Childminder in Shropshire

Overall effectiveness Outstanding

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

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The provision is outstanding

All children are immersed into an ambitious curriculum that ignites awe and wonder about the world around them. They explore the inspiring outdoor environment. Children crawl through tunnels and explore the rich variety of trees and plants. The childminder enriches children's vocabulary by teaching them the names of the trees and commenting on their shape. She encourages children to use their senses to explore the smells and textures around them. Children learn about where food comes from. They visit the local farm and observe the animals and machinery. The childminder revisits their learning through discussions about where milk comes from. Children respond with excitement, telling the childminder that it comes from cows. The childminder reminds children about the sunflowers they saw at the farm and shows them the seeds that were harvested last year. She invites the children to explore the seeds and teaches them how to plant and nurture them as they grow.

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The provision is outstanding

The childminder prioritises children's safety. She conducts thorough risk assessments of her home and garden. Children feel safe and secure in her care. They are confident to explore the garden independently and share their experiences with friends. Children are valued and respected by the caring childminder. They behave exceptionally well and follow the rules and routines of the setting. Children respect the resources and play equipment. When it is time to tidy up, they collect the resources and put them away carefully. Young children do this independently and comment, 'It's too big', when something does not fit. The childminder praises children for their excellent behaviour and listening skills.

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need to do better?

n Children confidently take part in rich conversations with the childminder and their friends. The childminder reflects on children's experiences and prior learning to embed meaningful vocabulary. She links activities to children's individual experiences. For example, she talks to children about their pets and the animals that they have seen at the farm. Children choose songs, using pictures to help them. A picture of a cloud inspires them to talk fondly about the time that it rained in the forest and how they splashed in the puddles. n The childminder promotes frequent opportunities for children to explore numbers and counting. She asks them how many children are there today, and children are eager to count their friends. The childminder poses questions to stretch and challenge their problem-solving skills. For example, she shows the children that there are only two bananas and asks them how they will share.

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need to do better?

Children offer answers and watch in anticipation as the childminder demonstrates by cutting the bananas in half. They copy the language and smile with pleasure when the problem is solved. n The childminder promotes independent learning and consistently offers children

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need to do better?

30 April 2024 choices in their play. At snack time, children are invited to choose the fruits they would like to eat. Each child has their own chopping board and safety knife, which they use with increasing skill. Before going outside, children know that they need to put on their outerwear and boots. They collect them independently and practise putting them on by themselves. Children are eager to learn new skills. n Parents speak extremely highly of the childminder and the richly rewarding activities she provides to enhance children's development. They receive regular feedback from the childminder about their children's development, and parents share important information about children's starting points and experiences. This helps the childminder to tailor her curriculum to children's individual needs. The childminder supports parents with advice around potty training and provides a partnership approach to meeting children's needs.

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need to do better?

n The childminder recognises the benefits of partnership working. She makes excellent use of her inspirational outdoor provision by inviting other childminders to share practice and build on children's social skills. Children learn to manage risks and keep themselves safe. They build their own climbing equipment, using planks and reels to test their agility and balance. They climb the fruit trees under the close supervision of the supportive childminder. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities make excellent progress. The childminder gets to know families extremely well and acts quickly when she observes that a child is not making expected progress. She talks with parents to share her observations and offers advice on what they can do next. The childminder has an extensive knowledge of the outside agencies that can offer unique support to families and signposts them appropriately.

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need to do better?

n The childminder is passionate about supporting the health and well-being of the children in her care. She offers daily exercise, where children learn to follow instructions and explore different ways of moving. They listen to instructions and copy actions with excitement. Children take part in mindfulness activities and yoga outdoors. They develop a deep understanding of their own needs and are confident to share these with the nurturing childminder. n The childminder meticulously reflects on her practice and identifies how to enhance her provision further to benefit children. For example, she attends training to build on her already excellent knowledge of how to support children's language and communication. The childminder supports her assistant to develop his understanding of how to extend children's learning through practical activities, such as woodwork. She is committed to continuous professional

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need to do better?

development to enhance outcomes for children.

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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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Setting details

Unique reference number EY500456 Local authority Shropshire Inspection number 10341101 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 11 Date of previous inspection 15 August 2018

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2016 and lives in Shrewsbury. She occasionally works with her husband, who is her assistant. The childminder operates all year round, from 6.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. She holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 3. The childminder provides funded places for three-year-old children.

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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 provider. n The childminder showed the inspector the premises and discussed how she ensures that they are safe and suitable. 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 Children spoke to the inspector about what they enjoy doing while with the childminder. n The inspector observed the interactions between the childminder and children. n Parents shared their views on the setting with the inspector.

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Inspection activities

n The childminder provided the inspector 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

30 April 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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