Childminder in Cambridgeshire

Overall effectiveness Outstanding

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

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The provision is outstanding

Children flourish in the exceptional care that the childminder provides. They form deeply nurturing relationships with the childminder and respectful friendships with one another. The childminder routinely recognises children's efforts and skills and offers an abundance of praise throughout the day. Furthermore, she encourages the same level of respect among children. For example, they celebrate their friends' success in a mathematics activity. They explain how they will be able to do the same with more practice. As a result, all children are exceptionally confident and have a positive attitude towards their learning.

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The provision is outstanding

Throughout their time in the childminder's care, children remain deeply engaged in meaningful play. The childminder expertly plans exciting and precise learning opportunities that consider children's individual interests and specific learning needs exceptionally well. For example, children are working on developing their hand muscles to support their early writing skills. The childminder encourages them to dress their favourite dolls, doing up buttons and fastenings. They use tweezers and chopsticks to pick up food in their role-play kitchen and spread toppings onto their crackers at snack time.

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need to do better?

n The childminder constructs a curriculum that provides appropriate challenge and supports children's development superbly around their identified learning needs. She seizes every opportunity to support children to explore their thoughts and develop their ideas further. Daily routines provide a wealth of learning opportunities for children. Children choose their own snacks, understanding the need to select a carbohydrate, a fruit and a calcium-rich item to make their bones strong. They explore the shapes of their crackers, explaining to visitors that they are squares because the sides and angles are all the same. n The childminder monitors children's progress exceptionally well. She regularly conducts detailed assessments based on her precise observations and those of parents. The childminder encourages parents to engage deeply in children's learning, further promoting their development at home. For example, she

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need to do better?

routinely sends home ideas for activities and holds termly consultation sessions with parents. n The childminder is highly committed to enhancing the care she provides for children. She seeks regular feedback from parents and children. She acts on these evaluations to ensure her practice continues to meet the changing needs of children and families. Furthermore, the childminder completes a wealth of additional training centred around the precise needs of the children in her care. n Children demonstrate exceptional communication skills. They confidently chat to one another and adults, using increasingly complex vocabulary. The childminder

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need to do better?

6 February 2025 promotes this well with her robust and consistent teaching. She routinely provides alternative vocabulary and creates wonderful opportunities for children to practise these language skills. For example, every week children share what they did over the weekend as a group. n The childminder establishes incredibly strong relationships with other professionals involved in the children's development. This is particularly evident when supporting children's transitions to school. In partnership with the local school, the childminder has created a weekly, on-site play session. Children become familiar with their future learning environment and staff. They explore and practise their new routines and learn about expected behaviours. As a result of these innovative strategies and close collaborations, children are exceptionally well prepared for their next stage of learning. n Parents offer immense praise for the childminder and the high-quality care she

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need to do better?

provides. They comment on the excellent two-way communication the childminder provides and how this makes them feel involved in children's learning. Parents deeply value the incredibly close bonds both they and their children form with the childminder. These mutually supportive and respectful relationships support children's well-being and learning superbly. n The childminder understands the important role that children's emotional well- being plays in their future learning. She is incredibly intuitive and swift to identify and support children's changing emotional and physical needs. For example, she understands that after sitting down during their snack, children may struggle to focus on her planned activity. She adapts her plans to incorporate a physical activity where children explore instruments and dance to their favourite songs.

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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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Setting details

Unique reference number EY405997 Local authority Cambridgeshire Inspection number 10368311 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 30 Date of previous inspection 14 March 2019

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2010 and lives in Great Paxton, St Neots. She operates all year round except for bank holidays and family holidays. On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday she operates from 7.45am to 6pm. On Monday and Friday the childminder's sessions are from 7.45am to 9am and from 3.15pm to 6pm. During school holidays she operates Monday to Friday from 7.45am to 6pm. The childminder holds an appropriate qualification at level 4. She provides funded early years education for children aged nine months to four years old.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector considered the views of parents by reviewing feedback letters. n The inspector looked at selection of relevant documents. n The inspector observed the interactions between the childminder and the children during activities and observed the quality of teaching. n The inspector and the childminder completed a joint observation of an activity to assess the impact of her teaching on children's learning. n The inspector and the childminder discussed how the childminder organises her setting and plans the curriculum and experiences for children. n The inspector held discussions with the childminder about the monitoring of learning and development in the setting and tracked the progress of children.

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Inspection activities

6 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

6 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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