Childminder in Kent

Overall effectiveness Good

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

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The provision is good

Children develop secure and trusting relationships with the childminder. They are happy and settled in her care. The childminder provides a safe and secure environment, which children confidently explore. For example, children freely access resources that interest them and move between the different play areas in the childminder's home. The childminder encourages the children to start the day with a 'wake up, shake up' dance. Children show delight and copy the childminder's actions to the music. This helps children to settle in.

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The provision is good

The childminder organises a variety of messy activities in the cabin in the garden. Children enjoy painting and are eager to explore the different coloured paints and tools available. For example, they paint pictures using different-sized paintbrushes and sponges. The childminder comments on the different marks they make. Children spend a lot of their time outside being physically active. They visit local parks and soft-play centres. Children recently learned about the life cycle of caterpillars and released butterflies into the childminder's garden. In addition, children are learning about hibernation. The childminder has a tortoise and talks to the children about how long tortoises sleep for in the winter.

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need to do better?

n The childminder is proactive in ensuring she keeps her knowledge up to date and has recently attended a number of training courses. For example, she has updated her safeguarding training and she is currently studying a course about child development. She is keen to do some training on supporting children's speech and language development. n The childminder uses assessment to monitor the progress children make. She liaises with other agencies, such as the local authority, to ensure she is supporting children's learning. The childminder plans activities to promote specific areas of development. However, she does not always focus her teaching precisely enough to target children's identified next steps. n The childminder supports children's communication and language development well. She reads to children, repeats words back to them and allows them time to look at the books. The childminder comments on children's play. For example,

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need to do better?

she says, 'Over the bridge,' as children push the train over the bridge they have made. n Parents are very happy with the care their children receive. They are updated daily on the activities their children take part in and the outings they go on. Parents feel able to share any concerns they have about their children's development and feel that the childminder supports them well. One parent describes the childminder's setting as a 'home from home'. Parents feel that their children are making good progress.

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need to do better?

28 February 2024 n The childminder plans activities following children's interests. For example, she provides animal puzzle boards to help support children's concentration skills. However, she does not always recognise children's emerging interests. For example, when children lose interest in an activity, the childminder does not always adapt her teaching to support their engagement and attention skills. n The childminder encourages children's independence. She reminds children that they need to change their shoes before going outside and to put their coats on. Outside, children explore a variety of resources to support their physical development. For example, they enjoy using ride-on toys and playing ball games. n The childminder supports children to understand the rules and boundaries in her home. She speaks to children about walking inside and washing their hands before having snack. The childminder calmly reminds children about these rules

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need to do better?

when they forget. For example, she supports children to put the toys away before getting new ones out. n The childminder takes children out in the local community. For example, she takes children to the zoo and local parks, on woodland walks and visits local toddler groups weekly. This helps children's physical development and supports their understanding of the world. n The childminder provides children with a variety of healthy snacks and meals. Children enjoy breakfast when they arrive, before going out to take older children to school. Children have fresh fruit and savoury snacks mid-morning and the childminder provides a hot cooked meal at lunchtime.

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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.

p.3

should:

n focus teaching more precisely on the skills children need to learn next n make the most of opportunities to extend children's learning and attention skills, following their individual interests.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY496827 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10311759 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 1 Date of previous inspection 9 April 2018

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2016. She lives in Dartford, Kent. The childminder offers care from Monday to Friday, 7.30am to 5.30pm, all year. The childminder has a level 2 childcare 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 and the inspector discussed how the childminder organises their early years provision, including the aims and rationale for their early years foundation stage curriculum. n The childminder spoke to the inspector about children's learning and development with a particular focus on communication and language. n The inspector observed the interactions between the childminder and children. n Parents shared their views on the childminder with the inspector.

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Inspection activities

28 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

28 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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