Childminder in Gloucestershire

Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

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

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The provision requires improvement

Children arrive happy and are keen to get involved in play. The childminder and her assistants keep children safe. They assess risk effectively and minimise hazards to children. Parents and children speak fondly of the childminder and they develop secure relationships with her. Overall, children generally enjoy the activities and experiences on offer. However, due to weaknesses in the implementation of the key-person system, these are not always tailored and planned for as effectively as they could be to ensure all children have full opportunity to reach their individual potential.

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The provision requires improvement

The childminder has made some improvements since her previous inspection. She has completed some training to improve her knowledge, and the quality of teaching is improving. However, the childminder and her assistants have not engaged with professional development opportunities enough and, subsequently, improvements are very gradual. Although the childminder has maintained effective safeguarding practice and improved the quality of teaching with regard to some aspects of communication and language, the overall quality of the provision is still not good enough.

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The provision requires improvement

Children behave well. They make friends easily and enjoy playing with others. The childminder and her assistant use effective methods to help children to take turns and share. For example, they use sand timers to indicate when it is the next person's turn and ensure that there are enough resources so that all children can participate in the activities.

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need to do better?

n The childminder and her assistants keep their mandatory training up to date. They have good awareness of child protection and understand their roles and responsibilities in regard to safeguarding children. There are adequate first aiders deployed effectively to be on hand to deal with any accidents or injuries that may occur. n The childminder and her assistants have a moderate understanding of how children learn and are beginning to use observation and assessment more effectively to track children's progress. All children are allocated a key person. However, adults do not carry out their roles and responsibilities as a key person effectively. For example, they do not always remember who their key children are, and they do not tailor the care and education they provide sharply enough to children's individual needs and next steps in learning. Subsequently, children do not make as much progress as they could.

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need to do better?

n At times, the childminder and her assistants support children's speech and language skills effectively. For instance, they ensure they speak to each child

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need to do better?

30 January 2024 regularly and share their attention between children during group activities. Adults engage children successfully in music and singing activities that increase children's vocabularies and enhance their speaking skills. However, they do not effectively question children in a way that promotes thinking and conversational skills most effectively. n The childminder and her assistants encourage children to spend time throughout the day outdoors in the fresh air. In the garden, children enjoy throwing and catching balls, bouncing on trampolines and making marks with chalks. The regular time outdoors promotes healthy lifestyles and enhances children's physical development well. n Children develop a range of independence skills during their time with the childminder, such as getting themselves dressed and putting on their coats to go outside. Children are supported in toilet training and transition well from nappies

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need to do better?

to using the potty. However, despite this being raised as an area to improve at the previous inspection, the childminder and her assistants fail to extend children's development further to help them transition from the potty to the toilet in preparation for school and their future lives. n The childminder and her assistants help children to develop good awareness of the importance of good personal hygiene. They promote routines such as washing hands before mealtimes. n Children receive regular praise and encouragement from adults. This helps them to develop positive attitudes to learning. n Parents are positive about the care and education their children receive. The childminder regularly shares information with parents about what their child has been doing during their time with her through verbal discussions and via messaging. This helps to offer a continuity of care for children. n Overall, the childminder and her assistants are warm and caring towards

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need to do better?

children. However, at times, adults do not fully acknowledge children's emotions and they miss opportunities to talk to children about how they are feeling. They do not always take time to understand the cause of children's emotions and behaviour to enable them to best support the child.

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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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Due date

30 January 2024 improve knowledge and understanding of the role of the key person, to tailor the curriculum more closely to each child's care and learning needs so that they make the best possible progress 29/03/2024

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Due date

improve questioning skills to support children's communication and language development and learning to a consistently good level 29/03/2024

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Due date

ensure the premises is organised effectively to support children's independence and self-care in using the toilet in preparation for school. 09/02/2024

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should:

n support children to learn about and understand their feelings and emotions.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 101315 Local authority Gloucestershire Inspection number 10279679 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 10 Date of previous inspection 7 February 2023

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 1998 and lives in the Charlton Kings area of Cheltenham. She employs three assistants to work alongside her at various times. The childminder provides care Monday to Friday, from 7.30am to 5.30pm, all year round. She receives funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with the childminder and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the childminder. n The inspector viewed all of the premises and discussed with the childminder and her assistant how they ensure it is safe and suitable. n The inspector observed the interactions between the adults and children during daily routines and activities, both indoors and in the garden, and assessed the impact these were having on children's learning. n The inspector held discussions with the childminder and her assistant at appropriate times during the inspection, including discussing the childminder's self-evaluation. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation, including checking the suitability of the childminder, her assistants and other household members. n The inspector completed a learning walk to understand the provision and how the curriculum is organised.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector took account of the views of the childminder, her assistant and children and parents spoken to on the day of the inspection. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the childminder.

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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

30 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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