Childminder in Darlington

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 form strong bonds with this dedicated childminder. They are eager to go and find their friends when they arrive and quickly become fully engaged in their play. The childminder places a strong emphasis on promoting children's confidence and well-being. She recognises this as being of vital importance to prepare children for the next stage in their learning. Children learn about their different emotions through stories and discussion. Their behaviour is excellent. The childminder provides gentle prompts, if needed, so children know what is expected of them. Children take great pride in being helpful. They beam with pride when the childminder praises them for helping to tidy up. This boosts their self-esteem.

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The provision is good

The childminder promotes a real love of reading. Children readily snuggle up to enjoy a story. This helps to extend their vocabularies and to develop their imaginations. They also all join in with song time with considerable enthusiasm. They copy familiar actions and repeat many of the words, remaining focused for a considerable amount of time. This is because the childminder makes sure they can choose their favourite songs and play musical instruments.

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The provision is good

Children regularly visit playgroups where they get the opportunity to socialise with other children. The childminder ensures that children are fully supported to feel settled and secure in any busier environments. Children also benefit from visits to places of interest in the local community. They take part in nature walks and use the apparatus. Children also learn more about the world around them through activities linked to seasonal events and celebrations.

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need to do better?

n The childminder has a strong knowledge and understanding of how young children learn and develop. She collects a wealth of information from parents before children start attending. She uses this and her own regular observations to identify the knowledge and skills children need in order to progress. n The activities and learning opportunities provided are planned effectively with the needs of individual children in mind. For example, when she sets up a tray with coloured pom-poms, different containers and tweezers, she describes what she intends each child to gain from the activity. Some children work on colour recognition, some practise filling and emptying and older children are becoming confident with their counting skills. They all become fully absorbed in their play. n The childminder introduces children to a wide range of appropriate vocabulary as they play and at mealtimes. She has assembled boxes of resources specifically

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need to do better?

designed to promote children's communication and language skills. However, at times she does not give children enough time to respond to her questions and answers them herself.

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need to do better?

4 February 2025 n The childminder is alert to identifying children who may not be making as much progress as expected. If additional support is needed, she works with parents and other professionals to ensure that appropriate strategies are put in place. n Children are given plenty of opportunities to develop their independence and self-care skills. The childminder encourages them to try to take off their own shoes. Children learn how to wash their own hands, with a song to remind them how to do this properly. The childminder helps children to use safety knives to chop their own fruit. This approach helps prepare children to be ready to move on to nursery or school. n The childminder promotes children's health and safety effectively. Children enthusiastically eat a wide range of different fruit. They also proudly show the inspector the healthy toppings they have put on a pizza. The childminder helps children to manage steps in the house safely. Children are supervised vigilantly

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need to do better?

at all times. n Partnerships with parents are highly effective. Parents value the time the childminder takes in getting to know their child and their home routines. They give examples of how the childminder has supported them by providing advice on issues such as toilet training and healthy eating. The childminder provides parents with a regular newsletter, which is highly informative and helps parents to find out more about how to support their children's learning and development. n The childminder is fully committed to providing children with the best possible start to their early education. She attends a wealth of different courses and considers how any new learning can be incorporated into her practice. She also welcomes support and advice from her local authority.

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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 promote children's communication and language skills even further by giving them time to respond to questions and to express their views.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY348058 Local authority Darlington Inspection number 10372184 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 5 Date of previous inspection 4 April 2019

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2007 and lives in Darlington. She operates all year round, from 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds an appropriate qualification at level 3. The childminder offers government funded places for childcare, including specific funding for disadvantaged children.

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Inspection activities

n The childminder showed the inspector the premises and discussed how they ensure 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 The inspector observed the interactions between the childminder and the children. n The inspector considered feedback from parents. n The childminder provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation on request.

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Inspection activities

4 February 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

4 February 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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