Childminder in Central Bedfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 10 February 2016 Not applicable

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Outcomes for children Requires improvement

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

 Some relationships with parents are not well established. This means that the childminder does not know about some children's prior learning and experiences to successfully support their progress.  The childminder does not have effective ways of identifying children's starting points in learning. This means that she is not able to accurately measure their progress or consistently plan activities from the very beginning that offer them a good level of challenge.  Some activities are heavily adult-directed and children cannot always use their free expression and knowledge to create using their own ideas.

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It has the following strengths

 The childminder is accepting of feedback and guidance from her local authority about developing her work. She has an effective training plan in place to enhance her knowledge and skills. The childminder is keen to improve the quality of care she provides. The childminder reviews her policies, procedures and practice to include her new learning.  Some activities are well thought out and help to promote children's speech and communication skills. The childminder and her assistant use lots of language and extend children's vocabulary through play.  The childminder has a calm and caring approach. She talks gently to children offering them reassurance. If children need help understanding their feelings, the childminder and her assistant are consistent in managing behaviour. Children form close attachments to the adults who care for them.

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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

 establish more effective relationships with all parents to gather information about children's prior learning experiences and to plan for their ongoing development 31/03/2016

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Due Date

 identify children's starting points on entry and use this to tailor effective plans to build on their learning and review their progress. 31/03/2016

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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

 increase the ways for children to be expressive and creative using their own ideas and knowledge.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector held discussions with the childminder at suitable times. She looked at relevant documentation, such as the childminder's self-evaluation and evidence of the suitability of the childminder and her assistants.  The inspector discussed activities and talked with children, the childminder and her assistants.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

The childminder uses her knowledge and previous experiences to develop procedures for keeping children safe. Arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The childminder attends regular training to refresh her understanding and embeds new legislation into her policies and procedures. Generally, the childminder establishes effective partnerships to help shape her care for children. However, she does not have successful relationships with all parents. As a result, she is not always able to gather information about children's prior experiences and learning. The childminder carries out her own observations and makes tentative assessments of children's development, but these are not always well informed for all children. The childminder works with assistants and they complement each other well. The childminder reviews the work of her assistants and plans training to enhance their knowledge and skills further.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

The childminder and her assistant plan activities and provide a range of experiences for children. They both guide children, providing suitable support for their age and stage of learning. Adult-led activities are good overall. However, at times, the childminder provides drawing and colouring activities for children and suggests there is only one correct way to complete these. When providing crayons, the childminder sometimes gives children a choice of just two colours. Therefore, on occasions, these activities do not help children to develop their own ideas or to express themselves creatively. The childminder observes children and has a good basic awareness of how to support their next steps in development. However, the childminder does not clearly identify children's starting points in learning. As a result, she is not fully able to identify the progress that they make or to establish effective support for them from the very beginning. The childminder uses

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

children's spontaneous interests to develop their understanding. She uses correct mathematical language, as children talk about the length of hair being big and explains about the concept of length.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

The childminder swiftly meets children's personal needs. She helps to encourage their independence through daily activities. Children like to smell the soap they use on their hands and understand that they need to carry out handwashing routines before they eat. Children dress suitably for the weather when they walk to the local school. The childminder helps to promote children's self-help skills by teaching them to put on their own coats and shoes. They also help to tidy away after snack time and when they finish playing with toys. The childminder encourages children to play together. She is aware of the need for children to be understanding and tolerant, and plans activities outside of the home to increase their experiences and social skills. The childminder helps children to learn about staying safe, especially when out walking near roads.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

Children make steady progress. The childminder helps children to develop some of the skills that they will need in readiness for starting school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY479715 Local authority Central Bedfordshire Inspection number 982738 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 0 - 5 Total number of places 12 Number of children on roll 7

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Name of provider

Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 2014 and lives in Leighton Buzzard. She operates all year round from 7am to 7pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder works with two assistants. The childminder provides overnight care by arrangement.

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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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