Childminder in Oxfordshire

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

The childminder has an impressive focus on helping children to develop the knowledge and skills they need for their future learning. Children are active learners who initiate play with each other and the childminder. They freely move confidently between activities and show their enthusiasm for the experiences the childminder has planned for them.

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The provision is outstanding

Children independently and confidently lead their own play in the richly resourced and highly accessible environment. Children have extremely secure attachments to the loving childminder. The childminder is an excellent role model who creates a joyful, harmonious and nurturing environment. This helps children to flourish and feel happy, safe and secure. Children develop an excellent understanding of the expectations for their behaviour, such as sharing and taking turns.

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The provision is outstanding

The childminder plans exciting opportunities for children to develop their understanding of the world and their local community. She arranges a very broad range of educational outings and activities. For example, they go to the local town to feed the fish and regularly visit cafes and coffee shops, where visitors remark on how well the children behave and how polite they are.

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The provision is outstanding

The childminder has a comprehensive knowledge of each child and meticulously plans for their interests and next stage of learning. For example, she provides extensive activities that combine children's fascinations with transporting, filling, pouring and emptying things and with the essential development of their small muscles. Children make excellent progress.

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need to do better?

n The childminder has a superb ability to extend children's vocabulary and take advantage of moments to do this. For example, she provides objects in story sacks to make story time unique. Children focus and listen attentively. They eagerly engage, asking questions and joining in. Children make connections and proudly finish rhyming refrains as the childminder expertly allows children to offer their ideas and suggestions. n Children benefit greatly from the childminder's fantastic knowledge of how they learn and develop. Her curriculum is meticulously tailored to the individual needs and interests of children. In addition, the childminder ensures she seizes opportunities for learning that naturally arise as children play. For example, as children play with glitter balls, the childminder expertly challenges them further as they guess which ball has been removed. n Children advance their mathematical skills, for example when they fill and empty

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need to do better?

containers. They eagerly explore how many scoops it takes to fill pots and

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need to do better?

4 September 2024 identify whether objects are under, on or next to other objects. The childminder uses her precise questioning skills to find out about children's knowledge of size. She supports them to understand what 'biggest' means by modelling the concept using different-sized containers. Children count frequently and begin to use numerals as they play. The childminder rapidly identifies any misconceptions and sensitively corrects them. n The childminder provides children with unique opportunities to explore and experience textures using objects from the natural environment. For example, children mash blackberries they have collected to make blackberry ink, which they then paint with. n The childminder creates a language-rich environment, which accelerates children's already advanced speech. She also visits the library, displays books attractively and reads lots of stories that support many other aspects of

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need to do better?

children's learning and development. Children's uniqueness is fully supported by the childminder as she adjusts her teaching to suit their age and stage of development. n Parents recognise the significant role the childminder has in their children's lives and her overall passion for making a difference. The childminder ensures an open and transparent line of communication that means parents are kept up to date and well informed about their child's progress. She seeks feedback from families to make their already excellent experiences even better. For example, she created story sacks for parents to borrow so that children can take their favourite books and props home. Parents say that they love being involved in their children's learning. n The childminder has high expectations of herself. She is absolutely committed to continual improvement and frequently attends courses, listens to child development webinars and seeks out information from trusted sources. She

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need to do better?

makes sure her knowledge and skills are up to date. The childminder has recently completed a level 6 qualification and implemented a new way of thinking to strengthen her approach to supporting children's personal and emotional development. n The childminder expertly uses the experiences that she provides to teach children about the importance of healthy eating. She enables children to learn about the effects some foods may have on their bodies. For example, she teaches them about how sugar will make their teeth 'bad' and how fruit is good for helping them to grow big and strong.

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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 EY537642 Local authority Oxfordshire Inspection number 10351057 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 5 Date of previous inspection 2 October 2018

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2016 and lives in Thame, Oxfordshire. The childminder provides funded early education for children age nine months to four years. She offers full-time care on weekdays throughout the year. The childminder holds a recognised early years qualification at level 6.

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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 her evaluation of the setting. n A joint observation was completed by the childminder and the inspector during a focused activity. n The childminder and the inspector discussed how the childminder organises her early years setting, including the aims and rationale for the curriculum. n The childminder provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation on request. n The inspector observed the interactions between the childminder and children.

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Inspection activities

4 September 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

4 September 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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