Childminder in Kent

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 are independent, confident and settled in the childminder's friendly home. For example, children are confident to choose their own play. Children appear very happy and are excited to be in the childminder's company. The childminder implements a motivating curriculum that challenges children and helps keep them interested to learn. For example, when they have an interest in bees, the childminder takes them honey tasting. They go on to learn about bee's wax and roll wax to make candles. The childminder supports all children to develop their communication skills and widen their range of vocabulary. This is evident when they learn new words associated with bees, such as hive, honeycomb, honey and pollinate.

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The provision is good

The childminder is a positive role model. Children are polite and behave well. The childminder teaches children about the benefits of healthy eating. For example, they are keen to taste their homegrown healthy produce, such as tomatoes and carrots. The childminder supports children to build on their physical abilities. For instance, they jump confidently and safely on stepping stones, which are placed at varying widths apart. Children are creative and learn to make art in different ways. This is demonstrated when they make interesting creations, such as making a lion mane out of dandelions.

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need to do better?

n The childminder knows all children well. This includes their individual personalities, likes and dislikes. This helps her establish positive relationships with all children and help them feel safe in her trusting and secure environment. Children enjoy her company and seek her out for hugs and initiate play with her. n The childminder has a high expectation of all children, including the youngest. She plans activities that she knows will keep children interested to learn and support their development. All children have a positive attitude towards their learning and make good progress. n The childminder establishes positive partnerships with parents and keeps them fully informed about their children's leaning. She shares photographs and videos daily of what children have enjoyed doing and what they have achieved. Parents speak fondly of the childminder and describe her as 'wonderful'. n Overall, the quality of teaching is good. For example, the childminder teaches

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need to do better?

children interesting facts about the world around them, such as how bees produce honey. However, on occasions, her brief explanations do not provide children with sufficient information to further embed their learning. For example, children wash their hands with no explanation of why it is important to do so, and no further explanation is provided about how a caterpillar turns into a butterfly when the subject is raised by children. Therefore, the quality of

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need to do better?

4 June 2025 teaching to embed further understanding is, at times, inconsistent. n The childminder liaises with parents to share information between her and staff at other settings children attend. However, she does not regularly communicate with them herself to establish partnerships with them. Therefore, the childminder does not consistently provide the highest level of shared care and learning experiences for these children. n The childminder evaluates her practice daily. She considers what has gone well and what she will do differently next time. The childminder is proactive in keeping her knowledge up to date and building on her skills. She completes independent reading and research. This includes learning about new activity ideas. This has helped her to further engage children by introducing new and exciting experiences for them to enjoy participating in. n The childminder supports children to learn about other peoples' similarities and

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need to do better?

differences outside of their own communities and experiences. For example, children talk about different religious festivals, such as Diwali. n Children learn how to stay safe. For example, they learn how to remain safe around water during visits to the beach. Children recall the rules of how to cross the road safely and they know if the childminder says 'freeze', they must immediately stop. The childminder shares these strategies with parents. This provides children with a consistency of care and learning between home and the childminder's setting.

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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 build on children's knowledge and understanding even further by providing consistently high-quality explanations during interactions n develop effective partnerships with staff at other settings that children also attend.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 126888 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10394528 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 11 September 2019

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 1996. She is located in Minster-on-Sea, Sheerness in Kent. The childminder cares for children from Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 6pm, all year around. The childminder receives funding to provide free early education for children aged one, two and four years.

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Inspection activities

n The childminder carried out a learning walk with the inspector, where the impact of the quality of interactions was assessed by the inspector. The learning opportunities the childminder provides children were discussed and reviewed. n The inspector viewed the indoor and outdoor learning environments. n The inspector reviewed written documentation. This included safeguarding policies and procedures. n During the inspection, the inspector spoke to the childminder and children at convenient times. Written feedback from parents was reviewed. The inspector considered all views shared.

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Inspection activities

4 June 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

4 June 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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