Walsh, Stacey Ann

Overall effectiveness Good

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

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The provision is good

Children are happy and content during their time with this caring and nurturing childminder. The childminder is a good role model, offering children cuddles and comfort and regularly praising them. This positively supports their well-being and self-esteem. Children behave very well. They are gently reminded by the childminder to use 'kind hands' when playing. This helps to develop their social skills effectively. Older children welcome younger children to their play and smile when they join in. As such, children have formed secure friendships and demonstrate secure and strong bonds with each other.

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The provision is good

The childminder knows children and families very well. She has organised her home to interest and excite children. For example, children spend a long time motivated to explore playdough and choosing different utensils. They enjoy making 'faces' and using googly eyes to create their models. This helps develop their concentration and attention skills well. The childminder is calm and patient, she reassures children and sensitively encourages them to try new activities to support their next steps in learning. Children thoroughly enjoy playing 'peek a boo' with the childminder, using scarves to hide. They babble and giggle, maintaining their motivation. These activities support children's engagement and positive attitudes to their learning.

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need to do better?

n Children benefit from the childminder's positive and enthusiastic nature. She encourages them to do things for themselves and to attempt to try new things. For example, she helps them to learn to pour their own drinks and use good manners. When children do this, she celebrates their achievements with them. This supports their confidence well. n The childminder helps support children's knowledge of how to keep themselves healthy and safe. For example, she provides children with a wide range of nutritious food for them to try. They eagerly wash their hands before choosing different snacks and talk about what they like the best. This helps encourage children's knowledge of making healthy choices. n Children are highly motivated to explore the toys and activities set up for them. They demonstrate high levels of independence when choosing what they want to play with. Younger children develop their skills as they push and pull a

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need to do better?

pretend till. Older children thread different coloured beads onto string. This supports their knowledge of colour and shape. n The childminder plans experiences to support children's understanding of the wider world around them. For example, she takes children to parks daily, and on walks. Children talk excitedly about play groups they attend with the childminder. These experiences enhance their knowledge about others and their local

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need to do better?

22 May 2025 community. n The childminder prioritises children's interest in books and songs. She encourages children to choose different objects from a bag and sings rhymes to develop children's communication skills. However, the childminder does not always recognise when to give children more time to process and respond to what she has asked to help develop their language and vocabulary skills further. n Children benefit from opportunities to develop their physical skills well. They sustain high levels of motivation when exploring coloured rice. The childminder offers them different sized tools to encourage them to scoop and pour. These activities help support children's development effectively. All children make good progress from their starting points. n The childminder is very reflective and evaluates her practice regularly. She seeks good support from the local authority to develop her provision. She has plans in

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need to do better?

place to develop her knowledge and skills. For example she wants to expand her understanding of special educational needs and/or disabilities further to help support more families locally. n Partnerships with parents are very strong. The childminder asks parents for feedback to help enhance what she offers. She provides daily updates on children's progress. Parents speak highly of the good communication and warm welcome they receive. Their children love attending and they appreciate the home cooked meals the childminder provides for them. Children have made good progress in their social skills and confidence and are very happy to attend.

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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 strengthen practice so that children have time to respond to what is being asked to encourage their language and vocabulary skills even further.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2713616 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10398612 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 4 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2023 and lives in Borough Green, Sevenoaks, Kent. She operates all year round from 7am to 6.30pm, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds a childcare qualification at level 3. She provides funded places from 9 months old to two, three and four year old children.

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Inspection activities

n The childminder and inspector discussed the childminder's curriculum and what she wants children to learn. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The childminder provided the inspector with key documentation upon request. n Parents shared their views of the childminder with the inspector.

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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

22 May 2025 22 May 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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