Childminder in Milton Keynes

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 12/02/2013 30/04/2010

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early years provision

This inspection: 2 Previous inspection: 3 How well the early years provision meets the needs of the range of children who attend The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children 2 The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision 2

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This provision is good

 The childminder knows children very well and as a result, she meets their individual learning needs effectively.  Children benefit from the strong partnerships that exist between the childminder, parents and carers. The effective sharing of information supports their care and learning.  The childminder provides fun and challenging learning opportunities for children that help them to make good all-round progress towards the early learning goals.  Children are happy and content in the childminder's care because she promotes their well-being effectively, helping them to feel safe and grow in confidence.

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It is not yet outstanding because

 The childminder does not fully promote the use of resources indoors for younger children to increase their physical skills.  Younger children have fewer opportunities to explore natural resources and everyday objects to develop their understanding of the world.

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Information about this inspection

Inspections of registered early years provision are scheduled:  at least once in every inspection cycle. The current cycle ends on 31 July 2016  more frequently where Ofsted identifies a need to do so, for example where provision was previously judged as inadequate  brought forward in the inspection cycle where Ofsted has received information that suggests the provision may not be meeting the legal requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage; or where assessment of the provision identifies a need for early inspection  prioritised for inspection where we have received information that the provision is not meeting the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage and which suggests children may not be safe  at the completion of an investigation into failure to comply with the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Information about this inspection

The provision is also registered on the compulsory part of the Childcare Register. This report includes a judgment about compliance with the requirements of that register.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities in the lounge and the kitchen.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector looked at children's observational assessment files, the childminder's self-evaluation and a selection of policies and children's records.  The inspector took account of the views of parents.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke with the childminder at appropriate times throughout the observations.

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Information about the setting

The childminder registered in 2009. She lives with her partner and two children in Sherington in Buckinghamshire. The ground floor of the chalet bungalow and the fenced area at the end of the garden are available for childminding purposes. The family has a dog, pigeon, chickens, some fish and a tortoise. The childminder walks or drives to local schools to take and collect children, and attends local pre-school groups. Her provision is open all year round from 7.45am to 6pm Monday to Friday except for family holidays agreed in advance. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She is currently minding five children in the early years age range and five children over five years of age before and after school. They all attend at different times. The childminder has a National Vocational Qualification in childcare at level 3.

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To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

 enhance younger children's physical activities, for example, by providing push-along and ride on toys indoors

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To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

 provide a wider range of everyday objects for babies to explore and investigate, such as treasure baskets and natural materials.

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who attend

Children respond positively to the attention they receive from the enthusiastic childminder. They enjoy the range of activities on offer, which help them to make good progress in their all-round development in relation to their starting points. The childminder has effective systems in place for planning, assessing and identifying children's next learning targets. Parents have opportunities to be involved in their child's learning. For example, they share their comments on their child's learning journal and through discussion. This means children receive consistency in their learning and development.

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who attend

The childminder uses effective teaching techniques, such as demonstrating new tasks and using encouragement to further children's thinking. She helps young children to develop their language skills through conversations, singing nursery rhymes and telling stories. Children enjoy looking at books, which helps them to learn that the written word carries meaning. They practise early writing, for example, as they use aqua pens, chalks and crayons.

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who attend

Children have many opportunities to learn about number, colour and shape as they fit puzzles together and post shapes. They construct with various bricks and they enjoy number songs and rhymes. The childminder plans activities to help children to develop an understanding of measurement. For example, they enjoy filling and emptying containers with water and weighing ingredients during cooking activities. These experiences promote children's early mathematical skills well. Children use their imaginations as they participate in role play, music and creative activities. They enjoy exploring different textures as they paint, stick and play with dough. However, children do not regularly use natural resources or 'treasure baskets' to further develop their investigatory and exploratory skills.

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who attend

Children enjoy outings to pre-school groups, which broaden their experiences as they participate in a wider range of activities and socialise with others. They develop their physical skills as they toddle around, pull themselves up to stand and walk around furniture. When playing outdoors, they enjoy pushing and pulling toys and balancing on apparatus. However, the childminder does not fully promote opportunities for them to build on their large muscle control indoors, to further develop their physical skills. Children learn about the world in which they live as they join in with festival celebrations and play with a range of multicultural resources. They find out how things work as explore the programmable toys, pressing buttons and turning knobs to start music and enjoy chatting on the telephone. Children learn to care for living things, for example, as they enjoy feeding the ducks at the park. The childminder supports children effectively to gain the

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who attend

necessary knowledge and skills they need for their future education.

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The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children

Children have close relationships with the childminder who is kind and caring. They enjoy cuddles and sitting with the childminder as they play. These positive relationships help children to feel secure and prepare them for future transitions, including to school. Children learn right from wrong as the childminder uses appropriate and consistent strategies for behaviour management. She offers regular praise and encouragement to children, which increases their confidence and self-esteem. The childminder provides a good range of toys and resources to help children learn and develop. She has a range of nursery furniture to meet their care needs, such as a nappy changing facilities, buggy, toilet step and travel cot.

