Childminder in Kent

Overall effectiveness Good

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

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The provision is good

Children are happy, settled and progress well in the childminder's care. They enjoy a broad range of activities across the week, both in the childminder's home and out in the community. Children understand routines well and value their regular opportunities to attend local groups. For example, they develop their physical skills as they attend dance sessions and visit parks. The childminder makes good use of resources, such as the local library, to extend children's learning. Children develop a deep love of books and show very mature levels of concentration during shared reading. They have their favourite characters and use their strong knowledge of storytelling language to predict what will happen next.

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The provision is good

The childminder uses these experiences very well to help children understand how to behave appropriately in different situations. She provides consistent support for children to learn to share, take turns and to be considerate of the needs of others. Children know when it is appropriate to be noisy and playful and when to be calm. This equips children to confidently manage a wide range of social interactions, preparing them well for their future lives in modern Britain. The childminder also gives children very clear guidance to help them keep themselves safe, such as when crossing roads.

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need to do better?

n The childminder is committed to continually improving her skills and knowledge. She has recently completed an early years qualification that has helped her to refine her practices. The childminder works alongside assistants and has good arrangements in place to ensure that they understand what is expected within their roles. The childminder and her assistants create a friendly, calm and caring atmosphere where children are able to relax and express themselves. This supports children to form wonderful friendships and play very cooperatively together. n The childminder offers a broad curriculum that is planned to reflect children's interests. She assesses and monitors the progress of each child and plans for their individual learning effectively. The childminder makes extremely good use of recall and discussion to embed children's knowledge and understanding. She encourages children to discuss previous experiences to help them make links in

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need to do better?

their learning. n There is a strong and successful focus on supporting children's language development. Children become highly confident communicators. The childminder introduces relevant new vocabulary as children play. She also engages them in interesting and complex back-and-forth conversations. Children have a good repertoire of songs committed to memory. The excitedly suggest their favourites and sing with gusto, accurately linking the actions to the words.

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need to do better?

19 December 2024 n The regular outings and attendance at groups mean that there is structure to much of the week. The childminder creates a good balance for children as she plans time each day for them to engage in freely chosen play in her home. Children explore the resources available to initiate their own games. For example, they create magical butterfly characters using wings, jewellery and wands. They build on their previous knowledge and experiences to cast spells to enable imagined characters to fly. n Overall, children's literacy is promoted well. In addition to the tremendous focus on reading, they have regular opportunities to explore materials for drawing and early writing. However, these resources are not as easily accessible as those to promote other areas of learning. Therefore, although children learn to hold and use pencils, pens and crayons, they have slightly less encouragement to practise

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need to do better?

these skills during their freely chosen play. n Children benefit from good support to develop their independence. The childminder encourages them to try to do things for themselves, such as putting on dressing-up clothes and getting their coats on when going outside. Children learn to manage their own toileting and are confident to ask for help when needed. The childminder provides children with genuine opportunities to make decisions and choices. For example, they work together to plan what they will eat for lunch each Thursday and go to the shops with the childminder to buy the ingredients. n The childminder has not established fully effective arrangements to communicate with other early years practitioners who share care of the children. This does not support her to promote continuity between the different settings that children attend. The childminder does, however, work well in partnership with parents. She provides information about their child's progress and guidance

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need to do better?

on how they can support their child's learning at home. Parents praise the childminder, stating that their children are keen to attend.

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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 enhance the opportunities for children to explore drawing and mark making as part of their early literacy development n strengthen the arrangements to work in partnership with other early years providers that children attend to promote continuity of care and learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY540436 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10363911 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 15 January 2019

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2016 and lives in Tonbridge, Kent. She operates Monday to Thursday, from 7.30am to 6pm. The childminder works with an assistant.

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Inspection activities

n The childminder and the inspector discussed the organisation of the childminder's provision and her aims for children's learning. n The inspector observed the interaction of the childminder, her assistants and the children during a range of activities. n The inspector accompanied the childminder and children to the local library. n A range of relevant documentation was scrutinised, including written feedback from parents.

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Inspection activities

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 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

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