Childminder in Reading

Overall effectiveness Good

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

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The provision is good

Children are happy and settle well. The childminder offers additional close comfort to those children who find settling more difficult. She adapts routines and expectations until children feel confident and secure in the setting. The childminder offers children a range of activities and experiences, both at home and out and about. She tailors these to children's needs and interests to ensure all children make good progress in learning. Children independently choose what they want to play with from the wide range of resources made accessible to them by the childminder.

p.2

The provision is good

The childminder creates interesting homemade resources and activities for children to explore and investigate. For example, she has made 'sensory bags' which young children love to squish with their hands and feet. These are placed on the floor and the wall at child height, enabling babies to have independent access. The childminder playfully expands the experience as she joins in with stamping on the bags to make patterns in the liquid inside.

p.2

The provision is good

The childminder has worked hard since the last inspection. She has effectively developed her curriculum around the children's individual needs and interests. She uses planned and spontaneous opportunities to help children make good progress. The childminder is a positive role model for children and as such the behaviour of children is good. She is aware of how to support children to be kind and considerate towards the feelings of others.

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need to do better?

n Partnerships with parents are strong and effective. Parents appreciate the close working relationships with the childminder. A shared and consistent approach is adopted at home and with the childminder to promote good habits, such as when children develop better sleeping routines. The childminder asks parents for feedback, specifically to inform her improvement plans. Parents say their children progress really well with the childminder, particularly in their self-care skills, confidence and speech. n The childminder supports children's health well. She works closely with parents to ensure they provide their children with healthy lunches and snacks. The childminder provides fresh drinking water and ensures all children have daily access to fresh air and exercise. Children are learning good hygiene practices, for example by washing their hands at appropriate times, such as before eating and after playing.

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need to do better?

n The childminder takes children to local facilities in the community. This includes taking them to the nearby park and toddler groups where they learn about cultural festivals and customs. This also gives children the opportunity to learn to

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need to do better?

11 September 2024 play in larger groups to develop their confidence and social skills. n The childminder provides lots of opportunities for children throughout the day to develop their counting skills. For example, they count blocks and coloured balls and discuss that some towers of bricks are higher than others. However, at times, the childminder sets challenges that are too difficult for the ages and stages of the children attending. On occasion, this means that children become disinterested in the activity and lose focus on the task set. n The childminder talks to children about what they are doing as they play. Children show that they are making good progress and are becoming confident in their language skills as they respond to the childminder. However, at times, the childminder asks a multitude of questions in quick succession and the children do not have the time to think and respond. This does not fully support

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need to do better?

children's early communication and language skills. n The childminder is skilled in accurately assessing children's level of development and uses this information well to determine what they need to learn next. She produces informative summaries of children's development for their parents and carers. This enables parents to complement intended learning at home. n The childminder is committed to increasing her knowledge and skills to continuously benefit children in her care. She reflects on her practice to consider any areas of development. For instance, she researches and attends relevant online courses that support children's individual needs and helps address any gaps in their learning.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

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

p.3

should:

n strengthen understanding of how to support children's mathematical skills and knowledge according to their age and stage of development n enhance the support for children to think through and answer questions, to further extend their early communication skills.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2668742 Local authority Reading Inspection number 10326999 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 5 Number of children on roll 4 Date of previous inspection 19 December 2023

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2022. She lives in Reading, Berkshire. The childminder provides care for children from Monday to Friday, for most of the year. She occasionally works with an assistant who provides supply cover. The childminder holds an early years qualification at level 3. She receives funding to provide free early education for children from 9 months to 4 years.

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Inspection activities

n The childminder and the inspector completed a joint observation, indoors 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 inspector observed the quality of education being provided and assessed the impact on children's learning. n The childminder provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation on request. n The inspector took parents' written reviews into account.

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Inspection activities

11 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

11 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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