Childminder in Bedford

Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Outstanding

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The provision is outstanding

The quality of education offered by the childminder is excellent. She is extremely warm, friendly and encouraging to the children in her care. The childminder has a detailed understanding of child development and provides an extensively broad and exciting curriculum. She enthusiastically follows children's interests and is very skilled at building on their existing knowledge and skills. For example, the childminder supports young children to learn early mathematical skills as they play with the vehicles, by modelling counting skills clearly and effectively.

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The provision is outstanding

Children benefit from an extremely rich variety of meaningful experiences across the curriculum. They regularly visit the woods, parks and toddler groups. Children show high levels of engagement and sustain their concentration levels during activities very well. Activities are closely matched to each child's level of development and their individual interests. For instance, young children are highly engaged as they explore a range of musical instruments and enthusiastically join in with nursery rhymes during a music session. Children are developing key life skills because of the childminder's highly attentive practice. They are extremely motivated to learn and keep on trying, even if they encounter difficulties.

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need to do better?

n Children feel immensely secure in the childminder's warm and nurturing care. This strong foundation supports children to make rapid progress. The childminder places a high level of importance on developing strong emotional attachments with the children. This is at the heart of her service, as she takes time to get to know each child and builds a curriculum around their needs. n There is a particularly sharp focus on developing the children's communication and language. The childminder uses her very good knowledge and skills to deliver a highly effective programme of language activities. She maintains an ongoing dialogue with children by narrating their play and teaches them single words matched carefully to their daily routine. Children learn these words quickly because they are meaningful and have value to them. This enables young children to make rapid progress with their language development. n Music is used to strengthen children's communication skills even further. The

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need to do better?

childminder skilfully incorporates rhymes into children's everyday play. The children respond enthusiastically and make eye contact as she sings words clearly to them. n Partnerships with parents are highly effective. The childminder clearly establishes a true partnership where the childminder and families work together to strengthen children's learning and progress. She communicates effectively with parents about their child's learning. The childminder supports parents to consolidate their child's learning at home. Furthermore, she offers support and

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need to do better?

3 March 2022 advice to parents about children's behaviour and healthy eating. Parents also highlight the skills children learn with the childminder, such as how to manage their behaviour. They comment, 'It is such a lovely behaviour to see and we now do this at home too.' The parents value the childminder's excellent skills. They comment on the care, attention and love the children receive. n The childminder values training opportunities and is highly skilled at using her new knowledge and skills to further enhance the service she offers to children. For example, she has recently completed training about 'culture and identity' and has used this to evaluate how she can support each child as an individual. n The childminder has extremely high expectations for children's behaviour and conduct. She works closely with families to embed these excellent routines in her setting and at home, which provides consistent messages for young

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need to do better?

children. Children respond to the childminder's requests promptly, as they feel safe and secure and understand the expectations. The childminder gives sincere encouragement to the children and is very skilled at giving specific praise when children behave well. n Children are superbly supported to follow a healthy lifestyle. They benefit from daily outdoor sessions in the fresh air and opportunities to be physically active. The childminder promotes a healthy diet and works with families to ensure that meals provided are healthy and nutritious for their child's age. The childminder is highly skilled in building children's confidence and supporting their emotional well-being. This helps children to develop a positive attitude towards learning and high self-esteem.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Children's welfare is paramount and central to the childminder's practice. The childminder creates a positive culture and ethos, where safeguarding is an important part of everyday life in her setting. She has an exemplary understanding of her role and responsibility to keep children safe. The childminder regularly undertakes training to ensure that her knowledge is updated. The childminder is extremely secure in the process of reporting child protection concerns and knows how to identify potential signs of abuse. The childminder keeps an up-to-date paediatric first-aid certificate.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY239848 Local authority Bedford Inspection number 10137493 Type of provision Childminder

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Childminder

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inspection

Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 1 Date of previous inspection 30 July 2015

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2003 and lives in Bedford. She operates all year round from 7.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 3.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the childminder received since the COVID- 19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the childminder and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the setting. n The inspector had a learning walk with the childminder and discussed the curriculum. n The childminder and the inspector carried out a joint observation together. n The inspector read written information from parents and took account of their views. n The inspector observed the quality of interactions between the childminder and children present.

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Inspection activities

3 March 2022 We carried out this inspection 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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Inspection activities

3 March 2022 regulates and inspects to 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 and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, 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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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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