Patten, Louise Ann Alice

Overall effectiveness Outstanding

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

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The provision is outstanding

Children benefit from an exceptional start to their learning and development. The childminder and her assistant provide an outstanding level of care and gently nurture children to grow and develop. The childminder organises her service exceedingly well to provide for babies and younger children. Both she and her assistant place the child at the centre of all they do.

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The provision is outstanding

From a very young age, children develop a strong sense of self. They feel listened to, included and valued as the childminder and her assistant form outstanding relationships with them. Children gravitate towards them, knowing their needs will be met. They receive plenty of comfort, cuddles and reassurance when needed. Children demonstrate in their behaviour and actions how happy and settled they are. For instance, children eagerly wait for music time. They show excitement when the musical instruments appear and the songs are played. All children join in with gusto. They listen attentively and join in spontaneously with the actions, clearly showing how much they know their favourite songs and rhymes.

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The provision is outstanding

The childminder and her assistant strive for excellence in all they do. They know each of the children and families particularly well and are immediately responsive to children's changing needs. Parents are overwhelmingly positive in their praise and commendation. They describe the childminding service as 'amazing' and note the exceptional levels of progress their children make in their learning and development. One parent summarised the view of others by saying, 'My child goes in with such a happy face and comes home beaming.'

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need to do better?

n The childminder offers an exemplary level of provision that enables children to thrive. She works exceptionally well with her assistant to plan a curriculum that is precisely matched to what babies and younger children need. Weekly themes and activities are particularly purposeful. They take full account of what children are interested in and what they need to learn next. Planning is flexible, and the childminder is skilled in using spontaneous opportunities to enrich children's experiences. For example, the childminder recently organised a day out using public transport to take account of children's love of trains. n Young children develop an exceptional amount of resilience. The curriculum is planned carefully to focus on children's social skills. Ample time is given to allowing children to manage simple tasks by themselves. For example, before children go out to play in the garden, they have a go at putting on splash-suits

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need to do better?

and boots independently. The childminder and her assistant have shown children how to do this, and children delight in trying by themselves. Their efforts and achievements are warmly celebrated, and children develop an impressive level of

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need to do better?

25 July 2024 independence in managing this task. n Children's language skills are particularly promoted well. Younger children's attempts at communicating are greatly encouraged. The childminder and her assistant provide an environment full of language. They narrate what children are doing as they play and repeat words back to children to copy and learn the correct pronunciation. Story sessions are exceptionally engaging. The childminder and her assistant use props and puppets to bring the story to life. Children are captivated and immersed in the activity. They listen attentively and follow any simple instructions with ease. The love of stories and literacy children develop from a young age prepares them well for future learning and their continued language development. n The childminder has organised her home to deliver all aspects of her curriculum, both inside and outside. She plans her space meticulously and uses every

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need to do better?

opportunity to enrich her provision. For example, children have ample opportunities to practise a range of physical skills, such as using wheeled toys and climbing on low-level equipment. Children use resources, such as dolls' prams, to develop their pushing and pulling skills. Gentle ramps have been incorporated into the space available to encourage a greater level of challenge for children using wheeled toys. The childminder makes full use of the weather to enrich children's experiences. For example, children squeal with excitement as they practise jumping using two feet in puddles. n Despite children's young age, the childminder uses every opportunity to broaden children's learning. For example, the childminder recently planned a series of activities to help children learn about the wider world. As children talked about different countries, they tasted foods and found out about different cultures and

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need to do better?

customs. When exploring Scotland, children learned about Burns Night and tasted haggis. These well-planned experiences help to develop children's cultural capital and enable them to learn about the diversity of other children and families. n The childminder constantly strives to deliver the very highest quality provision. She has high expectations of herself and works exceptionally well with her assistant. Both complete an enhanced level of additional training to maintain their specialist knowledge. The childminder also frequently meets with other childminders to discuss professional practice, reflect on her own provision and constantly identify further improvements she feels she could make.

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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 which puts children's interests first.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY384301 Local authority West Sussex Inspection number 10357197 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 10 Date of previous inspection 13 December 2018

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2009 and lives in Lancing, West Sussex. She provides care from Monday to Thursday, from 7.30am to 5pm. For part of the week, the childminder works with an assistant, who holds a level 2 qualification in early years. Funding is accepted for the provision of free early years education for children aged two years.

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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 childminder. n The childminder showed the inspector the premises and talked about how she delivers her early years curriculum, both inside and outside. n The inspector observed the childminder and her assistant interacting with the children and evaluated how well this supports children's development. n Both the childminder and her assistant talked to the inspector about how they keep children safe and what they do to safeguard children. n Children interacted with the inspector and involved her in their play.

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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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