Smith, Mary Josephine

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 is experienced and puts children at the heart of everything she does. She provides children with a welcoming and homely environment, which positively supports children's well-being. Younger children develop strong bonds with the childminder and feel confident and content in her care. For example, they eagerly look to the childminder to join in with their play throughout the day and seek cuddles and comfort from the childminder as needed. The childminder promotes children's independence very well. For instance, younger children help to tidy up the toys after they finish playing and independently put on their coats and boots to go out to play. Children's behaviour is good. The childminder provides children with clear messages about sharing, kindness and learning to express their feelings. Younger children are excited to receive praise for their achievements from the kind childminder. This boosts the children's confidence and self-esteem, helping

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The provision is good

The childminder provides a broad and well-sequenced curriculum. For instance, she has identified that children are engaged in their play for long periods of time when playing with dough. Young children enjoy rolling the dough and use cutters to make gingerbread people. The childminder extends children's learning as she teaches them to count, identify sizes and colours. Children gain good skills to prepare them for their next stage in their future learning.

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need to do better?

n The childminder uses information gathered from parents, and from her observations and assessments of children, to identify their interests. She plans activities that she knows children will enjoy and learn from. However, although the childminder regularly assesses children's learning and development, this information is not consistently used to precisely inform planning for all children's next steps in development. Consequently, children are not consistently supported to make the very best rates of progress. n The childminder supports children's language and speaking skills effectively. For instance, children enjoy listening to their favourite stories and confidently select books of their choice. Younger children listen intently to the childminder reading stories and join in with actions and words enthusiastically. The childminder skilfully narrates during activities and repeats new words to help younger

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need to do better?

children become confident talkers. All children develop strong communication skills from a young age. n The childminder has a strong focus on outdoor learning and child-led play. For instance, younger children are excited to run out in the childminder's garden and enjoy blowing bubbles and catching them. Younger children enjoy using ride-on toys and balancing steps to walk up and down. They use dough and sensory

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need to do better?

19 February 2025 resources and materials when playing with farm animals, to develop their fine motor skills. The childminder effectively helps children to strengthen their small and large muscles as they play. n Children benefit from exploring the local community, including playgroups, farms and nearby local parks. The childminder prepares children for life in modern Britain well. For example, she plans activities around festivals and gives children opportunities to socialise well with other children from different backgrounds when they attend playgroups. This helps to widen children's experiences and knowledge of the world around them. n The childminder supports children's healthy lifestyles and self-care skills well. For example, younger children know to wash and dry their own hands before meals and follow good hygiene procedures. Children enjoy fresh, home-cooked, and nutritious meals and snacks each day, prepared by the childminder.

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need to do better?

n The childminder is a good role model. Younger children respond well to the childminder's kind and gentle guidance and their behaviour is good. The childminder encourages children to express their feelings well. For example, the childminder reads books to children to help them express their feelings and learn good manners. Younger children use emotion cubes to identify how they are feeling upon their arrival to the childminder's home. n Parents written comments and questionnaires are very positive. They express good levels of satisfaction with the service the childminder provides. Parents value the care and learning their children receive and comment how their children are making good progress in their learning and development. n The childminder evaluates her practice effectively. She meets up with other childminders in the area to share knowledge and good practice. The childminder is committed to her own professional development and actively pursues training

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need to do better?

opportunities to implement new ideas. She continuously strives for ways to improve the quality of her practice to offer children good experiences and opportunities.

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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 make better use of the assessments of individual children's development to inform the planning of activities to help children make the best rates of progress.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 160094 Local authority Enfield Inspection number 10368234 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 6 Date of previous inspection 13 March 2019

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 1997. She lives in the London Borough of Enfield. The childminder provides care from 7.30am until 6pm, Monday to Friday, throughout most of the year. She provides government funded childcare.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector and childminder completed a learning walk of the setting where they discussed the early years provision and the aims of the curriculum. n The inspector and childminder jointly observed children and evaluated an activity together. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided and assessed the impact on children's learning. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation, including the childminder's paediatric first-aid certificate. n The inspector took account of the written views of 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 February 2025 19 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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