Childminder in Central Bedfordshire

Overall effectiveness Good

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

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The provision is good

Children are content and happy. The childminder follows their routines established at home, such as when they sleep. This helps babies to wake up refreshed and ready for play. Babies display their developing communication and language skills. They have good eye contact with adults and use babble and emerging words to hold conversations. They listen to words the childminder uses and have a good attempt at copying them in response, such as 'baa'. Interactions between the children and the childminder are warm and friendly. Children behave well.

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The provision is good

Children are constantly busy as they play and explore. They move around the childminder's home with confidence to find toys they want to use. Babies have space to crawl and they increasingly use furniture to pull themselves up to standing. The childminder provides toys in boxes of a height that encourage children to kneel. The different body positions children use to move and play strengthen their muscles effectively. Children benefit from being outdoors every day. The childminder makes good use of the surrounding countryside for walks. She feels that outdoor activities are essential for the physical well-being and good health of the children.

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need to do better?

n The childminder gathers a good range of information from parents about what children already know and can do when they start. She uses this to consolidate and build quickly on their existing knowledge and skills. The childminder is aware of where children are in their development. She observes them closely and identifies what children need to learn next. Her effective planning for children's ongoing learning helps to support the good progress they make. n Parents speak highly of the childminder. They say that their children are safe and happy in her care. Parents state that the childminder provides them with good information on what activities children take part in and how they are developing. This helps parents to support children's learning at home. n Children display a strong interest in books. They enjoy choosing books from the good selection freely available to them. Children listen intently as the

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need to do better?

childminder reads to them. They point to pictures in response to questions she asks. At other times, children use books to support their mathematical interests, such as in shapes. For example, they take shapes out of a puzzle and match them to pictures in the book. n The childminder talks about how she prepares children for moving on to school. She helps children to develop good independence and physical skills that prepare them for learning how to read and write. The childminder understands the benefits to children when she works in partnership with other settings they attend.

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need to do better?

20 April 2022 n Children thoroughly enjoy singing and music sessions. Babies explore instruments and listen to the sounds they make as they shake and bang them. Children enjoy counting songs and rhymes. They display their developing understanding of numbers as they count forwards and backwards. n Since the last inspection, the childminder has moved house. She has carefully considered how to use her new space to support children's learning. The childminder's effective planning of the environment supports children's independent learning. n Young children are beginning to recognise how they are different to others. For example, they notice other children's hair is smoother than theirs. The childminder comments on these interests. However, she does not identify how she can build on these opportunities to support children to develop an awareness of the differences in people and understand what makes them unique.

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need to do better?

n The experienced childminder demonstrates a strong commitment to her work. Since moving to a new local authority area, she has sought advice to make sure her local knowledge, such as on safeguarding, is good. However, the childminder is not currently sufficiently focused on identifying and using professional development opportunities to further extend her knowledge and teaching skills.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The childminder demonstrates a good understanding of safeguarding. She knows how to keep children safe and promote their welfare. The childminder describes the signs and symptoms of abuse. She is aware that these may indicate when children are at risk of harm or extremist behaviour. The childminder knows how to contact relevant agencies in the local area to seek advice or to make referrals. She has clear safeguarding policies and procedures which she uses to underpin her practice. The childminder is currently seeking safeguarding training to strengthen her knowledge of local safeguarding arrangements.

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should:

n consider ways to broaden children's understanding of their similarities and differences and what makes them unique n build on professional development plans to continually strengthen knowledge and practice to the highest levels.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 104863 Local authority Central Bedfordshire Inspection number 10137455 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 2 Date of previous inspection 17 November 2014

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 1995 and lives in Houghton Conquest . She opens all year round, from 8am to 2pm, Tuesday to Wednesday.

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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 her evaluation of the childminder. n The childminder showed the inspector the areas of her home that she uses with children and discussed her curriculum and how she operates her practice. n The inspector observed the childminder joining in activities with children and discussed the learning that was taking place with her. They discussed the needs of individual children and talked about the progress they are making. n A sample of policies and procedures were looked at by the inspector. These included documents relating to the suitability of household members, safeguarding and complaints. n The inspector took into account the views of parents and discussed the childminder's reflections on her practice with her.

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Inspection activities

20 April 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

20 April 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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