Casey, Julie Sandra

Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

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

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The provision requires improvement

Children develop loving bonds with the childminder. They benefit from her warm and gentle interactions which help them feel safe and secure in her care. Children show they are settled and understand the daily routine. They know they can go to the childminder if they need reassurance or feel tired. Older children have learned through the childminder's clear modelling and guidance that it is kind to help their friends. For example, they confidently show younger children how to project a torch light on the sides of the dark den. Children behave well.

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The provision requires improvement

However, the childminder is less confident in her role as an educator. She does not plan an ambitious curriculum to support children's learning. For example, she is not clear about what she wants children to learn and therefore does not plan activities that build further on their existing knowledge and skills. This does not support all children to make consistently good progress or develop positive attitudes to learning. Nonetheless, children enjoy their time with the childminder and gain some useful skills. They choose from a wide range of suitable resources on offer. For instance, younger children enjoy looking at interactive books and the childminder encourages them to lift the flaps. Older children practise writing their name and trace over numbers in a workbook. They seek the help of the childminder when they need it.

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need to do better?

n The childminder understands her role in keeping children safe and in meeting their care needs. For example, she collects information from parents about their child's care routines, likes and dislikes when they first start. She gets to know children and is aware of what they enjoy and some of the things they can do. However, the childminder does not use this information effectively to help her assess children's development and identify their individual learning needs, to support their ongoing progress. n The childminder plans some fun activities for children. For instance, older children squirt warm water over a block of ice to free toy farm animals, which they confidently count. The childminder teaches children new words, such as 'chisel' when she offers them a metal spoon. This supports children's vocabulary. However, the childminder does not focus enough on what children need to learn next. Often, activities cover concepts children already know and skills they

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need to do better?

already have, so they do not consistently learn anything new. n Children benefit from regular opportunities to be outdoors and to be physically active. This promotes their emotional well-being. The childminder helps older children to practise some skills and develop their hand-eye coordination. For example, she follows their interest by spreading out hoops on the lawn for children to aim beanbags at. Younger children develop their balance and core

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need to do better?

8 August 2024 strength as they learn how to ride wheeled toys. The childminder offers lots of praise and encouragement when children keep trying. Children show great happiness in their own achievements. n The childminder takes children out every day into the local community. This enhances children's life experiences and helps them find out about the world around them. For instance, children visit various children's groups, the library, animal park and parks. The childminder encourages children to develop friendships with other children they meet. Children develop their confidence in social situations. They show respect for other people from different backgrounds to their own. n The childminder supports children to become increasingly independent. For example, older children manage their own personal hygiene needs, such as washing their hands and using the toilet independently. The childminder supports young children as they learn to feed themselves. Children learn about

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need to do better?

eating and living healthily. n The childminder regularly shares information with parents about the day's activities. This helps them support their child's individual learning at home. Parents value the ongoing communication they have with the childminder. For instance, they are provided with information to help prepare their children for school. However, the childminder does not exchange information with professionals at other educational provisions that children attend. Children's learning is not coordinated for their continuity of care and education. n The childminder undertakes mandatory training, such as attending a safeguarding children course. However, she has not kept her understanding of how to deliver an early years curriculum up to date and does not always have an accurate view of the quality of her provision. Nonetheless, she shows a positive attitude to making more use of professional development opportunities to

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need to do better?

update her knowledge and develop her practice.

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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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Due date

8 August 2024 develop an accurate understanding of how to plan an effective curriculum and deliver a programme of learning that focuses on individual learning needs. 31/10/2024

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should:

n work more closely with other settings that children attend, for consistency of care and education.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 510753 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10350845 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 7 Date of previous inspection 5 September 2018

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 1999. She lives in Aylesford, Kent. She cares for children Tuesday to Friday from 7.30am to 6pm. The childminder receives the early years funded entitlement for children aged two, three and four 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 inspector talked to the childminder about the childminder's curriculum and what she wants children to learn. n The inspector observed the interactions between the childminder and children. n The inspector and the childminder carried out a joint observation of an activity. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n Parents shared their views about the childminder's service with the inspector. n The childminder provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation on request.

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Inspection activities

8 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

8 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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