Childminder in Halton

Overall effectiveness Good

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

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The provision is good

Since the last inspection, the childminder has worked with her local authority to undertake professional training to help improve her practice. The quality of education and learning is good. The childminder has a basic understanding of what she wants children to learn and builds her curriculum around this. For example, she provides children with play dough activities to help strengthen their hand and wrist muscles in preparation for pre-writing skills. The childminder introduces new vocabulary, such as 'push' and 'pull', to help children understand the movements they are using to manipulate the play dough. Furthermore, she makes excellent use of unplanned opportunities for learning. Children are wrapped up warm and taken out into the garden to explore the snow, which has fallen overnight.

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The provision is good

The childminder provides a warm and welcoming home-learning environment. She is calm in her approach, which helps children to feel settled and secure. When children wake up from their sleep, the childminder provides gentle cuddles and talks to them to ease them back awake. The childminder encourages children to develop their independence skills. Children independently explore the home environment and are supported to make choices about what they want to do next. Children are supported to use their manners as they consistently hear examples used by the childminder. Additionally, the childminder provides children with praise and encouragement. Children's self-esteem and confidence is increasing.

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need to do better?

n The childminder has engaged in relevant training to help her improve her knowledge, skills and practice. She recognises that expanding her skill set and broadening her knowledge has a positive impact on outcomes for children in her care. n Children enjoy the activities that the childminder plans. For instance, they explore a range of resources, such as play dough, animal shapes, cutters and tools, which the childminder sets out on the kitchen table. Children roll out the different colours of play dough, carefully using the cutters and tools, demonstrating good hand-eye coordination. However, at times, the childminder does not plan fully effectively to ensure that children learn what she wants them to from the activities she provides. For example, during this activity, children are not supported to create food items, which was the intended learning for the planned baking activities. n The childminder undertakes assessments of children's learning and development.

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need to do better?

This includes completing the progress check at age two. She shares information with parents and carers and supports them to seek external support when concerns about children's development are identified. This helps to ensure that children receive the early and specialist help they require.

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need to do better?

7 January 2025 n The childminder supports children to learn about colours, number and shape through their play. For example, during play dough activities, the childminder helps them to understand the difference in shades of colour. Additionally, when children go outside in the snow, they compare the different sizes of the footprints they have made. Children are beginning to develop an understanding of some mathematical concepts. n Children learn about keeping themselves healthy and safe. The childminder provides healthy, nutritious food and water to drink. She ensures that children adopt good hygiene routines. For example, they know when they need to wash their hands and sing the handwashing song to help them understand why they need to do this. Children enjoy being physically active either in the garden or out on walks in the local community. These activities support them in forming healthy habits for their future.

p.2

need to do better?

n Children are taken to local community groups where they meet up with other minded children, which helps them to form new friendship groups. This helps children to develop their social skills in preparation for moving on to school. Furthermore, through planned trips and visits, children are learning about the wider world around them. n The childminder is a good role model. She supports children to take care of the environment and learn good manners. For example, children tidy away their toys, assisted by the childminder. Children say 'please' and 'thank you' in their conversations and know how to ask for help when needed.

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 strengthen further the planning and implementation of the curriculum to support children's continuous development n continue to access professional development opportunities to keep skills and knowledge up to date.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY286710 Local authority Halton Inspection number 10327572 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 3 Date of previous inspection 9 January 2024

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2004 and lives in Widnes. She operates Monday to Friday, from 7.30am to 6.15pm, all year round, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The childminder showed the inspector the premises and discussed how they ensure that they are safe and suitable. 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 Children spoke with the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector observed the interactions between the childminder and children. n The childminder and inspector discussed how the curriculum has been implemented and the impact that this has on children's learning.

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Inspection activities

7 January 2025 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

7 January 2025 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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