Stevens, Claire

Overall effectiveness Outstanding

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

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The provision is outstanding

The childminder's exuberance and dedication to providing an outstanding learning environment where children thrive is plain to see. She has an extensive knowledge of how children learn. She expertly adapts every interaction to add new challenges to support their learning. For example, as children play, they name some familiar farm animals. The childminder challenges the children further to find four toy horses and line them up, the smallest to the largest. Children fully embrace the challenge as they think hard to sequence the animals in size order. The childminder praises the children's efforts highly as they beam with pride at their achievements. Younger children look for sheep and confidently count to four. The childminder ensures this learning is fully consolidated as children show how many fingers make four and find the corresponding number of dots on toy fish.

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The provision is outstanding

Children make excellent progress from their individual starting points during their time with this inspiring childminder. The well-qualified childminder sets high expectations for all those in her care through a systematic and imaginative curriculum for all aspects of children's learning. Through the excellently planned curriculum, younger children learn, for example, to concentrate for long periods as they wind up small cogs to make tractors and cars follow a track. Older children write the initial of their name and those of their friends and siblings. They also identify letters out of context from magnetic letters. All children are extremely well prepared for the next stage in their education and development, including preparing to start school.

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need to do better?

n The childminder reads to children in a way that completely captivates them. She speaks clearly and teaches highly ambitious language. Her teaching is highly successful at promoting a love of stories and books. The childminder uses a range of excellent strategies to support all children's language and communication skills. For example, she models language, narrates play and shares stories, songs and rhymes with children. Younger children hear new words and sounds as they develop their vocabulary. Older children demonstrate an excellent ability to hold complex conversations. They notice and talk about what they can see. The childminder asks appropriate questions, which expertly extend and help to support what children are thinking. n The childminder promotes children's independence skills from a very young age. For example, when washing their hands, children demonstrate they are very familiar with the routine. They reach for the soap and rub their hands as the

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need to do better?

childminder sings songs to make it fun and engaging for them. Children understand the times when they need to wash their hands and how the soap washes the germs away. In addition, children help to set up activities with the

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need to do better?

27 March 2025 childminder's gentle support and learn to clear away before selecting a new activity. n The childminder provides children with a very broad range of snacks and lunches, which are healthy and well balanced. She displays a daily menu on a board outside her setting that enables parents to be aware of what their children will be eating. In addition, the childminder shares recipes and ideas with parents, who are made aware of how well their children have eaten daily. n The childminder manages children's behaviour exceptionally well. For instance, she takes time to explain why some behaviour is not acceptable and offers suitable alternatives. Children respond exceptionally well to the childminder's gentle suggestions and often spontaneously work things out together. The childminder uses praise to promote positive behaviour, and children behave very well. n Children enjoy a wealth of opportunities to develop their social skills and learn

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need to do better?

about others. They enjoy visiting local toddler groups, farms, parks, gymnastic sessions and other local amenities. Children visit a local care home where they make residents birthday cards and play simple games. These interactions with other adults and children enable children to foster a sense of community and respect for others. n The childminder continually strives to improve her knowledge. She carefully selects training that will support both the children and the development of her setting. For instance, the childminder has recently attended training that has helped her to develop her teaching of mathematics to support children to have a deeper understanding of counting and linking the number of objects to the written number. This builds children's confidence and self-esteem to try new challenges and develop their skills further. n The childminder maintains very strong partnerships with parents. She recognises

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need to do better?

that working together is fundamental to ensuring the children's needs are met. She creates an open, informative and honest relationship with parents right from the start. As a result, parents speak very highly of the childminder. They comment that their children have excelled in this kind and caring environment.

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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 EY546996 Local authority Windsor and Maidenhead Inspection number 10376073 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 13 Date of previous inspection 15 May 2019

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2017 and lives in Windsor, Berkshire. She operates from 7.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, for most of the year. She provides government funded childcare for children aged from nine months to four years. The childminder is a qualified teacher.

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Inspection activities

n The childminder took the inspector on a learning walk of her provision and explained her curriculum. n The inspector took parents' written views into consideration. n The inspector held a leadership discussion with the childminder. n The inspector sampled a range of documents and children's records. n The inspector observed interactions between the childminder and children. n The inspector observed the quality of the education being provided and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning.

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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

27 March 2025 27 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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