Parker, Catherine

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

Children are thriving in this wonderful and exciting learning environment provided by the childminder at her cosy cottage. They are keen, enthusiastic learners who engage in activities with great amounts of joy and excitement. For example, children relish playing with water pumps. They work together to clean a car, laughing and giggling with delight as they squirt water in the air. Children help their friends to load the pumps and enthusiastically encourage everyone to join in. This helps children interact and develop their hand-eye coordination and gross motor skills.

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The provision is outstanding

Speech and language skills are supported extremely well. The childminder skilfully asks questions and gives children ample time to reply. She consistently and clearly repeats the words children say to fully secure their vocabulary skills. The childminder engages in meaningful conversations with children and provides a language-rich environment where children are keen to talk and share their ideas. Consequently, children are developing very good speech and language skills and thoroughly enjoy socialising with their peers.

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The provision is outstanding

The childminder has high expectations for children's behaviour. She is an excellent role model and consistently promotes good manners and politeness. Children say 'please' and 'thank you' and are very kind to their friends. For example, they spontaneously share toys and resources and play cooperatively.

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need to do better?

n The childminder is knowledgeable and passionate about the provision she provides. Children are thriving and flourishing in her care. She makes sure that any assistants who work alongside her are supported and trained to deliver a high quality of care and learning experiences for all children. n The childminder knows each child extremely well and has developed exceptional bonds with them. She creates individual learning plans and uses highly effective strategies to ensure each child securely makes progress. For example, the childminder encourages children to be fully independent and take care of their personal needs. n Snack time is a social occasion where children follow instructions and help to prepare the table. They enthusiastically cut fruit and carefully thread it onto skewers to help develop fine motor skills. The childminder uses the opportunity to discuss healthy eating and recalls the plants they have grown in the garden

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need to do better?

during the summer to eat at mealtimes. She is highly effective at teaching children about where food comes from and promotes making healthy choices. This supports children's understanding of how to lead a healthy lifestyle. n The importance of oral health is highly valued in the setting. The childminder

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need to do better?

4 October 2024 teaches children effectively how to keep their teeth healthy and promotes brushing teeth after mealtimes. She arranges a visit to a local dentist to fully embed the learning experience for children and shares important dental information with parents. This helps children adopt healthy oral hygiene routines. n Home learning is supported extremely well. The childminder provides book bags, games and activities such as scavenger hunts for children to take home and share with their parents. This includes informative guidance for parents to help maintain continuity of learning. Children proudly show the childminder the items they found on their nature walk with their parents. This helps to develop children's confidence and self-esteem. n Parents provide highly positive praise for the care and support the childminder provides for their children. They particularly like the wonderful learning experiences and activities the childminder provides and are extremely happy

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need to do better?

with the exceptional progress their children are making. n The childminder organises an abundance of enriching real-life experiences for children to learn about the community they live in. For instance, children thoroughly enjoy visiting the fire station to learn about fire safety and people who help us. They attend a variety of local groups to socialise and meet intergenerational people. This helps children develop their social skills and secure an understanding of differences in society. n To teach children about democracy, the childminder uses highly effective strategies for children to make choices and express their preferences. For example, children have opportunities to vote for their choice of food at snack time. This helps children develop an understanding of fairness and value other people's opinions. n The teaching of mathematics is extremely strong and embedded in practice. The childminder consistently counts items with children and uses numbers during

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need to do better?

play. She skilfully introduces mathematical language, such as 'half' and 'quarter', and is highly productive at encouraging children to solve problems to develop their thinking skills. This helps children make tremendous progress with their early mathematics skills. n Literacy skills are taught extremely well. Children relish reading books and listening to stories with the childminder. They show high levels of concentration and listen intently. Children thoroughly enjoy music and singing activities. They wait patiently for their turn to select an item from the song bag, then dance and sing with huge amounts of enthusiasm to familiar songs and rhymes. This has a significant impact on developing children's active listening and concentration skills.

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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 EY542631 Local authority West Sussex Inspection number 10364217 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 11 Date of previous inspection 30 January 2019

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2017 and is located in Turners Hill, West Sussex. She works with an assistant and operates Monday to Friday, 7.30am to 6pm, all year round. The childminder holds a level 6 early years degree and accepts early years funding for children aged two, three and four years.

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Inspection activities

n The childminder and the inspector discussed how the childminder organises their early years provision, including the aims and rationale for their early years foundation stage curriculum. n The childminder spoke to the inspector about children's learning and development with a particular focus on communication and language. 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 observed the interactions between the childminder, her assistant and the children. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The childminder provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation on request.

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Inspection activities

4 October 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 October 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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