Childminder in Milton Keynes

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 16/04/2013 Not Applicable

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early years provision

This inspection: 2 Previous inspection: Not Applicable 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 provides a warm welcoming environment where children play happily and securely; their learning is supported well through a good range of stimulating resources which are developmentally appropriate.  Children's communication skills are promoted well because the childminder spends time positively interacting and communicating with children.  Children develop secure relationships with the childminder, turning to her for spontaneous cuddles and comfort and support when unwell.  Strong links between the childminder and parents ensure that children's well-being is consistently well supported.

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It is not yet outstanding because

 The organisation of toys and resources limits children's opportunity to make more informed choices when deciding what they wish to play with.  The current planning does not fully incorporate children's own interests to further enhance their learning and development.

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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

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Information about this inspection

 scheduled more frequently where Ofsted identifies a need to do so, for example where provision was previously judged 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 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  scheduled 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 voluntary and compulsory parts 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 sampled a selection of documents and policies.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed children interacting with the childminder during play activities, discussing how these activities support children's individual learning and development.

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Information about the setting

The childminder registered in 2011. She is registered on the Early Years Register and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She lives with her two school aged children. They live in a three bedroom terraced house on a residential road close to the centre of Newport Pagnell. There are currently six children on roll, of whom three are in the early years age group, and attend for a variety of days and sessions. The childminder operates all year round from 7.30am until 6pm, Monday to Friday, except bank holidays and family holidays. The whole of the house is used for childminding, except the children's bedrooms. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. Her home is within walking distance of local shops, parks, pre-schools and schools. The family has two cats. The childminder is member of the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years.

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

 review the organisation of toys and resources to allow children to make more informed choices when making their own decisions about what they wish to play with

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

 incorporate children's own interests into the good quality planning to further enhance their learning and development.

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who attend

The childminder has a good understanding of the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage and uses this well to support children in their learning and development. She plans activities informally; all seven areas of learning are covered well and effectively hold children's interest and challenge their learning. However, her planning and observation information is kept in different places and sometimes this impacts on how she incorporates children's particular and individual interests within future activities. The childminder has a positive approach in using the guidance document Development Matters in the Early Years Foundation Stage to help her assess and track children's progress. As a result, she identifies children's next steps in learning based on their starting points that are initially discussed with their parents. This means children make good individual progress.

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who attend

The childminder ensures that children have daily opportunities for outside and physical play. Children walk, wherever possible, to and from the local early years settings, to the local parks or walks in the wood. These activities are extended by the children collecting a variety of materials to use at home. For example, they collect materials, such as bark, leaves and twigs, to make a mini-beast home for caterpillars and spiders and ladybirds to rest on, to be able to closer observe their natural environment. The childminder uses the park to allow children to access bigger play equipment encouraging them to develop a sense of space, develop balance as they climb up and down ladders, slides and climbing frames.

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who attend

Children build strong bonds with the childminder. Young children enjoy sitting with the childminder to listen to stories. They can choose the books for themselves, from a varied range of books all situated at their level, and then sit quietly on the floor with the childminder to listen to her read. As the childminder reads the story children point at the pictures and respond to the open ended questions she asks. For example, children point to a picture of ice creams and the childminder asks 'how many ice-creams can you see?'. Children confidently count to 10 and receive praise for their achievement from the childminder. This is further extended by asking children to talk about what their favourite ice cream is, what colour this flavour is and what might happen next in the story. This all helps develop their skills for the future.

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who attend

Parents receive a copy of the children's two-year-old progress check, to which they may contribute. Each child has their own learning profile, which shows progress through the use of photographs and observations. The childminder has a clear understanding of children's development and future needs and ensures parents are fully involved in all areas of their child's learning. The childminder maintains a regular and effective two-way flow of communication between other providers as all the children she cares for attend pre-school or nursery. She requests information about each provision and what topics they are covering and if there is anything they need to be sharing. This means there is continuity in the children's progress and development between all providers.

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

Children are developing good friendships. They choose a book each and show great consideration for each other as they decide whose book will be looked at first and then patiently wait their own turn. They are able to make their own decisions about what they would like to play with. However, the organisation of some toys and resources means they cannot always select for themselves the resource they would like and sometimes they have to wait to be offered alternative activities.

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

The childminder positively promotes language development for the younger children and offers ample opportunities to extend vocabulary through her effective interactions with them. For example, the childminder talks and questions the children, such as, 'how', 'what' , 'where' and 'why' during play. The childminder and children sit together at the table to roll out play dough and make shapes in various sizes. This encourages discussions around what they think these shapes look like. One child rolls a ball and says 'I have made an orange' and another child describes a shape as a 'wiggly worm'.

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

Children demonstrate their good behaviour and manners. The childminder reinforces good hygiene practices and children follow excellent hygiene routines. For example, after playing with the dough children put their hands up and say 'oh look hands are orange I need to wash them'. They demonstrate the need to wash their hands, and why, after they have finished playing in garden, use the toilet or before eating. They show wonderful consideration to one another as they wait for each other to have their turn in the bathroom, saying as they leave 'your turn now'.

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

Children develop a good understanding of the need for a healthy diet. They enjoy healthy snacks and home-cooked meals. They are able to visit a local allotment where they can learn about growing vegetables. Daily opportunities for outdoor play and exploration are provided. Children benefit from the close proximity of the large well-resourced playing field, as they enjoy regular visits to play, run, climb, swing and slide in the fresh air.

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provision

Safeguarding procedures are robust. The childminder completes effective risk assessments of the premises, toys and equipment, in order to provide a safe, secure and enabling environment. Children are developing a good ability to identify and manage risk for themselves through their daily routine activities, discussion and practise of safety drills. The childminder has completed safeguarding training and is confident in her ability to identify, record and report child protection concerns if necessary. She holds a valid paediatric first aid qualification. As a result, she is able to protect children from risk of harm and treat minor injuries if required. The childminder has a good range of written policies and procedures in place, which are informative and shared and agreed with parents. As a result, they are able to maintain consistency in practices, such as behaviour management and the administration of medication. There is evidence that parents have

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provision

read and understood the extensive range of written policies available. This benefits children, as the childminder follows procedures in agreement with parents'

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provision

The childminder effectively self-evaluates her own practice and shows she accesses various different ways of looking at how to improve her own practice. She attends and keeps up to date with her safeguarding and first aid training. She is currently planning her level 3 childcare diploma and reads appropriate journals and development books to increase her knowledge. She seeks views of other childminders and professionals and works with her local child development team taking on board their support and guidance. This means the childminder is driving through improvement in her practice, in turn helping to improve outcomes for children.

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provision

The childminder provides parents with a written diary giving a daily overview of their child's day. She uses this information, alongside her observations and assessments, to look to see how the children are progressing and to plan their next steps of learning. She shares all this information with the parents, along with details of her policies and procedures, so they are fully informed about their children's progress and the childminder's practice. The childminder maintains a two way flow of communication with other carers and therefore demonstrates a clear understanding about the importance of sharing information with other professionals to promote the children's welfare and learning.

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The Childcare Register

The requirements for the compulsory part of the Childcare Register are Met The requirements for the voluntary 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 action. 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 EY428564 Local authority Milton Keynes Inspection number 774960 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 6

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Name of provider

Date of previous inspection not applicable

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Telephone number

set out in the guidance ‘Complaints procedure: 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, which are usually the childminder’s 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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