Childminder in Cambridgeshire

Overall effectiveness Good

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

p.1

The provision is good

The childminder provides a warm and welcoming environment for children. She has established strong relationships with them and is attentive and nurturing. For example, the childminder sings to children gently as she changes their nappies. They go to her if they need any reassurance during the day and snuggle up close when reading books together. This demonstrates children feel safe and secure in the childminder's care. She organises the environment in a way that supports children to be independent, as they freely access the good range of resources.

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The provision is good

The childminder helps children to learn about nature and the world around them. For example, children thoroughly enjoy looking after the childminder's pets. She has a wide range of animals, including a dog, a turtle and some rabbits. The childminder supports children to feed the rabbits with any leftover fruit and vegetables. She introduces new knowledge and teaches them about the periods of turtle hibernation. Consequently, children know how to care for living things.

p.2

The provision is good

The childminder is a positive role model. In the main, she supports children's behaviour well. Children know the routines and are encouraged to take turns when they complete tasks. For instance, they wait patiently for their turn to wash their hands before eating.

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need to do better?

n Parents speak highly of the childminder. They comment that 'children thrive in her care' and make good progress from their starting points. The childminder plans a broad and balanced curriculum for all children. She uses her observations and completes the required progress checks with parents when children are aged between two and three years. This helps the childminder to assess and plan appropriate next steps in their learning. Furthermore, parents proudly talk about how their children are learning an additional language, as the childminder speaks fluent French as well as English. n The childminder understands the importance of continuous professional development. She undertakes training that helps to enhance her good knowledge and teaching skills. Furthermore, she engages with other childminders to create a support network where they share ideas and activities to enhance their practice. n Children's good health is highly valued. The childminder provides children with a

p.2

need to do better?

healthy, balanced diet. They develop an understanding of how the foods they eat are grown, as the childminder grows and harvests a range of vegetables from her garden. This helps children to know where food comes from. Young children feed themselves independently, demonstrating a positive 'can-do' attitude.

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need to do better?

5 December 2024 n The childminder takes children on regular outings to the park to ensure they get plenty of fresh air and exercise. Furthermore, they visit the library and attend groups, including rhyme-time sessions. This provides opportunities for children to mix with other children to further develop their social skills and make connections with their local community. n The childminder provides children with malleable resources for them to manipulate. For example, they use play dough and clay to strengthen the small muscles in their fingers. Children make little clay lamps to learn about festivals, such as Diwali. This helps children to learn about different cultures and events. n Children engage in a variety of adult-led activities during the day. For example, they join in with stories and songs to build their vocabulary and develop their listening and attention skills. However, some planned activities do not always

p.2

need to do better?

support children's growing concentration or the abilities of the youngest children. They become distracted by other toys around them and move away. As a result, their learning and development are not fully supported during these times. n Overall, children play cooperatively and are supervised well by the childminder. However, she does not always tell children the reason why some things are not safe or fully explain the consequences of their actions. For instance, the childminder does not explain that pushing their friends might hurt them, or that using cutlery that has fallen on the floor is dirty. This does not consistently support children to understand how to keep themselves safe.

p.3

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 help younger children to develop their attention skills further to support them to engage fully in their learning n support children even more to understand the consequences of their actions and how to keep themselves safe.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 2682288 Local authority Cambridgeshire Inspection number 10360121 Type of provision Childminder

p.4

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 6 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

p.4

Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2022. She lives in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire. She operates during term time, from 8am to 5pm, Tuesday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder provides funded early education for all eligible children.

p.4

Inspection activities

n The inspector considered the views of parents by reviewing feedback letters and talking to the parents over the phone. n The inspector looked at relevant documents, including evidence of the suitability of all persons living and working at the premises. n The inspector observed the interactions between the childminder and children during activities. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching to assess the impact on children's learning. n The inspector and childminder completed a joint observation of an activity to evaluate the quality of teaching.

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Inspection activities

5 December 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

5 December 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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