Childminder in North Northamptonshire

Overall effectiveness Good

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

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The provision is good

Children are happy and content in the safe and welcoming environment. They clearly enjoy being in the childminder's company and have built strong relationships with her. The childminder understands children's learning needs, likes and dislikes and considers these when planning experiences inside and outside the home. Children are eager to learn and explore the activities that the childminder provides.

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The provision is good

The childminder places a high emphasis on supporting children's independence. From a young age, she supports children in learning how to do things for themselves. Children hang up their coats and put on their slippers after playing outside. They are confident to make choices about their play and to express their wants and needs. The childminder offers lots of praise and encouragement, which motivates children to keep trying when they do not succeed at tasks on their first attempt. This boosts children's self-esteem and promotes a 'can-do' attitude to learning.

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The provision is good

Children of all ages demonstrate a love of books and reading. Very young children independently select books from the varied range that the childminder provides. With great care and dexterity, they turn pages one at a time, pausing to look at pictures that interest them. The childminder regularly reads children's favourite stories. She asks questions to engage children in the story and to develop their understanding and communication skills. The childminder leaves gaps in the story to encourage children to think about what words she has overlooked. Children predict what is coming next and excitedly shout out the missing words.

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need to do better?

n The childminder attends mandatory training, such as safeguarding and paediatric first aid, to help her refresh her knowledge of how to keep children safe. Additionally, she has worked on strengthening her professional knowledge. For instance, she has sought advice and support from her local authority to help improve her understanding and practice. n The childminder knows the children in her care well. She uses observations to establish what progress children are making in their development and what they need to do to progress further. However, sometimes, children's next steps in learning do not accurately match their current age and stage of development. This means that activities are not always tailored well enough to ensure that all children remain consistently engaged and challenged in their learning. n Children of all ages enjoy singing songs and rhymes. They show their excitement as the childminder invites them to come and sing with her. The childminder

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need to do better?

introduces a bag of objects that represent different songs. She rotates what is in the bag, which heightens children's excitement and anticipation. Children learn

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need to do better?

27 March 2024 to take turns as they each select something out of the bag. They successfully link the objects to familiar songs and confidently join in with the words and actions. n Children develop positive relationships with each other. Overall, children of all ages play well together. The childminder takes children to groups in the community where children learn to play alongside others. Overall, the childminder supports children well to understand the boundaries and expectations for behaviour. However, this is not always implemented consistently to help children to learn to regulate their own behaviour and to understand how this has an impact on others. n The childminder recognises children's love to play outdoors. She ensures that children have daily opportunities to play in the garden and at parks in the local community. Children develop their physical skills as they climb the steps on the slide and are reminded how to do this safely by the childminder. They use their

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need to do better?

small-muscle skills as they handle spoons to scoop dried pasta from one pot to the next in the role-play kitchen. Children use chalk to make marks on boards. Older children show good control as they carefully draw around their own and the childminder's hands. n The childminder builds positive relationships with parents. She regularly seeks their views and provides them with regular updates about their child's development and next steps for learning. Parents' written comments express that they are happy with the provision and the care and learning that their children receive. n The childminder interweaves common themes, such as numbers, shapes and colours, into children's learning throughout the day to reinforce what they already know and to extend their knowledge. Children say how old they are while holding up the corresponding number of fingers. They quickly work out who is the oldest and who is the youngest. Children use different-shaped objects

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need to do better?

dipped in paint to create patterns on paper. The childminder encourages children to begin to consider what colour they have made when they mix two colours of paint together.

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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 ensure that next steps in children's learning consistently match their current age and stage of development so that they remain engaged and challenged in their

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should:

27 March 2024 learning n find more ways to help children to learn to regulate their behaviour and to understand how this may impact on others.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 220828 Local authority North Northamptonshire Inspection number 10293833 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 5 Date of previous inspection 11 April 2023

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 1996 and lives in Corby, Northamptonshire. She operates all year round from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds an early years qualification at level 3. She provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the COVID-19 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 that they are safe and suitable. n The childminder spoke to the inspector about how she organises her early years setting, including the aims and rationale for her curriculum. n Children communicated with the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector observed the interactions between the childminder and the children. n The inspector read parents' written comments and took account of their views. n The childminder provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation on request.

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Inspection activities

27 March 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

27 March 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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