Childminder in Essex

Overall effectiveness Good

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

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The provision is good

The childminder creates a warm, welcoming and friendly environment to help children to feel safe, settled and happy. They confidently approach her for cuddles with broad smiles on their faces. Their interactions are reciprocated by the childminder giving them hugs and speaking in a kind and caring way. Children show that they have a good understanding of the childminder's house rules and daily routines. For example, they independently wash their hands in preparation for snack or mealtimes and place the toy used to hold a gate open in its place so that they can safely transfer from one room to another. Children behave respectfully towards each other. They use good manners and share toys well. The childminder helps them to negotiate the sharing of resources by using sand timers and clear explanations about waiting for their turn.

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The provision is good

Children are provided with very good opportunities to explore the world outside of the childminder's home. They regularly go for walks in the local area, visit parks, the beach, woods and other places of interest. The childminder uses every experience as a teaching opportunity. For example, a recent trip to the beach included children being able to meet the beach lifeguards and speak to them about their job and how to stay safe near the sea.

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need to do better?

n The childminder has worked hard since her last inspection to improve her leadership and management skills. She ensures that appropriate suitability checks are in place for assistants, maintains accurate records and has improved her knowledge of how to keep such records safely and within current data regulations. The childminder has been working closely with the local authority partners to improve her curriculum for children. n The childminder supports her assistant well. They work together for the core hours of the day. The childminder and her assistant are committed to strengthening and improving their knowledge. They regularly attend training and use guidance on the internet to update their procedures and working practices. The childminder seeks specific training that she believes will help her to improve outcomes for children, such as a speech and language training course. n Children enjoy playing freely with the large selection of toys and resources

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need to do better?

available to them. The childminder dedicates much of her home to create a well- organised and inviting learning environment. Children make choices from the resources in the first-floor playroom and transport them into the lounge. The childminder supports them to explore their chosen toys and sits with them to join in their play. n The childminder enhances the children's language by introducing new

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need to do better?

22 August 2024 vocabulary and using words and sounds relating to the children's play. At times, however, the atmosphere becomes quite loud and excitable, potentially hindering the children's language development. The childminder asks children questions to encourage their thinking, but does not always give them the time to consider their thoughts and respond. n The childminder displays posters around the dining room to create a print-rich environment. These include posters displaying numbers, enabling children to learn how to recognise numbers. There is, however, less emphasis placed on incorporating numbers, counting and simple mathematics in the children's everyday play. n The childminder has a very good relationship with the children's parents. She works in partnership with them to tailor her childminding provision to meet their children's individual needs. Parents provide the childminder with feedback on her

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need to do better?

service and comment that their children are very happy and settled in the home- from-home environment the childminder creates. n Children enjoy being creative. They enthusiastically model dough into a range of shapes and pretend foods. They converse with the childminder as they create pizzas and ice creams for her. Children proficiently use the tools and resources available to roll, cut and shape the dough, effectively supported by the adults. n Children enjoy playing in the childminder's garden. They cooperate with each other and share the resources. Children enjoy transporting the sand from one container to another and using the physical play equipment. The childminder is on hand to support their exploration, encouraging them to try new experiences.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture of safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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should:

n strengthen the implementation of mathematics to support children to use numbers and counting during their play n develop further the use of appropriate questioning skills to allow children time to really consider their responses and work things out for themselves.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY377407 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10341024 Type of provision Childminder

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Childminder

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inspection

Total number of places 12 Number of children on roll 13 Date of previous inspection 12 March 2024

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2008 and lives in Colchester, Essex. She operates all year round, from 6.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder provides funded early years education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. The childminder works with an assistant.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with the childminder and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the childminder. n The childminder and the inspector completed a learning discussion together to discuss the childminder's intentions for children's learning. n The inspector observed the interactions between the childminder, her assistant and the children. n The childminder and the inspector discussed an observation of an activity and how the curriculum has been implemented and the impact that this has had on children's learning. n Parents provided the inspector with written and verbal feedback. n The childminder showed the inspector all areas of their premises used for childminding and discussed how she ensures that they are safe and suitable.

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Inspection activities

22 August 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

22 August 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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