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 Good

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The provision is good

Children demonstrate they feel happy and safe in the care of the childminder and her assistant. They greet visitors warmly and are keen for them to join in with their play and activities. Children especially enjoy being outdoors where there is an abundance of learning opportunities. They are keen to explore water and ice. Children show their developing understanding of the world as they find ways to melt and break ice eggs. The childminder builds her curriculum around children's learning needs, with play and exploration at the centre. She and her assistant know how to adapt their teaching to ensure that each child greatly benefits from every learning experience.

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The provision is good

Children show care and consideration to each other. They play together very well, and their behaviour is excellent. Children are developing good independence skills. They persevere with tasks, such as putting on wetsuits and boots. Children are very pleased with their achievements and are quick to offer help to their peers. The childminder provides many opportunities for children to be active. They enjoy using the slide in the garden. At other times, children benefit from outings to parks and open fields, which helps to develop their large physical skills even more.

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need to do better?

n The childminder has a good understanding of each child's stage of development. She carries out regular observations and assessments of their learning. This helps the childminder to identify clear next steps in learning for children. She also uses this information to help her to identify if any child needs additional support to reach their developmental milestones. The childminder understands her responsibility to work in partnership with parents and external professionals. This supports all children to make good progress. n The childminder and her assistant support children's communication and language skills effectively. They model language well and build on children's growing vocabulary by introducing new words. This especially helps children who speak English as an additional language. The adults ask questions and give children time to listen and think before they respond. Children confidently share

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need to do better?

what they know and remember, such as about previous experiences and events. They accurately describe their past experiences as 'a memory'. n Children enjoy taking part in group activities for sustained lengths of time. They engross themselves in exploration and learning with determination. The childminder and her assistant skilfully teach children and weave different concepts into their interactions with them. For example, they talk about size, shape and number. The childminder encourages younger children to feel different textures and describes ice as cold and smooth. At the same activity, the assistant introduces more complex concepts to older children, for instance,

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need to do better?

17 April 2024 explaining the difference between solids and liquid. n The childminder builds strong relationships with parents. Parents' written comments express high levels of satisfaction with the service she and her assistants provide. Parents state their children talk positively about their many experiences and that they are making good progress. n The childminder understands her role and responsibility in keeping children safe. She provides a safe environment for children to play in. Children are learning how to keep themselves safe, such as by hanging up coats and putting shoes away to prevent trip hazards. n The childminder and her assistants work well together. They discuss practice, as a team, which helps them to reflect on and evaluate the setting. The childminder keeps up to date with changes within the early years sector and passes relevant information on to her assistants. They undertake training and research and use

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need to do better?

new knowledge and skills to enhance and adapt their teaching skills. However, the childminder has not yet considered how she can support the ongoing professional development of assistants as individuals effectively, such as through carrying out supervision meetings.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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should:

n develop the supervision arrangements for assistants to support them to continually improve their personal effectiveness and skills.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY500573 Local authority Central Bedfordshire Inspection number 10335378 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 12 Number of children on roll 10 Date of previous inspection 13 June 2018

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2016 and lives in Dunstable. She operates all year round, from 7.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Thursday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. She employs two assistants.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the childminder received since the COVID- 19 pandemic. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in her evaluation of the provider. n The inspector and the childminder looked around the premises and discussed how the childminder plans her curriculum and operates her practice. n The inspector observed the childminder and one of her assistants joining in activities with children and discussed the learning that was taking place with them. n A sample of policies and procedures was looked at by the inspector, which included documents relating to the suitability of household members and assistants and to safeguarding and complaints. n The inspector took account of the written views of parents and discussed the childminder's reflections of her practice with her.

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Inspection activities

17 April 2024 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

17 April 2024 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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