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The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children

Children are developing a good understanding of healthy lifestyles. They enjoy fresh air and exercise every day, for example, as they visit the park or when they go to music and movement sessions. They are cared for in a clean home, which enables them to play and crawl on the floor with no risk to their health. The childminder follows good hygiene practices to minimise cross infection. For example, children learn to wash their hands during the routine of the day and have individual towels and bed linen. Effective procedures are in place for medication administration. The childminder has a current first aid certificate, which means that she has the knowledge to deal with any accidents that may happen to the children.

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The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children

The childminder provides a good range of healthy snacks and meals and children help themselves to drinks when they are thirsty. She finds out about any dietary restrictions and works closely with parents in order to cater for these. Babies sit comfortably and securely in booster seats as they enjoy finger foods, such as bread sticks and fresh fruit. Children experience sociable mealtimes as they eat together at the dining table.

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The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children

In order to keep themselves safe, children practise the fire evacuation procedure so they know what to do in the event of fire. They enjoy fresh air and exercise when out in the community and they learn to cross roads safely. The childminder allows children to take small risks as they learn to walk on different surfaces and climb on apparatus.

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provision

The childminder has a good knowledge and understanding of safeguarding children and she knows the correct procedures to follow if she has any child protection concerns. Effective risk assessments of the childminder's home and outings minimise any potential risks to the children's safety. For example, hazardous items are out of reach. Children are comfortable and secure in the childminder's home.

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provision

The childminder is aware of her responsibility in delivering the learning and development requirements to young children. Parents receive informative information about the educational programme the childminder provides to help their child to make good progress. The childminder is aware of the need to carry out the two-year-old progress check as the need arises.

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provision

Good partnerships with parents are established. A daily diary, discussions and written learning journal keeps parents up-to-date with their child's routine and achievements. In addition, the childminder shares her policies and procedures with parents. The childminder finds out about children's individual routines and follow these according to parent's wishes. Parents' comments are very positive about the service they receive. For example, they notice that their children are developing confidence and enjoy all the activities the childminder offers. The childminder develops partnerships with other settings the children attend to further support and extend their learning.

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provision

The childminder reflects successfully on her childminding service to identify her strengths and areas for development. She has improved her planning and assessment procedures since the last inspection. The childminder updates her training, for example, in first aid and is keen to attend further childcare courses. She demonstrates that she has the capacity to continually improve.

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The Childcare Register

The requirements for the compulsory part of the Childcare Register are Met

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Grade Judgement Description

Grade 1 Outstanding Outstanding provision is highly effective in meeting the needs of all children exceptionally well. This ensures that children are very well prepared for the next stage of their learning. Grade 2 Good Good provision is effective in delivering provision that meets the needs of all children well. This ensures children are ready for the next stage of their learning. Grade 3 Satisfactory Satisfactory provision is performing less well than expectations in one or more of the key areas. It requires improvement in order to be good. Grade 4 Inadequate Provision that is inadequate requires significant improvement and/or enforcement. The provision is failing to give children an acceptable standard of early years education and/or is not meeting the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. It will be inspected again within 12 months of the date of this inspection.

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Grade Judgement Description

Met The provision has no children on roll. The inspection judgement is that the provider continues to meet the requirements for registration. Not Met The provision has no children on roll. The inspection judgement is that the provider does not meet the requirements for registration.

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Inspection

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted 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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Setting details

Unique reference number EY387821 Local authority Milton Keynes Inspection number 844597 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 4 Number of children on roll 5

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Telephone number

set out in the guidance ‘raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted', which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk.

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Type of provision

For the purposes of this inspection the following definitions apply:

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Type of provision

Full-time provision is that which operates for more than three hours. These are usually known as nurseries, nursery schools and pre-schools and must deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage. They are registered on the Early Years Register and pay the higher fee for registration.

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Type of provision

Sessional provision operates for more than two hours but does not exceed three hours in any one day. These are usually known as pre-schools, kindergartens or nursery schools and must deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage. They are registered on the Early Years Register and pay the lower fee for registration.

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Type of provision

Childminders care for one or more children where individual children attend for a period of more than two hours in any one day. They operate from domestic premises that are usually their own home. They are registered on the Early Years Register and must deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Type of provision

Out of school provision may be sessional or full-time provision and is delivered before or after school and/or in the summer holidays. They are registered on the Early Years Register and must deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage. Where children receive their Early Years Foundation Stage in school these providers do not have to deliver the learning and development requirements in full but should complement the experiences children receive in school. 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 Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, 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,

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Type of provision

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. You may copy all or parts of this document for non-commercial educational purposes, as long as you give details of the source and date of publication and do not alter the information in any way. To receive regular email alerts about new publications, including survey reports and school inspection reports, please visit our website and go to ‘Subscribe’.

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Type of provision

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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