Childminder in Darlington

Overall effectiveness Good

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

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The provision is good

Children relish their time in the childminder's welcoming and very well-resourced environment. The passion the childminder has for her role shines through in everything she does. This is reflected in the smiles on children's faces and the high levels of confidence that children display.

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The provision is good

All children are very self-assured. The childminder makes sure that children can independently access the resources they need to design their own play. For example, children work together as a team as they organise a cafe. Children invite the childminder and visitors into their cafe. They know exactly who will prepare the tea and who will serve. Children spontaneously extend this activity to offer sand cones as ice-creams. Children carefully present the cones to adults and smile in delight at the very genuine praise they receive from the childminder.

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The provision is good

The childminder provides a wide range of resources to motivate children to explore and to discover for themselves. This encourages children to use their own ideas and naturally extend the activities they are involved in. For example, children fill bowls with water and mix in different colours. They look intently as the colours swirl together in the water. As children add flower petals, the childminder talks about the petals changing colour as they absorb the colour of the water. Children automatically add this language to their vocabulary, bringing it into their play.

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need to do better?

n Children are very respectful of each other and adults. They take turns and share their resources. Older children know to give younger children time to finish what it is they are doing. On the rare occasion the childminder needs to remind children of their behaviour she does so in a gentle manner, prompting children to remember to use kind words. n The childminder provides children with a curriculum that is designed to support and extend their individual skills and talents. She knows exactly what children can do and what children need to learn next. The childminder consistently reflects on children's progress. She is meticulous in her planning and organisation of activities to provide children with experiences that best support their future learning. n The childminder is a very skilled practitioner who knows how to build on children's interests to further develop their concentration and motivation to

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need to do better?

learn. For example, she joins children as they paint with water and encourages children to think how they can extend the houses they are drawing. This fills children with enthusiasm as they excitedly discuss painting rectangles for windows and triangles for doors. n The childminder teaches children how to keep themselves healthy and develop

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need to do better?

25 July 2024 their self-care skills. Children know to wash their hands before eating and after using the toilet. Children talk confidently about the weather being warm and drinking water to keep themselves fit and well. n Children learn to care for the natural environment. They talk enthusiastically with the childminder and visitors about the variety of vegetables they are growing. Children identify the individual plants and talk about how they need to water the plants to make them grow. n The childminder goes out and about with children in the local community and further afield. She meets with other childminders and gives children opportunities to mix with a variety of different adults and children. This helps to develop children's self-esteem and confidence as they build relationships with people outside of their immediate environment. n Parents comment on the childminder's dedication to supporting their children's

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need to do better?

learning and development. They particularly praise the family atmosphere the childminder provides and how safe their children feel in her environment. Parents appreciate the wide variety of places the childminder takes their children to. n The childminder is meticulous in ensuring that all necessary qualifications, for example her paediatric first-aid training, are up to date. She consistently accesses a wide range of safeguarding training to ensure that children are kept safe when in her care. The childminder uses online childminder groups and other websites for information and ideas. However, the childminder does not consistently focus her professional development to help enhance her teaching to an even higher level. n The childminder and children bring mathematical language into their play. For example, they talk about the different shapes they are drawing and the how full of liquid their bottles and containers are. However, the childminder does not

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need to do better?

consistently bring in numbers and counting into children's play.

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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 target the plan for professional development to further enhance the quality of education and raise outcomes for children to an even higher level n develop children's understanding of numbers and counting further, such as by using all opportunities as they arise during children's play and routines.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2577509 Local authority Darlington Inspection number 10357716 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 23 June 2022

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2020 and lives in Darlington, County Durham. She operates all year round, from 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds an appropriate qualification at level 4.

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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 the evaluation of the childminder. n A joint observation of an activity was carried out with the childminder. n Activities were observed during the inspection. The inspector assessed the impact that activities have on children's learning and development. n The inspector spoke to the childminder and children during the inspection. n The written view and opinions of parents were taken into account during the inspection, and the inspector spoke to some parents.

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Inspection activities

25 July 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

25 July 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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