Childminder in Reading

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

The childminder provides an inviting and inclusive environment. Children form secure emotional bonds with the attentive childminder, who shows genuine care when responding to their individual needs. For example, she notices when children are hungry and provides them with healthy snacks to help keep them sustained until lunchtime. Children develop a true sense of belonging.

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The provision is good

The childminder demonstrates a thorough knowledge of the key skills she wants children to achieve, in preparation for their eventual move to school. Well- established routines and stimulating activities support this learning well, such as when children independently wash their hands after coming in from the garden and before mealtimes. Furthermore, the childminder places a strong emphasis on promoting children's communication and language skills, which is demonstrated through her quality interactions. For instance, children show a keen passion for books. They choose their favourite stories and sit close to the adults, who read with enthusiasm and expression. Younger children point to the pictures and name things they see. Older children's thinking skills are encouraged as adults ask questions related to the story events.

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The provision is good

Generally, younger children's behaviour is promoted well. Older children often display spontaneous acts of kindness, which are praised by the childminder. For example, they readily share their toys and invite others into their play. At times when minor disputes occur, the childminder tries to adequately resolve these.

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need to do better?

n Ongoing assessments and observations are effectively used to identify children's next steps in learning. The childminder skilfully interweaves these into children's spontaneous and adult-led activities. For instance, younger children find their own words to label colours of different stacking cups as they play. The childminder sensitively introduces the correct colour names alongside children's ideas. Children hear and begin to use these correctly in their play. This focused way of teaching children is proving highly successful. n Children's ideas are welcomed and valued by the childminder. They readily ask her if they can do an activity that they really enjoy, such as dancing to action songs. Children giggle and laugh as they copy the actions, knowing exactly when to 'freeze'. They move with excitement and concentrate on which action is coming next. This helps to enhance their physical and emotional development.

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need to do better?

n Children's communication and language skills develop well. Even the youngest children apply words they have recently learnt, such as when they correctly point at the chin on one of their toys and say the word. Older children hold sustained two-way conversations with adults. They love to add information

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need to do better?

21 January 2025 about their home experiences, for example, they talk about their new bike, saying 'it's cool'. Adults are aware that children need time to think and formulate their responses to become confident communicators. n Children thoroughly enjoy their time in the childminder's garden. Their gross and fine motor skills are impressive for their age. The adults praise children for their efforts to manage their own safety, such as when they remember what the childminder taught them about using the slide correctly. Children show a good understanding of their physical capabilities. For example, younger children select ride-on toys, while older children choose tricycles or bicycles with stabilisers. While riding these, children negotiate spaces with increasing control. n Overall, children of all ages play well together. The childminder is gentle and calm when supporting children to develop their social skills. However, sometimes

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need to do better?

when minor squabbles arise, her response comes across as less effective in resolving the issue or helping children to understand how to avoid these. There are times when the childminder does not consistently use techniques to effectively support younger children to learn the skills to play more cooperatively. n The childminder forges trusted relationships with parents and keeps them updated about their children's learning. She shares photographs and videos of children's time with her, which the parents look forward to receiving. Although parents are involved in their children's development, the childminder is yet to create a more collaborative approach to benefit children's continuity in their education and care. She has not yet fully embedded a more joined-up way of working between herself, parents and other settings that children also attend. n The proactive childminder strives for continual improvement. She researches and

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need to do better?

completes relevant training to support individual children's needs. For example, the childminder completed a language course to help bridge emerging gaps in children's speech. In addition, she actively supports any assistant's existing knowledge and skills. This means, children's outcomes greatly improve.

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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 review and implement more consistent behaviour management strategies to help younger children play more cooperatively with each other n develop a stronger, more collaborative working partnership with parents and other early years settings, to ensure continuity and consistency in children's learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY544236 Local authority Reading Inspection number 10375989 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 12 Number of children on roll 6 Date of previous inspection 13 May 2019

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2017 and lives in Reading, Berkshire. She operates all year round from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. The childminder is eligible to receive funding for free early education for children aged nine months to four years. She employs a full-time assistant.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. 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 quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector and the childminder carried out a joint observation of a group activity. n Parents shared their written 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

21 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

21 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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