Childminder in Milton Keynes

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 07/11/2013 15/01/2009

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early years provision

This inspection: 3 Previous inspection: 2 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 3 The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision 3

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This provision requires improvement

 Children are inquisitive learners who take full benefit of the array of technological activities on offer for their learning.  The childminder is warm and affectionate with children and provides a welcoming environment for all families.  The childminder is aware of how to keep children safe through undertaking regular safeguarding training.

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It is not yet good because

 The childminder does not have a current first aid qualification to be certain of being able to provide emergency treatment for children.  There is scope to improve behaviour management methods to ensure these always help children to learn positive ways to behave well.  The childminder does not fully use self-evaluation to monitor her training needs in order to meet minimum required standards in a timely fashion.

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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 observed activities in all rooms and the garden.  The inspector had discussions with the childminder, her co-minder and children.  The inspector discussed a spontaneous activity with the childminder.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector sampled a range of documentation including children's records, safeguarding procedures and self-evaluation.

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Information about the setting

The childminder was registered in 2004 and is on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She lives with her husband and child aged six years in Woburn Sands, Bedfordshire. The whole of the first floor is used for childminding. There is an enclosed rear garden for outside play. The family has a cat and a turtle.

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Information about the setting

The childminder works with her mother, who is also a registered childminder. She visits the local shops and park on a regular basis and collects children from the local schools and pre-schools.

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Information about the setting

There are currently five children on roll, three of whom are in the early years age group and attend for a variety of sessions. The childminder operates all year round from 7.30am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday, except for family holidays and Bank Holidays. She has a level 2 qualification in childcare.

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must:

 complete a full and relevant paediatric first aid qualification.

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

 promote children's understanding by implementing consistently positive methods of behaviour management

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

 ensure that self-evaluation is robust and monitors required training programmes to ensure basic legal requirements are always met.

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who attend

The childminder plans activities which children find exciting. They explore a wide range of learning experiences which intrigue them. For example, young children look at bottles which the childminder fills with glitter, bubbly water and sand. Children shake these excitedly, listening to the sound and watching the patterns they make. Children follow this interest in patterns and shapes as they play inside a dark den using torches. They shine lights and watch the moving shapes, understanding that they can turn the torch off and on to control this. Children show a keen interest in technology as they use play mobile telephones. The childminder teaches them how they can call each other and they chatter happily for a significant period of time, pressing buttons and talking with animation. This promotes children's speech and language and desire to communicate. When children need extra help to talk confidently, the childminder models words clearly, pronouncing them

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who attend

slowly. She takes time to help children to respond and praises them for their efforts. The childminder works closely with parents to support children's learning and provide consistency. This helps children to make good progress.

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who attend

The childminder completes extensive journals charting children's progress through observations and assessments. These identify what children need to learn next to move them forward. The photographs she takes provide parents with a visual account of children's time with her. Daily diaries share further information with parents about children's achievements. Parents share their own observations of what children can do and the childminder ensures there is ample opportunity for discussion at the end of the day. This enables her and parents to engage in a two-way flow of information which provides consistency for children, as parents are able to build upon their learning at home. The childminder works equally well with other settings who provide care for children. She shares information about children's learning and uses planning from the local pre-school to complement children's learning in her care.

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who attend

Children develop good physical skills through riding low bikes where they can put their feet on the floor comfortably. This means that young children enjoy being able to manoeuvre them easily and they enjoy the freedom and control this brings. Children enjoy playing in the garden where they develop their physical strength and control in many different ways. They climb the climbing frame before sliding down quickly. On the trampoline they bounce with great enthusiasm as the childminder counts each jump. Children handle small figures as they develop the small muscles in their hands. They use these developing skills to hold chalks as they draw lines and circles on the chalkboard in the garden. Children develop a positive attitude towards their learning because the childminder gives them plenty of chances to follow their own ideas and lead play. This prepares them well for their future learning and readiness for school when the time

