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 Met

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The provision is good

The kind-natured childminder provides a safe and nurturing environment for children. Before they start, she gathers important information related to children's routines, likes and dislikes. The childminder uses these details to help new children settle happily. Children ask the childminder to join their play and readily give her spontaneous hugs. This shows that children feel emotionally secure with her. There are well-established routines in place. Children follow the childminder's instructions well and eagerly help to tidy away their toys before lunch.

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The provision is good

The resources the childminder provides are appealing to children. Through her observations, she determines which toys are easily accessible to promote their independent play. For example, children love to explore with mini utensils, pots and pans that replicate items from their home cultures. In this way, their home experiences are well represented and highly valued. This helps to broaden children's awareness of their friends' ways of life, and how similar or different they are. In this way, children's understanding of the diverse world is greatly enhanced.

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The provision is good

The childminder has high expectations for children's behaviour. She sensitively helps children to learn right from wrong. The childminder gently guides them through the process of sharing and taking turns. Children begin to adopt good social skills and try hard to play cooperatively. They smile with pride when the childminder praises their good efforts.

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need to do better?

n The childminder promotes a real love for books. She reads to children with expression and builds in suspense by changing her tone. Children respond well and wait in anticipation for the last page. The childminder asks questions to help develop children's understanding of the storyline. This ignites children's ability to ask questions and impacts positively on their increasing vocabulary as they use appropriate language to express themselves. Children choose their favourite books, spend time looking through them and talk about the illustrations. n Children are keen and enthusiastic learners. The childminder provides resources and gives children the time to enable them to act out real-life role play scenarios. The older children impressively use their prior knowledge of first-hand experiences such as going to the shops. They pretend to be customers and gather the various food items available to them. Younger children use their

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need to do better?

interactive role play kitchen to pretend to prepare their 'dinner'. This shows how well children use their imaginations. n The childminder provides many opportunities for children to develop their physical skills. Children move with flexibility, control and confidence. They proudly show their impressive and intricate dance moves to new visitors when

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need to do better?

19 September 2024 they hear Indian songs that they know from home. The childminder takes children to the local park regularly, where they are encouraged to exercise and increase their stamina and strength. Children demonstrate good hand-eye coordination as they push cards through small slots in their toys. This supports children's development of skills that prepare them well for future education. n The childminder provides a balance of learning opportunities where children play independently, together and with her. Although children enjoy quality time when taking part in adult-led activities, there are occasions when their learning is not always fully maximised. On these occasions, the childminder does not always carefully consider ways to adapt the activity and teaching to build on children's existing knowledge even more. This is illustrated when the childminder's focus is mainly on revisiting children's prior learning. This does not help to extend their

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need to do better?

thinking further. n The childminder offers many opportunities throughout the day for children to develop their counting skills. This has proved very successful, as older children count objects one by one. For example, the childminder starts off by modelling the counting process with children's favourite toys. They model her actions of moving each object as they say each number in sequence. However, she does not regularly introduce other aspects of early mathematical concepts. This is evident when children do not consistently receive as much support to learn about shape, space and measure during their independent play. n The childminder builds trusted and effective partnerships with parents. Regular updates about children's learning and progress help to inform the support parents give their children at home. For instance, through discussions about the importance of play, some parents now have similar resources at home for their

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need to do better?

children. Furthermore, the childminder establishes close working relationships with other settings children attend. She shares her detailed understanding of children's development, such as toilet training. This combined approach successfully promotes children's continuous learning and development.

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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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should:

n reflect more precisely when planning and delivering adult-led activities on what children most need to learn next n enhance the curriculum for mathematics further to strengthen children's understanding of a broad range of mathematical concepts.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 117003 Local authority Reading Inspection number 10359755 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 18 December 2018

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 1992 and lives in Reading, Berkshire. She operates Monday to Thursday, from 8am to 6pm, all year round. The childminder is eligible to receive funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years.

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Inspection activities

n The childminder showed the inspector around her premises and discussed how she ensures they are safe and suitable. n The childminder spoke to the inspector about children's learning and development and how she organises her provision. n Children and parents spoke with the inspector during the inspection. 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 The inspector and the childminder carried out a joint observation of a group activity. n The childminder provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation on request.

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Inspection activities

19 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

19 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

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