for children. Older children independently wash their hands before mealtimes and after messy play activities. The childminder gives meaningful praise and role models consistent and effective hygiene routines that support younger children to become increasingly independent in their self-care needs. n The childminder is passionate about what she does and strives to continuously improve her practice, attending training opportunities to ensure the best outcomes for children in her care. Parents are incredibly complimentary about daily online and face-to-face communication from the childminder. Parents complement the home-learning resources the childminder provides that help them to extend their children's learning at home.

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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 provide further opportunities for children to learn through trial and error, encouraging them to work things out for themselves.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY498806 Local authority Norfolk Inspection number 10316870 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 7 Date of previous inspection 25 May 2018

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2016 and lives in Thetford, Norfolk. The childminder operates all year round from 7am to 6pm from Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. She provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the childminder has received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector and the childminder discussed the impact of the pandemic, and the inspector has taken that into account in their evaluation of the childminder. n The childminder and the inspector completed a learning walk together to discuss the childminder's intention for children's learning. The childminder discussed with the inspector how they ensure both indoors and outside environments are safe and suitable. n The inspector spoke with a parent and read comments from parents to gather their views on the childcare setting. n The inspector discussed with the childminder how she will implement the curriculum and support all children to make progress, including how the childminder intends to plan, observe and assess children in their care. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided and assessed the

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Inspection activities

impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the childminder. n Documentation, including suitability checks for members of the household, insurance and first-aid certificates, were looked at. n The inspector asked the childminder questions throughout the inspection to establish her understanding of how to safeguard children.

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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

16 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

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

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