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

Children form close bonds with the childminder and her co-childminder. This is because she is warm and affectionate with them. Children generally feel secure and happy in the childminder's care and are eager to attend. The childminder discusses children's home routines to ensure that she can follow these and provide children with suitable consistency. As a result, children rest when they are tired and eat when they are hungry, meaning their care needs are met suitably. The childminder prepares children reasonably well for changes in their routine by giving them plenty of warning and explaining to them about what will happen next. Older children are becoming emotionally ready for their move to school, as the childminder encourages them to enjoy social situations by attending toddler groups. The childminder generally manages children's behaviour well through positive approaches, such as using star charts and distraction. However, she does not always follow her own

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

procedures for ensuring children understand that it is their behaviour that is unwanted and not them. This is because she has a 'time-out' chair for children to sit on when she deems their behaviour to be unacceptable. Young children are unable to fully understand that the purpose of this is not to exclude or punish them, but to help them to reflect upon their behaviour, and so do not always gain positive messages from this that help them to learn better ways to behave. Children learn about basic healthy eating as they grow vegetables in the garden to eat. The childminder takes children on regular walks to and from school and to the park. This helps them to understand about exercise as part of their routine. Children enjoy healthy snacks and meals, which the childminder prepares for them. They help themselves to a drink when they are thirsty as they begin to recognise their own needs. Children are starting to become independent as they attempt to dress

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

themselves before they go outside to play. They take their muddy boots off before coming into the house from the garden as they learn about maintaining a clean environment. Children are starting to suitably learn about safety as they childminder encourages them to wait until she is close by before using the climbing frame and to walk and not run when playing inside.

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provision

This inspection was brought forward following concerns raised to Ofsted in relation to the childminder's safeguarding policy and practice how she manages children's behaviour. The inspection found that the childminder's safeguarding practice was sound and that she generally manages children's behaviour appropriately, although some methods used do not always give young children consistently positive messages. A previous unannounced visit was made on 16 September 2013 and found that ratios were not being consistently maintained. The childminder has taken immediate action to rectify this breach in requirements of the Statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage. The childminder is generally aware of how to keep children safe in her care because she attends regular training to refresh her knowledge. She has an understanding of the signs and symptoms which might cause her concern about children's welfare, and has contact

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provision

numbers close at hand to report any such concerns. The childminder generally supervises children closely as they play in the house and garden. She takes measures to reduce potential risks, such as placing stair gates across areas which are not safe for children.

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provision

The childminder carries out self-evaluation which incorporates the views of parents and children. She reviews her planning and activities to ensure that children have sufficient challenge. The childminder has suitably addressed recommendations from the previous inspection. However, she does not put into place any methods for monitoring her training programme. As a result, she did not realise her first aid qualification was due for renewal soon enough to prevent a short lapse occurring between when her existing certificate expired and gaining updated training.

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provision

The childminder carries out regular observations of children to monitor their progress. She tracks their development to make assessments about their progress and identify whether they make good progress. The progress check at age two for relevant children is well informed and draws upon the information parents share. This provides parents with accurate information about children's learning. The childminder builds firm relationships with parents which help to support children. The childminder and her co-childminder work closely together using their individual skills to benefit children. She undertakes some professional development by finding information out through relevant internet sites. The childminder understands the advantage of working with other professionals to support children and forms links with the local school to help with children's move when the time arises.

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The Childcare Register

The requirements for the compulsory part of the Childcare Register are

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actions)

The requirements for the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are

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To meet the requirements of the Childcare Register the provider must:

 complete a full and relevant paediatric first aid qualification (compulsory part of the Childcare Register)  complete a full and relevant paediatric first aid qualification (voluntary part of the Childcare Register)

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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 Requires improvement The provision is not giving children a good standard of early years education and/or there are minor breaches of the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. It will be monitored and inspected within twelve months of the date of this inspection. 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

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Grade Judgement Description

the Early Years Foundation Stage. It will be monitored and inspected again within six months of the date of this inspection. 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 EY284785 Local authority Central Bedfordshire Inspection number 938752 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 5 Number of children on roll 5

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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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