Childminder in Gloucestershire

Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Good

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The provision is outstanding

The childminder ensures that children of all ages are exceptionally settled, confident and independent. She has built very close relationships with the children. She knows them extremely well and takes every opportunity to boost their self- esteem by offering praise and acknowledgement. Young children have an impressive knowledge of routines and expectations. They explain that they have to tidy up before lunch and do so without help. The childminder ensures that children learn excellent manners from a young age, and these are evident throughout the day. Children respect one another and work extremely well as a team.

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The provision is outstanding

The childminder provides a stimulating and exciting range of activities, which are carefully planned to support children's individual learning. Children relish taking part in singing songs and using linked resources, which really bring the activity to life. They describe excitedly how they visited the cathedral dressed as kings. The childminder is exceptionally knowledgeable about children's learning. She has done extensive research into different methods of early years education and picked the aspects that work best for her and the children she cares for. She attends weekly seminars to extend her knowledge and enhance children's development. For example, she has recently done training on brain development. Children make exceptional progress.

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need to do better?

n The childminder knows children exceptionally well, which enables her to fully identify their interests and carefully assess what they need to do next. She confidently describes each child's fascinations and ways of thinking and shares this information with parents to help them understand and support these. She uses this information to provide a highly ambitious and stimulating curriculum that helps all children to make exceptional progress in all areas of their learning. n Children of all ages are extremely polite, routinely using good manners without needing reminders. The childminder is exceptionally consistent in providing clear boundaries and full explanations, such as how to share and negotiate. She uses highly effective props to help young children discuss feelings. For example, she uses wooden spoons with pictures of different emotions drawn on. She asks the children how they think she is feeling and they pick 'happy'.

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need to do better?

n Children develop the highest levels of independence and evidently know routines extremely well. They tidy up before lunchtime and all help to move the table out of the way before singing. Even the younger children go off confidently on their own to put on their coats and shoes. Children relish attending. They forge strong friendships and enjoy very close interactions with the caring childminder. They are eager to take part in interesting activities and keen to explore. For example, children use knives to cut lemons and then squeeze them to flavour water. They

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need to do better?

25 January 2024 excitedly discuss the smell and the taste. n The childminder provides stimulating activities and resources that spark children's curiosity. Children relish choosing what to do and exploring. They experiment independently with pouring out tubes of different-coloured water and making marks outside with pavement chalks. The childminder seizes every opportunity to teach children. For example, when they pretend a strap is a fire hose, she encourages them to measure it and then lies down so that they can measure her too. She then takes a photo of the children and they look at it to identify who is the tallest and who is the the shortest. n Children of all ages are exceptionally strong communicators, who express themselves with great confidence. There is a constant buzz of conversation, and the childminder and children discuss a wide variety of subjects, including the fox that they feed and the windy weather. The childminder skilfully links the

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need to do better?

discussions about the wind to the story of the three little pigs and the wolf blowing their houses down. The childminder frequently introduces new vocabulary and has a word of the week, such as 'obstacle'. n The childminder communicates exceptionally well with parents. She frequently shares information with them about their children's progress as well as giving them information about relevant topics. For example, she gives them information about the normal ups and downs of children's development to help them understand their child's behaviour and learning.

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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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Setting details

Unique reference number EY411490 Local authority Gloucestershire Inspection number 10317435 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 31 May 2018

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2010. She lives in the Wyman's Brook area of Cheltenham. She is in receipt of funding for children aged four. The childminder has a relevant level 3 qualification.

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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 showed the inspector the premises and discussed how she ensures they are safe and suitable. n The childminder and the inspector discussed how the childminder organises their early years provision, including the aims and rationale for their early years curriculum. n Children spoke to the inspector about what they enjoy doing while with the childminder. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n Parents shared their written views on the setting with the inspector.

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Inspection activities

25 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

25 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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