Fitzgibbon, Kerri Louise

Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

p.1

The provision is outstanding

Children are extremely settled and confident within the childminder's home. They welcome visitors and enthusiastically speak about their interests and the activities they enjoy doing with the childminder. The childminder's calm and reassuring directions help them to feel safe and enhance their self-confidence. Children are superbly supported to understand the childminder's boundaries and routines. She builds extremely effective strategies into everyday activities to help younger children to learn to share and be kind to each other. The results are clear to see, as children show in-depth respect for each other. They use very good manners and vocalise their needs so that other children understand what they want. A caring hug or rub on the back between the children is reciprocated by the receiving child returning a beaming smile.

p.2

The provision is outstanding

The childminder's curriculum is ambitious and suitably challenging. Children are extremely keen learners. They embrace every learning opportunity created either by the childminder or by themselves and facilitated by the childminder. Children are articulate and converse with each other and adults extremely clearly. The childminder supports children's communication and language skills superbly. She expertly narrates what younger children are doing and asks pertinent questions, allowing time for the children to respond. This creates subjects for discussion.

p.2

need to do better?

n The childminder is firmly committed to providing a high-quality childminding service, which focuses on putting children at the heart of everything she does. She constantly reviews and evaluates every aspect of her provision. The childminder enriches her already in-depth knowledge of child development and how children learn, through research and training. She effectively and frequently assesses every child's progress to identify any gaps in their learning. n Parents who contributed to the inspection through written testimonials cannot speak highly enough of the childminder and the superb provision she offers their children. They comment on her extremely effective teaching skills, the extensive trips and outings their children go on and the thorough information they receive from the childminder about their child's day. n Children are extremely independent as the childminder places high importance on developing strong and able children from a very early age. She constantly

p.2

need to do better?

supports children to have a go and achieve for themselves. Children beam with pride when they independently manage their chosen task, telling the childminder how they 'never give up'. n Children enjoy exploring and experimenting. They excitedly watch to see what happens when they place chalk in the water tray. They articulate to the childminder what they can see happening to the chalk. The childminder

p.2

need to do better?

26 September 2024 introduces new and appropriate language to support their learning, such as 'dissolve' and 'disappear'. Children confidently talk about how colours change when mixed. n Children who show a keen interest in animals are able to correctly name a wide range of animals that they have seen at the zoo and talk about what the animals like to eat. When they come across an animal unfamiliar to them, the childminder provides opportunities for them to research what it is in reference books. n The childminder effectively supports children's emotional well-being. She introduces strategies and resources to help children to explore and understand their emotions. During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, the childminder created laminated photos of the children's family members at small world figure size. She taped them to wooden bricks so that they could stand up and children could use them within the doll's house. As children thoroughly enjoy playing with

p.2

need to do better?

these and using them to create their own home environment, the childminder has continued to do this for all of the current children and families. n The childminder enhances children's learning by making excellent use of the local environment outside of her home. She regularly takes children to parks, the woods, shops and art galleries. She documents the children's experiences through photos and written comments in a large book for the children to reminisce over and recall their experiences. n Children are provided with superb opportunities to make marks and begin their love of literacy. The childminder gives careful consideration to this in every aspect of her provision.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

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

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 2756905 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10349549 Type of provision Childminder

p.4

Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Childminder

p.4

inspection

Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 6 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

p.4

Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2023 and lives in Colchester, Essex. She operates all year round from 7.30am to 5.30pm, Tuesday to Thursday, except for family holidays. The childminder holds qualified teacher status. She provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

p.4

Inspection activities

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. 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 and the children. n The childminder and the inspector discussed observations of activities 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 feedback. n The childminder provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation on request.

p.4

Inspection activities

26 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.

p.4

Inspection activities

26 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.

p.5

Inspection activities

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.6

Inspection activities

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.6

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6