Childminder in Croydon

Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

p.1

The provision is outstanding

Children have a very smooth, calming start to their day as the childminder carries out gentle group mediation where children listen carefully to natural sounds around them. This helps children to get into an excellent mindset for learning and exploration. The childminder prioritises children's personal and social development. He keeps a close eye on their emotional development to accurately measure and support children's well-being and learning. The childminder has very close, warm bonds with children and values each child highly. He carefully displays children's family photos and precisely reflects their current interests in activities. This helps children to feel strongly appreciated and very secure. The childminder uses a very enabling approach to managing children's behaviour, where they learn skills of emotional regulation. Children are kind to each other, and older ones remind younger ones of how to behave well. Children act in very positive ways.

p.2

The provision is outstanding

The curriculum is enriching, deep and very carefully considered, and all children make excellent progress. The childminder promotes children's communication, language and literacy skills very successfully. He uses opportune moments to introduce ambitious vocabulary to children. For instance, the childminder teaches children the word 'coil' as he coils a string of pasta. Children happily browse through books of different genres, and the childminder links these exceptionally well to other areas of learning. All children are highly articulate and have exceptional language and literacy skills. The childminder supports children's physical development in excellent ways. Children learn to move in different directions as they stand on chalk-drawn arrows on the ground. The childminder teaches them prepositions such as forward and backward as they move. They jump over skipping ropes, and younger children learn to carefully steer wheeled toys.

p.2

The provision is outstanding

Older children set challenges for themselves as they place rope on the ground and carefully balance along it. Children gain excellent physical skills.

p.2

need to do better?

n Children gain excellent understanding of the world. The childminder builds very strong links with the local community and this helps to build children's character. For instance, the childminder takes children to elderly care homes, where they take part in intergenerational singing. Children learn about the natural world through active exploration and discovery. They find worms in the garden, and the childminder teaches children about how they live and eat. He follows this up by reading a story called 'Superworm', which children thoroughly enjoy. The childminder teaches children how things grow and where food comes from by planting broad beans and carrots with them. n The childminder teaches children early mathematics very successfully. Children compare the lengths of different pasta strings, and the childminder teaches

p.2

need to do better?

2 April 2025 them comparative language, such as 'shortest' and 'longest'. They confidently count the number of children present when they arrive each day, and even young children recognise different numerals. Children have very good knowledge of different shape names. They have excellent concentration skills and persevere with tasks, overcoming difficulty. n Children have exceptional independence skills. They spread paste on sandwiches and peel their own fruit at snack time. Children help to set the table for lunch and put their shoes and coats on. The childminder teaches children how to say 'please' and 'thank you', and children are well-mannered. Children learn to share and take turns very successfully through activities such as organised outdoor ball games. n The childminder has excellent partnerships with parents. He uses a variety of highly effective approaches to keep parents fully informed of their children's

p.2

need to do better?

progress. For instance, the childminder holds parents' meetings each term, sends secure electronic messages and gives verbal feedback to parents daily. He shares detailed information on children's next steps for learning with parents and offers suggestions on home activities. Written comments from parents include descriptions of the childminder as 'patient, kind and dedicated'. n The childminder is very highly committed to the continual development of his skills and knowledge. He holds qualified teacher status and has recently completed the early years development programme. This has led to enhanced understanding of how children learn and excellent outcomes for children. He is extremely motivated to improve his practice and carries out regular comprehensive reviews to set ambitious goals for improvement. n Children thoroughly enjoy investigating a wide range of media and tools. They explore cooked spaghetti strings and talk about how cold and slimy it feels.

p.3

need to do better?

Children dig and rake soil as they make homes for worms. They find metal buckets and instinctively use sticks to explore loud and soft sounds. Children use different tools to carefully compose their pictures, including chalk, paint and crayons. n The childminder regards children's safety with high importance. He carries out robust risk assessments that cover all parts of his home, indoors and outdoors, to keep children safe. He teaches children about road safety and how to use the stairs with care and caution. Children wash their hands before and after eating, without adult prompts. They act in very safe ways. n The childminder promotes exceptionally healthy routines for children. He freshly prepares nutritious meals and snacks for children, such as rice and black bean stew with salad. The childminder teaches children that rice gives them energy. He provides creative activities and has informative discussions with children to

p.3

need to do better?

teach them about oral hygiene. Children have excellent knowledge about how to keep their teeth and gums healthy and say, 'You can't have too much sugar'. n The childminder supports children's understanding of difference in deeply enriching ways. He prepares traditional meals from different cultures, such as Greek-Cypriot dishes, and the childminder shares the country's customs with children. The childminder organises visits to holy places, such as Hindu temples, and invites other childminders and children along to share the experience. He is trained and experienced in caring for children with special educational needs

p.3

need to do better?

2 April 2025 and/or disabilities. The childminder understands the need for close monitoring, regular review and thorough planning to promote very best outcomes for children.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.4

Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

p.4

Setting details

Unique reference number 2694938 Local authority Croydon Inspection number 10372333 Type of provision Childminder

p.5

Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Childminder

p.5

inspection

Total number of places 5 Number of children on roll 8 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

p.5

Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2022. He lives in Coulsdon in the London Borough of Croydon. The childminder provides care for children from Monday to Friday, 7.30am to 5.30pm, during term time only. He accepts government funding for childcare places. The childminder holds qualified teacher status.

p.5

Inspection activities

n The childminder talked to the inspector about how he organises his provision and his curriculum while the inspector viewed the premises. n The childminder carried out an activity and evaluated this with the inspector. n The inspector spoke to the childminder and children at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector viewed some documentation and held a discussion with the childminder. She read written feedback from the children's parents.

p.5

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.

p.5

Inspection activities

2 April 2025 2 April 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.

p.5

Inspection activities

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspection activities

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.7

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7