Childminder EY298117

Overall effectiveness Good

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

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The provision is good

Children show that they feel happy and relaxed at the setting. They build strong relationships with the childminder, who knows them very well. Children enjoy participating in a variety of experiences. For instance, they like playing with dolls and pretending it is a birthday party. The childminder helps them to count the candles on the cake and recall how old they are. This helps to support children's imagination and early mathematical skills. Children also enjoy drawing on a drawing board and receive good support to discuss their self-portrait. The childminder helps them to discuss their hair and eye colours and how they are feeling. This helps to develop children's early drawing skills and builds their self- esteem. Furthermore, children show good focus and attention when exploring and matching different coloured pom-poms using tongs. This fosters children's hand- eye coordination and awareness of various colours and sizes.

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The provision is good

Children behave well and show positive engagement as they play and learn. The childminder provides encouragement and praise and clearly explains what will happen next. Consequently, children enjoy joining in and develop a good understanding of the routine and boundaries of the setting. Children have frequent opportunities to broaden their awareness of their community. The childminder organises exciting outings, for instance, to the farm, the beach and to safari parks. This supports children's knowledge and understanding of the wider world.

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need to do better?

n The childminder engages in an extensive range of training and professional development to support her practice. This is evident when she attends webinars and courses about planning and assessing children's development and boosting their communication and language skills. Her ongoing commitment to enhancing her knowledge and skills helps to improve outcomes for children. n The childminder works in partnership with other professionals to help children with additional needs. She actively promotes positive relationships with other settings that children also attend to ensure collaborative working and smooth transitions. This helps to promote continuity in children's care and education. n Children have frequent opportunities to interact with other children. The childminder has built a good network and frequently meets up with other childminders. This means children have regular opportunities to visit the park,

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need to do better?

soft-play centres and engage in sunflower trails. This supports children's social development and helps them to lead active and healthy lifestyles. n The childminder offers a varied curriculum of activities. She seeks information from parents about children's current interests and plans experiences to capture their attention and help them to close any gaps in their learning. Children make good progress during their time at the setting.

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need to do better?

5 September 2025 n Children have frequent opportunities to play outdoors and develop their physical skills in the garden. They enjoy playing on the slide and riding on scooters. This supports children's stamina, balance and coordination effectively. However, children have fewer well-established opportunities to learn through their senses and access all areas of learning during outdoor play at the childminder's home. n The childminder frequently engages in conversations with children and introduces new vocabulary as they play. However, on occasion, she does not fully extend children's language development and knowledge to help them to make the highest level of progress. n Children have good opportunities to learn about lives different to their own. They enjoy celebrating a range of cultural festivals and learning about differences in families. For instance, the childminder plans activities to help children learn

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need to do better?

about Chinese New Year, such as food tasting and making lanterns. This helps children develop an awareness of diversity and different backgrounds. n Children show they feel comfortable and secure. They illustrate that they enjoy their time at the setting as they frequently laugh with the childminder. They also listen and behave well and help to tidy up when they have finished playing. n The childminder keeps her home safe and clean for children's use. She carries out daily checks both indoors and outdoors. The childminder supports children to learn about good hygiene practices effectively. n Positive partnerships with parents are well established. Parents state they are very happy with the provision. They express that they fully appreciate the home- from-home environment and value the childminder's care, advice and good communication. Parents also highlight that their children love attending and are

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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 opportunities for children to learn through their senses and experience a wider range of areas of learning during outdoor play n further strengthen interactions and focus even more closely on extending children's language skills and knowledge to help them to make the best possible progress.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY298117 Local authority Halton Inspection number 10390030 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 15 January 2025

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2005 and lives in Widnes. Her provision operates all year round, from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The childminder and the inspector had a discussion about the curriculum, ethos and values of the setting. n The inspector carried out a number of observations and evaluated the teaching and learning experiences. n The inspector held a discussion with the childminder about how she keeps children safe. n A range of documents was viewed, such as Disclosure and Barring Service certificates for the childminder and her household members and her first-aid certificate.

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Inspection activities

5 September 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

5 September 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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