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 childminder provides an extremely welcoming and nurturing environment. Children establish very strong bonds with the childminder and close friendships with each other. Children have a wonderful sense of belonging as they regularly look at and discuss their memory board, filled with pictures of the fun things that they have experienced together. When children arrive, they register themselves with their photograph and talk about what they would like to play with. Older children are eager to help the younger children and enjoy having responsibilities, such as preparing snack for everyone. Children demonstrate a secure understanding of how to behave and understand the childminder's routines well. This helps them to feel safe and secure.

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The provision is outstanding

Children explore the well-resourced playroom with excitement and become deeply engaged in sensory activities. For example, they develop their hand-to-eye coordination and fine motor skills, when they use scoops and tweezers to fill up containers with rice, or bird feeders with seeds. They discuss the sound the rice makes as it falls, and compare this to the sound of the rain outside. Younger children concentrate on shaking and turning sensory bottles upside down to watch what happens to the attractive items and liquid inside. They smile with great delight as they share this experience with others. The childminder has an excellent understanding of how children learn and develop. She uses her observations extremely well to plan her environment, activities and outings.

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need to do better?

n Children confidently use mathematics in their play and are making excellent progress with their early mathematical language. For example, they learn to recognise numbers in their environment and how to count in sequence. They also discuss size and quantities, such as 'small', 'more' and 'full', during morning snack and sensory activities. Younger children look at colourful wooden numbers with interest and repeat 'one, two and three' alongside adults when they count items out. n Children are taught about healthy lifestyles and the importance of good hygiene. The childminder talks to children about the importance of washing their hands before mealtimes, and about using their own coloured towel to dry their hands. Children wave goodbye to germs at the sink and learn to cover their mouths when they cough. Children engage in daily physical exercise outside, and discuss the outdoor clothing needed to help keep their bodies warm. The childminder

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need to do better?

provides healthy snacks and supports children to help to prepare them for everyone to enjoy. n The childminder understands the importance of literacy and language development for children. She provides a language-rich environment that

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need to do better?

8 February 2023 encourages children to learn new vocabulary and increases their confidence in speaking. Children sing their favourite nursery rhymes with the childminder and repeat new words back to her that they have just learned through play. They are excited by stories that allow them to watch different emotions on the childminder's face, as she describes them and shows them through her own facial expressions. The children practise these emotions on their own faces and repeat words in the book, such as 'sad' and 'love'. Children develop a love of books and stories from a young age. n Children's curiosity and sense of wonder are promoted through the childminder's careful consideration of resources and the learning areas that she creates. For instance, on nature walks, the childminder takes an 'explorer bag' to extend children's learning. Children use scissors to cut up natural items to make pictures. They use torches to look in dark places for bugs and insects. At home,

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need to do better?

children explore the wildlife in the pond, and watch the birds coming in and out of their bird boxes. They take great delight in learning to jump on the trampoline. Children hold blocks of ice in their hands as they discuss how the water from yesterday's garden painting is now frozen. n Communication with parents is excellent. Parents comment on the childminder's overwhelmingly supportive and positive feedback. They say that their children are thriving in her care. Parents are very happy with the open communication and support they receive from the childminder. They say that their children are settled, and very excited to attend each day. n The experienced childminder makes excellent use of her continuous professional development. She continues to seek out ways to extend her skills and knowledge to enhance children's learning. She shares her ideas with other professionals. The childminder regularly evaluates her setting. She has clear

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need to do better?

plans for improvements to benefit the children's learning and development ever further.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The childminder's safeguarding knowledge is excellent. She has an extensive understanding of all safeguarding issues, including wider concerns such as radicalisation and county lines. She is very clear about the signs and symptoms that may indicate a child may be at risk of harm. She knows who to contact if she has a child protection concern about a child or adult. The childminder ensures children are supervised well in all areas of the premises, and that they understand how to keep themselves safe.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY489798 Local authority Bedford Inspection number 10276148 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 3 Date of previous inspection 3 July 2017

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2015 and lives in Kempston Rural. She operates her provision all year round, from 8am until 5pm, Monday to Thursday, except for bank holidays and family holidays.

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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 childminder and the inspector completed a learning walk together to understand how the early years provision and curriculum are organised. n The inspector made observations throughout the inspection of children's experiences in the setting. n Parents shared their views of the childminder's setting with the inspector through written feedback. n The childminder and the inspector carried out a joint observation. n The inspector interacted with the children at appropriate times during the inspection and observed their interactions with the childminder. n The inspector viewed the areas on the premises that are used for childminding.

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Inspection activities

8 February 2023 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

8 February 2023 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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