Childminder in Thurrock

Inspection date: 12 March 2024 - 17 April 2024

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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 Good

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The provision requires improvement

The childminder and her assistant do not organise daily routines well enough to keep children, especially the younger ones, fully engaged. Children wait for long periods of time between activities while the assistant and childminder organise the next part of the day. As a result, they find their own amusement, for example jumping up and down on the sofa. The childminder has taken steps to make sure that there is no negative impact on children's behaviour while they are changing the routines. However, at times, the childminder still does not organise daily routines well enough to keep all children fully engaged so that they can move on to the next activity when they are ready.

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The provision requires improvement

Children settle well and form secure bonds with the childminder and her assistant, who are kind and caring towards them. Although the childminder has taken steps to discuss children's learning with parents and carers, she has not consistently followed this through to ensure that all children get the additional support they may need. Nevertheless, children have good levels of confidence and independence. The childminder and her assistant continually encourage children to learn how to do things for themselves. This helps children to develop resilience when facing challenge, for example younger children use their developing coordination skills to spoon pasta into their mouths. The childminder provides lots of encouragement and support that keeps them persevering when the pasta falls off their spoon. Older children tuck into their packed lunches, discussing with each other what they have to eat. During activities, younger children watch what their

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The provision requires improvement

older peers do. They show their memory skills as they recall how to purposefully push arm and leg pieces into potato-shaped toys.

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need to do better?

n The childminder identifies where children may need more help to make the progress of which they are capable. She plans and provides activities to support children where they may have additional needs. However, she has not taken all necessary steps to ensure that every child has access to external support where this is indicated. While the childminder arranges for some specialists, such as paediatricians and speech therapists, to visit children in her setting, she has not ensured that this is in place for all children who may need it. n The childminder and her assistant give insufficient thought to daily routines, such as tidying up and mealtimes. At times, both adults are engaged in routine tasks, and children have to wait longer than necessary to move on to the next part of their play. Overall, the childminder and her assistant manage any incidents of unwanted behaviour successfully; however, they still have to

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need to do better?

intervene in some behavioural issues when children are not as well engaged. n Older children use their imagination as they create a game of skittles using

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need to do better?

12 March 2024 plastic animals. Children find a large, soft ball and roll it, knocking over the animals. They show that they remember playing this game before, as they declare a 'strike'. Children talk to the childminder and assistant about their families, showing an awareness of their home lives outside of the setting. n Children enjoy lots of music and movement. The childminder and her assistant encourage them to explore different ways to move with scarves and streamers. Children energetically perform the actions to a song about a baby shark, remembering to pretend to run away at the end. n The childminder and her assistant work very closely together. They discuss practice and ideas for activities daily. The childminder offers her assistant training opportunities to extend her knowledge and skills. The assistant, who has worked with the childminder for many years, says that she feels valued and supported. The childminder makes use of training and guidance from a range of

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need to do better?

sources to support their professional development. n Children explore large trays of resources linked to a theme or children's interests. For example, following on from their interest in Arctic animals and snow, the childminder put together an activity to enable children to explore this interest further. Children learn how to use pipettes to spray warm water onto toys frozen in ice. They share their amazement as they notice how the ice melts around the toys. The childminder makes good use of children's interest to introduce new words, such as 'frozen' and 'melting'. She encourages children to repeat and use these words to develop their communication and language skills.

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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

ensure that where there are concerns about children's progress, in the prime areas of learning, an agreement is reached with parents about how to support the child, including where additional support may be required. 21/05/2024

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should:

12 March 2024 n review the organisation of daily routines and activities so that children are purposefully engaged and supported.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY103455 Local authority Thurrock Inspection number 10311744 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 12 Number of children on roll 15 Date of previous inspection 9 April 2018

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2000 and lives in Grays, Essex. She operates all year round, from 7.30am to 5.30pm on Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds an appropriate qualification at level 3. She works with an assistant.

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Inspection activities

n The inspection started on 12 March. Inspectors returned on 17 April to gather additional evidence in line with Ofsted inspections and visits: Deferring, pausing and gathering additional evidence policy. n This was the first routine inspection the childminder received since the COVID- 19 pandemic began. The inspectors discussed the impact of the pandemic with the childminder and have taken that into account in their evaluation of the childminder. n The childminder and the inspectors discussed how the childminder organises their early years provision, including the aims and rationale for their curriculum. n Children spoke to the inspectors during the inspection. n The inspectors observed the interactions between the childminder, assistant and children. n The childminder and inspectors discussed how the curriculum had been implemented and the impact that this had on children's learning. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspectors.

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Inspection activities

n The childminder provided the inspectors with a sample of key documentation on request.

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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

12 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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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