Childminder in West Northamptonshire

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 Inadequate

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The provision requires improvement

Children enjoy spending time with the childminder and are happy and relaxed in her care. Those newest to her setting are helped to settle through gentle interactions and reassurance. However, the childminder does not consistently plan activities which help children build on what they already know and can do. Although the childminder ensures children can access resources and activities appropriate to their ages, she does not understand how to support children to build on their current level of understanding. For example, as children use their imagination and pretend to make pancakes, the childminder does not tailor her support to help them develop their ideas and increase their existing knowledge. As a result, the learning that does occur is incidental and not carefully targeted by the childminder.

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The provision requires improvement

Children enjoy listening to stories with the childminder. They talk about what they see and tell the childminder what will happen next. For example, they know that when the wolf in the story asks people to help him, they are 'not kind' and say 'no'. The childminder encourages children's speech as she asks questions and gives time for them to respond. This helps to build on children's communication skills.

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The provision requires improvement

Children are supported to develop appropriate personal care skills as they access the toilet and know to wash their hands before snacks and meals. Toddlers are assisted in this, and the childminder talks to them about how this helps to 'get them clean' before they eat. Children develop confidence and self-esteem through praise from the childminder. For example, when they cut up the pretend fruit, she claps and tells them how 'clever' they are.

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need to do better?

n Since the last inspection, the childminder has taken steps to develop her understanding of how children learn and attended a range of training focused on improving her practice. However, she continues to struggle to understand how to create a curriculum that challenges children and helps them to make the progress they are capable of. Therefore, although children make some progress given their starting points, this progress is not yet as rapid as it should be. n The childminder does not organise the play environment to encourage children to explore or adapt their play. A range of resources and activities are provided by the childminder each day. While children generally engage in what is on offer, the childminder does not encourage them to access the wealth of other toys available to enable them to extend their play ideas or challenge their learning further. Furthermore, the childminder does not carefully consider children's

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need to do better?

interests and development needs during some adult-led activities. Consequently, children struggle to engage and soon become bored.

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need to do better?

13 February 2024 n The childminder has improved her knowledge and understanding of safeguarding children from harm. She has completed a range of training, including paediatric first aid and safeguarding, and has worked closely with the local authority to improve her practice and to support children's safety. n The childminder provides children with a safe environment and teaches them how to stay safe. However, she does not maintain areas to ensure they are clean and suitable for use, particularly areas where children eat and sleep. This has the potential to impact children's good health. n The childminder ensures she maintains appropriate documentation and records, such as completing daily registers and medication records. These help her to support the needs of the children in her care. n The childminder works hard to ensure she maintains a two-way flow of information with parents. She offers new children a gradual settling-in process

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need to do better?

and uses information gathered from parents to help children adjust well to their new environment. The childminder talks to parents each day about how their child has been and what they have enjoyed playing with. However, she does not share ideas or support them to help continue their child's learning at home. n The childminder ensures children have opportunities to develop physical skills. She takes children on walks in the local area and makes good use of parks where they learn to climb and run freely. The childminder provides children with small pincers and tweezers. Children carefully use these to pick up various-sized softballs out of a tray. This helps to develop their small-muscle skills in readiness to hold a pencil. n The childminder helps children learn how to behave appropriately through demonstration and consistent messages. She encourages children to share the pincers and tweezers they are playing with. The childminder reminds children to

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need to do better?

use good manners. Children learn to be polite and behave well.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

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

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Due date

13 February 2024 create and deliver a curriculum which identifies what children need to learn and how this reflects their individual needs, offers appropriate challenges and reflects their different interests 12/03/2024

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Due date

develop the learning environment and adult-led activities to incorporate children's interests and next steps in learning to ensure they are consistently engaged in meaningful activities and interactions that support their development 12/03/2024

p.4

Due date

ensure areas where children play and eat and are maintained in a clean and hygienic manner, this is in relation to the lounge/dining room. 20/02/2024

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should:

n share better information with parents regarding children's learning to enable them to build on their child's learning at home.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY437284 Local authority West Northamptonshire Inspection number 10313529 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 12 September 2023

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2011 and lives in Dallington, Northampton. She operates all year round from 7am to 8pm, Monday to Friday, except bank holidays and family holidays.

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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 the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The childminder and the inspector discussed how the early years provision in organised, including the aims and rationale for their curriculum. n Children spoke with the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The childminder and the inspector discussed how the curriculum had been implemented and the impact that this had on children's learning. n The childminder provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation on request.

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Inspection activities

13 February 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

13 February 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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