Childminder in Lancashire

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

The childminder and her assistant provide an exciting and interesting environment for children to learn and explore. The childminder is committed to providing children with a space to develop and grow in their own individual ways. Together with her assistant, she plans a broad range of activities and topics based on the children's interests. They carefully build on what the children already know and extend their thinking further. For example, children are currently learning about the life cycle of a butterfly, following on from the children's love of a book about a hungry caterpillar.

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The provision is good

The childminder and her assistant have established strong bonds with the children. Children are extremely happy in their environment. The childminder and her assistant are good role models. They demonstrate a consistently respectful and calm manner and this makes a strong contribution to children's good behaviour. Children follow instructions, understand the childminder's expectations and are kind and considerate. For example, older children invite their younger peers to join in with their play. They happily adapt their own activities to suit the needs of babies, and patiently show them how to interact with different resources. This helps to promote children's social development.

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need to do better?

n Careful planning and effective assessment contribute to the good progress that children make. However, children's individual stages of learning and development are not always promoted during group play. The childminder does not organise these activities effectively to meet the needs of children of differing ages. This means younger children can become restless and disruptive as they are not engaged. n Children are eager and enthusiastic learners. They access resources that ignite their curiosity and inspire their imaginative skills. For example, children make obstacle courses from stepping stones. They devise games where they need to throw objects in a bowl whilst standing on the coloured stones. They cheer and praise each other when they 'hit the target'. n The childminder understands the importance of working in partnership with parents. She encourages parents to contribute to assessments and gathers

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need to do better?

detailed information upon a child's entry to the setting. This helps to build a clear and accurate picture of children's individual stages of development. This means the childminder can identify suitably challenging next steps in learning for all children. Parents value this 'partnership' approach and feel their opinions are regularly sought and appropriately acknowledged. n The childminder works closely with other settings that children attend and eventually move on to. She shares assessment information and details about

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need to do better?

23 July 2025 children's likes and dislikes, to help to support those who are settling into new environments. The childminder understands the importance of consistency in promoting children's learning and development. n The childminder promotes children's independence well. She encourages the youngest children to feed themselves and to begin to drink from cups. She demonstrates a good understanding of how such activities promote children's physical development. Older children become increasingly independent as they manage their own toileting needs. n The childminder and her assistant work well together. The childminder offers her support and guidance to the assistant when needed. However, the monitoring of the assistant's practice is not precise enough to enable her to prioritise where additional support or training may be needed.

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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 the organisation of group activities, to meet the individual stages of development effectively for all children n enhance the monitoring and evaluation of provision to identify how practitioners' teaching skills can be developed further.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 308733 Local authority Lancashire Inspection number 10398422 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 12 Number of children on roll 10 Date of previous inspection 21 October 2019

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 1998 and lives in Preston. She operates all year round from 7.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, except bank holidays and family holidays. She holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 3. She works with an assistant, who also holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 3.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities and the impact this has on children's learning. n The childminder and the inspector completed a joint evaluation of an activity and a learning walk, in order to understand the effectiveness of the curriculum and how is it organised. n The inspector spoke to parents, children and the childminders assistant during the inspection. n Discussions about leadership and management took place between the inspector and the childminder. n The inspector viewed evidence of the suitability of persons living and working in the household.

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Inspection activities

23 July 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

23 July 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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