Childminder EY473842

Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

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

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The provision requires improvement

The childminder's curriculum is not yet good, and the quality of teaching is variable. As a result, at times, children are not highly motivated to learn. That said, the childminder is reflective, and she has plans in place to work with her local authority early years team to improve the quality of education she provides. However, this is in the early stages and is yet to take place.

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The provision requires improvement

Children are settled and calm. The childminder and her assistants have warm and positive relationships with children. They teach children to cooperate with care routines, listen and play nicely with their peers. Children behave well; they are respectful, and they are making friends. They can follow simple instructions, including lining up when asked and holding hands when out and about.

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The provision requires improvement

Overall, children enjoy attending. The environment is well resourced. Children have plenty of time to make their own free-play choices, including drawing pictures that they proudly present to the childminder. They also enjoy taking part in whole-group sessions, including story time. The childminder encourages them to join in with a familiar tale about farm animals and repeat the key rhyming phrases. This helps to build on children's communication, language and early literacy skills.

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need to do better?

n Since the last inspection, the childminder has proactively sought and taken advice from the local authority early years team. She has sharply focused on improving the safeguarding and welfare aspects of her provision to positive effect. This has helped to drive some improvements. n The childminder's home is secure, safe and clean. She conducts daily risk assessment checks of her premises and has recently acquired appropriate fire safety equipment for use in her home. All those working with children are known to Ofsted and suitably vetted. The childminder and her assistants fully understand their safeguarding responsibilities. This includes their role in reporting concerns about a person in a position of trust to the relevant authorities. This helps to keep children safe and protect them from harm. n The childminder follows children's interests and knows children well. For example, when children show an interest in diggers outside the childminder's

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need to do better?

home, she reacts positively. She facilitates them to put their coats on and go and see the diggers in action. The childminder and her assistants talk to children about what is happening, and they introduce them to new vocabulary, such as scooping. This provides great excitement. However, the childminder does not consistently make the most effective use of what she knows about children to plan activities that promote their individual next steps in learning. As a result, children do not progress as well as possible.

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need to do better?

18 March 2025 n The childminder and her assistants do not maximise interactions with children to fully extend their learning, and there are occasions when opportunities for teaching are overlooked. For example, when children take part in making cards, the childminder is overly focused on the task at hand. Children can only take part if they have not already made one. Their feet are painted for them, and once they have printed their footprints, they swiftly move on. Furthermore, when children build towers with the childminder's assistants and incidentally count the bricks up to 10 in the wrong order, this is not corrected. n The childminder is well qualified. She accesses mandatory training, and she provides her assistants with some coaching and support. The childminder is very open and involves her assistants in key decision-making. However, there is scope for the childminder to make better use of professional development to help

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need to do better?

improve teaching and build on her assistants' confidence in this area. n Children's physical well-being is promoted. The childminder provides children with healthy, home-cooked snacks and meals. She makes sure children enjoy fresh air, including walks in the local community and trips further afield. The childminder has recently implemented more rigorous procedures for handwashing in her provision. Children wash their hands before snacks and meals without fail every day. She has also revised her sleeping arrangements to ensure they comply with relevant guidance. n Parents' views are wholly very positive. They comment that they are happy with the service provided. The childminder finds out about children's home lives from parents on entry, including additional languages, and ensures these are valued. She works closely with parents to share key updates, photos and messages about children. This promotes some continuity between the provision and home.

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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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Due date

improve the curriculum and make effective use of what is known about children to plan for their individual next steps in learning and promote good progress. 01/06/2025

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should:

n make the most of interactions with children to help focus on and fully extend their learning n make better use of professional development to help improve teaching and build on the assistants' confidence so that they successfully fulfil all aspects of their roles.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY473842 Local authority Staffordshire Inspection number 10380080 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 18 Date of previous inspection 10 December 2024

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2014 and lives in Staffordshire. The childminder holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 3. She works alongside two assistants. Of these, one holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 3. The childminder operates all year round. Sessions are available from Monday to Friday, from 7.30am to 5.30pm. The childminder offers funded early education for eligible 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 quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The childminder provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation on request. n The inspector sought parents' views by taking account of written feedback they had provided. n The inspector spoke to the childminder and her assistant at appropriate times throughout the inspection.

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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

18 March 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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