Childminder in Medway

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

The childminder offers a warm and homely setting. Children show that they feel welcome and comfortable in the childminder's care. She gets to know children well. Children learn how to take steps to support their own well-being. For example, the childminder teaches children to take big deep breaths to support their own physical and emotional well-being.

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The provision is good

The childminder provides children with a range of learning opportunities as part of her curriculum. Children show a good range of skills that they have learned. For example, they demonstrate their physical skills as they balance on beams in the garden. They learn to count and begin to recognise numerals to show their developing mathematical knowledge. The childminder is a good role model for children. With support, children learn how to take responsibility, such as tidying up the toys after they have finished playing. Children's behaviour is good and they learn about the needs of others. For example, the childminder explains to older children about the differences in the behaviour of younger children. The childminder provides nutritious homemade meals for children to enjoy. She uses these times to promote a range of skills, such as hand washing, good manners and serving their own food. Children demonstrate these skills well.

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need to do better?

n The childminder works well with parents to support children's development. For example, she has good regular ongoing discussions about children's care and learning. Parents comment that their children like going to play with the childminder and that she plays an important role in their lives. n The childminder plans activities for children based on her observations of children's play. For example, she knows that children in her care like to play with water and enjoy pouring. However, at times, the sequencing of the curriculum to support more specifically the most important skills children need to learn next is less well developed. This means that some of the activities do not always focus on what is best for children to learn next to support their progress. n Children benefit from learning opportunities in the local community to help them gain a wide variety of social experiences. For example, the childminder plans

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need to do better?

trips to the local library and to a play group, among others. Children have the opportunity to play and interact in larger groups of children. This supports their confidence and interactions with others well. n Overall, the childminder has good verbal communication to support children's language development. For example, children learn that peonies are a type of flower through discussions with the childminder. However, the childminder has not considered broader ways of supporting children's communication and language development for those whose speech is less well developed. This

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need to do better?

20 May 2025 means that, occasionally, children have fewer opportunities to develop their communication and language skills more rapidly. n Children develop positive attitudes towards learning. The childminder understands how to provide activities to help children to engage and explore. She offers different materials to support children who may have different learning preferences. For example, children become engrossed in mixing materials together. They learn how textures change when rice and play dough combine, which creates further interest in children's play. n The childminder builds close relationships with children. They settle easily in her care and go to her for comfort and support when needed. The childminder knows how to support children's emotional well-being effectively. For example, the childminder knows their individual preferences for comforters and what strategies work well to help settle children.

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need to do better?

n Children learn a good range of skills to support them to move on to their next stage of learning at pre-school or school. The childminder helps to boost children's confidence. For example, she praises children for their efforts in blowing bubbles, and they animatedly talk about them floating away in the garden. n The childminder skilfully teaches children about their own safety in nature. For instance, the childminder talks to children about what bees are doing around flowers and tells children not to go too close. Children learn that bees collect nectar and that they are busy doing their own work.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

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

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should:

n strengthen the curriculum planning and sequencing to identify more precisely what it is that children need to know next n enhance skills in supporting all children to build further on their communication and language skills.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2710020 Local authority Medway Inspection number 10380344 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 7 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder lives in Walderslade, Kent. She offers care for children from Monday to Friday, from 7am to 7.30pm, all year around. The childminder holds a relevant early years qualification at level 3. She is registered to provide funded places for childcare.

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Inspection activities

n The childminder spoke to the inspector about the children's learning and development, with a particular focus on communication and language. n The inspector observed the interactions between the childminder and the children. n Parents shared their written feedback of the setting with the inspector. n The childminder provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation on request. n The inspector and the childminder talked about a joint observation of the children's learning.

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Inspection activities

20 May 2025 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

20 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

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

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