Childminder in Central BedfordshireOfsted inspection, 9 Mar 2015

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 9 March 2015 2 February 2011

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Good 2 How well the early years provision meets the needs of the range of children who attend Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

The setting meets legal requirements for early years settings

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This provision is good

 Children are happy, confident and self-assured in this homely and welcoming environment. They have strong attachments to the childminder, who is very caring and attentive to their needs. This enables children to explore their environment with confidence, as their emotional well-being is supported well.  Teaching is good. The childminder provides a good range of activities that stimulate and engage children in their play. Consequently, children are motivated to explore, learn and develop and they make good progress.  The childminder provides children with an interesting range of opportunities to explore open-ended resources. For example, she provides a sensory activity where children can explore the tactile properties of pine cones, sawdust, pasta and small stones. This promotes children's curiosity and enables them to investigate and experiment.  The childminder teaches children to count and to recognise and write letters from their

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This provision is good

names. Consequently, children are learning skills that prepare them for the next stage of their learning at pre-school and school.  The childminder demonstrates a good understanding about how to keep children safe in her care. She knows how to report any safeguarding issues and where she can access extra support if she needs to.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The childminder does not consistently maximise children's opportunities to make independent choices with regards to the resources they want to play with.  Parents are not always fully encouraged to share details about what children have achieved at home, to more precisely complement their learning.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 promote opportunities for children to make independent choices about their play and resources, for example, by labelling resource containers so that children can see what is in them and self-select  enhance the already good partnership with parents to ensure that information sharing, including what children have achieved at home, helps to build a broader picture of children's knowledge and skills, to more precisely complement and consolidate children's learning so they make the very best progress.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector talked with the childminder and the children present and reviewed an activity with the childminder.  The inspector viewed the areas of the premises and garden used for childminding.  The inspector looked at children's assessment records, planning documentation, checked evidence of suitability of household members, and a range of other documentation, including the safeguarding procedures.  The inspector took account of the views of parents, as recorded in written questionnaires and reference letters.  The inspector and childminder discussed the childminder's ongoing self-evaluation and her plans for improvement.

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who attend. This is good

The childminder has a good knowledge of how to promote the learning and development of young children. She provides good quality interaction and interesting play opportunities that children enjoy. When children start attending, the childminder obtains information from parents about children's care needs and interests. This means that she plans for each child's next steps in learning from the very start. However, she provides fewer opportunities for parents to routinely share details about children's ongoing achievements and developing interests at home, so that these can be taken into account when planning activities, to extend children's learning even further. Children have access to a dedicated playroom and a spacious garden. There is a good range of resources and equipment that children can use indoors and outdoors. However, there is scope to encourage children to more consistently make independent choices with regard to the resources they want to

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who attend. This is good

play with, for example, by labelling resource containers with photographs so that they can self-select the toys.

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good

The childminder provides a welcoming child-friendly environment. Children receive plenty of fresh air and exercise as they play outside or visit the local park each day. Children learn good hygiene practices as they wash their hands before snack and dispose of their tissues appropriately. The childminder takes the children to group activities where they develop confidence and social skills by playing with a larger group of children. She keeps parents informed about their child's care needs and activities through texts during the day and through a daily diary and verbal feedback at the end of each day. The childminder ensures that children have the practical skills they need at pre-school and school, such as being able to dress themselves and feed themselves at lunchtime. This means that children can approach their new settings with confidence because they can manage their own hygiene and personal needs.

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provision is good

The childminder monitors children's progress on a regular basis. Consequently, she is aware of children's strengths and areas for development and plans activities accordingly within her home. She completes the progress check for children aged between two and three years and shares this information with parents. She works in partnership with the other settings that children attend, finding out what the children are learning so that she can further support this learning in her home. The childminder is committed to improving her practice and attends regular training to update and refresh her knowledge and skills. She has effectively addressed the recommendations from her previous inspection and carries out regular self-evaluation to support her ongoing improvements. She networks with other childminders to share ideas and examples of good practice. Feedback from parents is very positive, complimenting the childminder on the enjoyable, supportive

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provision is good

environment that she provides for the children and their families.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY331011 Local authority Luton Inspection number 856970 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 8

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Name of provider

Date of previous inspection 2 February 2011

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Telephone number

The childminder registered in 2006 and lives in Luton. She operates all year round from 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays.

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Telephone number

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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Telephone number

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

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Telephone number

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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Telephone number

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

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