Childminder in Central Bedfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 5 October 2015 9 April 2010

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3

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

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3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Outcomes for children Good 2

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This provision requires improvement. It is not yet good because:

 The childminder does not always take swift action to adapt the environment in order to meet children's ever increasing skills and abilities.  On occasion, the childminder does not remind children to use their good social skills during chosen activities to help them recognise the needs and contributions of others.  Planned activities are not always organised to minimise nearby distractions and maintain children's engaged focus.

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It has the following strengths

 The childminder has a secure knowledge of the learning and development requirements. Teaching is strong. The well-qualified childminder builds on children's interests to provide them with a range of exciting and challenging experiences.  Partnerships with parents are well established. The childminder has worked hard to involve them in all areas of children's care and development and support the two-way flow of information about learning.  The childminder works closely with other providers to organise larger group activities for the children and share best practice. In addition, these links provide children with emergency care if needed, with adults they are familiar with. This promotes children's well-being.  The childminder uses every opportunity to promote children's mathematical skills; she introduces the use of numbers for counting and supports children's use of positional language during electronic games.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage the provider must:

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Due Date

 be more alert and responsive as children gain increasing levels of physical skill and ability, in order to promote their understanding of keeping themselves safe. 06/10/2015

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Due Date

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

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Due Date

 enhance children's use of good social skills further so that they begin to consider the needs and views of others during chosen activities  review the organisation of planned activities to make the most of all available space and minimise distractions to children's focused attention.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed children's activities indoors and during the lunchtime routine. She talked to the childminder and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection and joined them on the afternoon school collection.  The inspector observed adult-led activities and jointly discussed the intentions and learning outcomes of these with the childminder.  The inspector sampled the childminder's documentation, including policies, a self- evaluation book, training certificates and children's learning journals.  The inspector took account of the views of parents, children and colleagues through recently completed references and evaluations.  The inspector saw evidence of the suitability of all persons living on the premises and other documentation in relation to the safeguarding and welfare requirements.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

The enthusiastic childminder aspires to improve and has completed a degree in education since her last inspection. She feels this has helped her to gain confidence and additional knowledge to support her practice and the service that she provides. She uses self- evaluation to reflect upon her practice and welcomes the views of both parents and children in this process. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The childminder understands what constitutes a risk or hazard to children and takes adequate measures to assess these within the home and on outings. However, she does not always take swift action to respond to children's ever changing abilities, such as their desire to climb and explore, in order to promote their awareness of their own safety.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The childminder provides a well-balanced activity programme to support children's next steps in learning. Children access a wide range of stimulating resources to choose as they wish. However, during planned activities there are surplus toys available nearby leading to occasional distractions for the less focused children. The childminder supports children's speech and language skills. They engage in regular discussion with the childminder and listen as she responds in detail to each question in turn. Children enjoy learning new songs and embrace the regular praise that they receive. The childminder completes regular observations on each child and uses these to inform her weekly plans. In addition, she gathers information from the other settings that they attend and asks children about their day at school and any homework they have been set. This supports continuous learning for each child.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

Children enjoy their time with the childminder and have developed secure emotional attachments to her and the other children. They seek help as needed and playfully tumble on the floor and laugh as they play together. Children develop suitable physical skills. However, on the day of inspection, eager climbers have access to temporarily placed furniture awaiting collection. This demonstrates how the childminder is not always alert and responsive to changes in the environment to meet children's increasing level of skill and ability. The childminder acts as a suitable role model as she offers gentle reminders of expected behaviour. However, on occasion, during chosen activities, the childminder does not always support children to share and be patient with their friends. Children demonstrate appropriate self-help skills; they wash their hands before meals and competently feed themselves using a spoon. The childminder provides a range of

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

nutritious food to promote children's healthy lifestyle.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children make good progress from their starting points and gain the essential skills that they need to move on to nursery and then school. The childminder refers to approved childcare guidance to complete precise assessments of children and address areas where they may need additional support.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 219653 Local authority Central Bedfordshire Inspection number 1027393 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Age range of children 0 - 14 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 13

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Name of provider

Date of previous inspection 9 April 2010

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 1995 and lives in Shefford. She operates all year round from 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds an appropriate qualification at level 6 and provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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

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Telephone number

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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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