Childminder in Milton Keynes

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 07/07/2014 24/03/2011

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early years provision

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

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This provision requires improvement

 Children develop warm relationships with the childminder and her family and they are happily involved in the activities on offer.  The childminder has taken steps to promote the children's safety suitably and she has a secure knowledge of child protection in order to safeguard the children.  The childminder has effective partnerships with parents, which has a positive impact on children's well-being.

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It is not yet good because

 Although the childminder has a sound understanding of how to help children to learn and develop, she has not updated her knowledge and understanding of the learning and development requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage, and the required progress check for two-year-old children.  Although the childminder helps children to make progress in their all-round development, she does not plan and monitor their progress closely enough in order to support them to make good progress.  While children make satisfactory progress in their literacy skills, the childminder does not extend this further, for example, by displaying written words in the environment.

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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 the lounge and kitchen.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke with the childminder and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector looked at the childminder's self-evaluation form, parent consent forms, children's records and the children's daily diaries.  The inspector took account of the views of parent's feedback given in letters.

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Information about the setting

The childminder registered in 1993. She lives with her husband in Bradwell in Milton Keynes. The whole of the ground floor of the house and first floor bedroom are available for childminding. Children go to the park regularly for outdoor play. The childminder walks or drives to local schools to take and collect children and she attends the local pre-school groups. The childminder's provision is open all year round from 7.30am to 5.30pm 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 three children, two of whom are in the early years age range. The childminder also cares for children over eight years.

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must:

 update knowledge and understanding of the learning and development requirements to include the progress check for two-year-old children

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must:

 obtain children's starting points and plan and assess their progress towards the early learning goals in order to support them to make good progress.

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

 develop children's literacy skills further, for example, by providing written words in the environment.

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who attend

Children are happy in the care of the childminder and they enjoy the activities on offer. The childminder knows the children well and she provides a range of activities to encourage their all-round development. However, she has not kept up to date with changes in the learning and development requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. The childminder does not use a relevant guidance to help her identify children's starting points, to make secure judgements about their progress and to plan their next steps towards the early learning goals. This means that, she does not have secure enough systems in place to plan and closely monitor the children's individual progress.

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who attend

The childminder clearly demonstrates effective teaching techniques. Children enjoy a sticking activity, which involves peeling off paper from the backs of faces, letters and numbers. The childminder gives children time to have a go and be independent, and she knows when to sit back and when to intervene. She also provides suggestions to help children succeed at a task, which helps to maintain their interest. Through discussions, the childminder encourages children to explore the expressions on the faces such as happy and sad. They talk about the colours, numbers and letters in their names. During story time, the childminder asks children questions to encourage them to think and respond. She also makes use of puppets and props to further their interest in books. However, there are no words or pictures in the environment for children to begin to recognise that words have meaning. The childminder provides opportunities for children to make marks

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who attend

in rice, lentils and paint with their fingers. They also enjoy practising their early writing as they draw and write shopping lists using pencils and crayons.

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who attend

Children develop their imaginations during pretend play, for example, as they dress and undress the dolls and play with small world toys such as cars. They have opportunities to express themselves during action songs and rhymes and when playing musical instruments such as the bongo drums from Jamaica. Children enjoy finding out about the world in which they live as they go on outings to the farm, woods, parks and pet shop. At the farm they touch and observe the animals. They also feed the horses and ducks, which helps to learn about caring for living things. Children find out about other people's beliefs, for example, as they celebrate Chinese New Year by tasting Chinese foods and making dragons. They learn how to use basic technology as they play with cash tills, telephones and other programmable toys.

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who attend

The childminder teaches children to count and name colours, to identify shapes and explore size during different activities. For example, children fit puzzles together, build with bricks and thread beads on a wire. Children explore measurement as they fill and empty containers in the water play. The childminder helps children to prepare for moving on to the next stage in their education.

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

The childminder gets to know the children well from the outset of childminding arrangements and she knows their likes and dislikes. She encourages children to bring any comforters from home to help them to settle happily in her care. The childminder encourages children to do things for themselves such as dressing and undressing, which helps them to develop their independence skills. The children behave well and the childminder offers praise and encouragement to help them to develop confidence and self- esteem. In addition, children enjoy turn-taking games and learn to share toys with one another, which effectively supports their personal, social and emotional development.

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

The childminder promotes children's awareness of maintaining their own safety and that of others. For example, she talks to them about keeping safe when crossing the road, climbing on apparatus at the park and practising the emergency evacuation procedure. She maintains a record of accidents and medication administration as required. Children benefit from fresh air and exercise, which effectively contributes to their physical well- being. At the park, they develop their large muscle skills as they climb, slide and balance on apparatus. They increase their hand and eye coordination, for example, as they learn to throw and catch a ball.

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

The childminder finds out about the children's individual dietary requirements when they first start. Parents generally provide their children's meals and the childminder provides healthy snacks such as fresh fruit and yoghurt. Drinks are available at all times to quench the children's thirst. Children follow suitable hygiene procedures throughout the day, for example, as they wash their hands in preparation for lunch and after using the toilet. The childminder's home is clean and comfortable, and children have space to move around and play. There is a suitable range of furniture and equipment to meet the children's needs. Consequently, the childminder appropriately promotes the well-being of the children.

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provision

The childminder updates her knowledge of safeguarding by attending training courses in order to protect children in her care. She is aware of the procedures to take should she have child protection concerns. The childminder risk assesses the environments the children come in to contact with. She takes steps to keep children safe at home and during outings. All required documentation and parental consent forms in relation to the childcare arrangements are in place. The childminder maintains a daily attendance register, which demonstrates that she meets the required ratios. The childminder reflects on her practice as part of her self-evaluation and she has updated her knowledge of safeguarding and first aid since the last inspection.

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provision

The childminder has not kept up to date with the learning and development requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Therefore, she is not aware of the requirement to complete a progress check for two-year-old children, and to share this with parents. This is to identify children's strengths and any gaps in their learning so that children receive prompt support where needed. This is a breach of the requirements.

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provision

The childminder works effectively with parents and others. Parents complete contracts and consent forms, and receive a daily diary about their child's routine and activities. The childminder establishes effective three-way links between the parents, nursery teachers and herself in order to build on the children's learning. For example, she helps children to develop further their counting skills and recognition of letters. Letters from parents state that they are happy with the childminding service they receive.

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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:

 keep and implement a written statement of procedures to be followed for the protection of children, intended to safeguard the children being cared for from abuse or neglect (compulsory part of the Childcare Register)  implement a written statement of procedures to be followed in relation to complaints that relate to the requirements of the Childcare Register and which a parent makes in writing or by email (compulsory part of the Childcare Register)  keep and implement a written statement of procedures to be followed for the protection of children, intended to safeguard the children being cared for from abuse or neglect (voluntary part of the Childcare Register)  implement a written statement of procedures to be followed in relation to complaints that relate to the requirements of the Childcare Register and which a parent makes in writing or by email (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 141347 Local authority Milton Keynes Inspection number 843083 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 2

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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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