Dugdale, Katherine

Overall effectiveness Good

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

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The provision is good

Children build strong bonds with the childminder. They are happy and confident at her provision. The childminder teaches children about healthy lifestyles. Children learn to stay safe in the sun, wearing their hats and using sun cream. Children plant and grow items with the childminder, learning about nature and lifecycles. They enjoy being active in the fresh air and spend lots of time having fun in the childminder's garden.

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The provision is good

The childminder outlines her curriculum clearly. She focuses her activities carefully on children's learning needs and links these to their interests to motivate them effectively. The childminder sets up the areas in her garden thoughtfully. Children relish exploring sensory activities and remain engaged for continued periods. They test out their ideas as they investigate powder paints and melting water from ice. Children develop their coordination and dexterity effectively as they use utensils to empty and fill pots with soil. The childminder builds children's maths skills as she models maths language and counts items with them. Children make towers, successfully using trial and error to fit pieces together, alongside the childminder's encouragement and praise.

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need to do better?

n The childminder assesses children's skills and any gaps in their development. She notes their achievements and regularly outlines next steps in their learning. She shares these with parents along with ideas on supporting children's learning at home, helping promote joint working and a consistent approach for children. The childminder also gains information from parents on what children are doing outside of her provision. She uses this information to feed into her assessments and planning, targeting her support and linking activities effectively. n Children are offered lots of practical activities and useful ways to develop confidence in their abilities, their independence and sense of responsibility. The childminder patiently takes lots of time through the day to build their self-care skills. Children develop strong positive attitudes to gaining new skills. Toddlers persevere to take off and put on their shoes. They learn to wipe their nose and

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need to do better?

clean their hands conscientiously afterwards. n Children follow safety routines and boundaries closely, showing very good awareness for their age. The childminder explains things clearly to young children to help their understanding. Children sit down and wait patiently as the childminder helps each of them down the steep steps to the playroom. They learn to interact with each other appropriately, sharing toys and taking turns with resources. They begin to enjoy other children's company, building early social skills. n The childminder offers useful commentary to children as they play and explore

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need to do better?

22 May 2025 giving them lots of language to listen to. At times, she offers useful opportunities to extend children's speech. She repeats the correct pronunciation and models key words clearly. However, as she knows children so well, she often interprets their needs without them having to ask for things. She does not encourage children to practise using their words and speech to help build their language as rapidly as possible. n The childminder takes children on interesting trips out into the local and wider community. She very beneficially targets these to complement the experiences that children get at home. She takes children to different national trust sites, exploring our national heritage and history. She visits the library with them, to borrow books and for rhyme-time sessions. She takes them on walks in local woodlands. She offers children rich experiences to develop their understanding of the world, their confidence in new situations and many other aspects of their

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need to do better?

development. n The childminder has strong links with other local childminders. She meets regularly with them at play-based groups to offer children useful opportunities to meet with groups of children of their age. These links also help the childminder keep up with changes to legislation and practice. She also liaises with them to gain new ideas. She uses these to evaluate the ways she works and how to develop things further, making changes to benefit the children.

p.3

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.

p.3

should:

n encourage children to use and practise their growing speech even more, developing their language as rapidly as possible.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY547996 Local authority Wiltshire Inspection number 10399074 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 5 Date of previous inspection 19 November 2019

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2017 and lives in Chirton, near Devizes. She operates 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, all year round. The childminder calls her setting Chirton Little Acorns Childminding. She holds qualified teacher status. She provides government funded places.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector viewed the areas used for childminding and discussed with the childminder how she implements the educational programmes for the children. n The childminder and the inspector evaluated the effectiveness of an activity together. n The inspector observed the children and the childminder and spoke with them at appropriate times during the inspection. n Parents shared their views of the childminder's provision with the inspector. n Relevant documentation was reviewed by the inspector, including suitability checks and paediatric first-aid qualifications, and the childminder discussed her procedures for safeguarding the children.

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Inspection activities

22 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

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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