The childminder creates a busy yet calm learning environment where children show that they feel happy and safe as they explore. She works very well alongside her assistant to build warm relationships with children. Together, they recognise where some children are less confident in social situations and know exactly how to help them join in and play. All children develop a strong sense of belonging and enjoy their time at this setting. The childminder helps children to make good progress in their learning and development. She plans a curriculum that builds on children's interests and continually challenges them to learn new skills in small, achievable steps. She includes all children in all activities, while meeting their unique learning needs. For example, children sit together as a group to complete puzzles of varying complexity and show great pride in their individual achievements. The childminder is quick to praise children for their achievements. She and her assistant are warm and loving towards the children and give them the confidence to seek support or to share their ideas as they play. They gently prompt children to use good manners and praise them when they do. Children behave very well for their ages. 

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1. The childminder is reflective and keen to continually improve her practice. She has met the actions set at her last inspection and works well with her assistant to achieve good outcomes for children. Her assistant has almost completed an early years qualification and uses what she has learned well to encourage children's learning. 

2. The childminder implements her curriculum aims effectively to help children progress well. She shares her intent with her assistant to make sure they are consistent in their approach to children's learning. They teach children well and revisit learning to deepen children's knowledge. The childminder monitors their progress and prepares them well for the next stages in their learning. 

3. The childminder and her assistant skilfully encourage children's communication and language development. They help children to learn and use new words, such as, 'Honeycomb' and 'nectar' as they follow their interest in bees. They ask interesting questions to encourage children to think and respond. They provide a language rich environment which underpins children's learning well. 

4. The childminder provides exciting learning opportunities that children enjoy and quickly learn from. Occasionally, she does things for children, such as washing and drying their hands or checking how well materials have stuck to glue on their art creations. These are things that children could easily attempt to do independently to further develop their emerging confidence, personal skills, and enjoyment of learning.

5. The childminder encourages children to explore books and stories. Children look at books by themselves, with their friends and listen attentively to stories. Some cuddle up with an adult while others pretend to read out loud as they turn the pages carefully and point to the text. Opportunities such as these help to develop children's pre-reading skills. 

6. The childminder and her assistant are effective role models who encourage children to eat healthily and develop positive behaviours. Children play amicably together because the childminder and her assistant keep them well occupied in purposeful activity. They respond well to praise and are learning the value of contributing to everyday routines, such as tidying away and sharing resources. 

7. The childminder's current focus on encouraging children's small-muscle development is good. Children enjoy opportunities to pick up objects with their fingertips and they strengthen their grip and hand movements through squeezing and rolling play dough. They develop the skills needed for holding and using writing implements in the future. 

8. The childminder communicates well with staff at other settings that children attend, and with parents. She shares ideas and information with them to help to provide consistency in children's learning. Parents report very favourably about the childminder and her assistant and value the good care and education they provide for their children. 

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