Childminder in Buckinghamshire

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

The childminder provides an inviting homely environment, where children develop a real sense of belonging. She is highly supportive of children's independence. For example, children make choices about their play from a wide range of activities that reflect their interests. This supports them to lead their own learning. They show that they are happy, safe and content in the childminder's care. Children form strong emotional attachments with her and her assistant. This is evident when they sit comfortably on their laps and listen intently to their favourite stories being read to them.

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The provision is good

Outdoor learning is a strength of this setting. The childminder clearly understands children's preferences of being active in the fresh air. She provides a vibrant and appealing outdoor area for exploration and play. While outside, children's social skills significantly improves compared to when they are indoors. In the garden, they are more receptive to sharing their toys and waiting their turn. On the whole, children behave well.

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The provision is good

Children talk with enthusiasm about their visits in the local area, such as the woods where they discover different insects under logs. They hold lively two-way discussions with the childminder, who skilfully encourages them to recap on what they remember. She cleverly builds on children's inquisitive natures to help extend their knowledge and vocabulary of topics they show interest in.

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need to do better?

n The childminder is fully committed to continually enhancing her professional development to help improve her knowledge and skills further. She attends webinars and shares good practice with other childminders in the area. In addition, she has been working with an early years mentor to help strengthen her outdoor provision and understanding of how children learn best. The knowledge gained has positively impacted children's good progress across the curriculum. In addition, the childminder actively supports her assistant's professional development through regular discussions and a variety of training opportunities. n Children's learning and development is accurately assessed on an ongoing basis. The childminder uses this information to determine what children can do and anything they may be struggling with. She works alongside parents to help address any identified additional needs, such as speech delay. The targeted

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need to do better?

strategies and interventions implemented successfully help these children to meet their needs. n Children engage in role-play incredibly well. The childminder extends children's imaginations to the full. For example, she takes an active role in the scenarios

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need to do better?

30 August 2024 created by children. The childminder adds thought-provoking challenges at appropriate times to help extend children's thinking further. For example, children act as barbecue chefs and share a picture menu of food and drink for the customer. When a 'customer' questions where the salad is on their burger, children go back to consider the options. This also helps children understand the importance of making healthy food choices. n Older children demonstrate that they are logical thinkers, who ask questions as they try to make sense of what they see and hear. For instance, children who are fascinated by numbers compare everyone's ages, including the adults. They question why someone's age does not determine how tall they are. The childminder extends learning when she explains how all people are different and take on characteristics of their parents. n Children's behaviour is variable, depending on whether children play indoors or

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need to do better?

outdoors. Despite the childminder's best efforts to teach all children to play cooperatively and be respectful of others, the strategies she uses are not always effective. For example, when children upset one another in an indoor group activity, the childminder tries to find solutions to diffuse the situation quickly. However, in these situations, she has not fully considered how to help children regulate their own feelings and behaviour in a more effective way. This means that sometimes children's engagement and enjoyment in learning is interrupted as they become overly frustrated. n Partnerships with parents are positive and strong. Parents are very happy with their children's progress, particularly in their speech and self-care skills. The childminder holds regular conversations with parents, as well as sharing observations of their children on an online application. She offers advice and support on a variety of care routines, such as developing better eating habits

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need to do better?

and ways for effective toilet training. Parents follow some of the activities they see, such as taking regular walks to local places of interest, and comment on a significant increase in children's stamina and strength.

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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 strengthen behaviour management strategies to help children regulate their own behaviour.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 116665 Local authority Buckinghamshire Inspection number 10351067 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 3 October 2018

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 1995. She lives in Flackwell Heath, Buckinghamshire. She offers care Monday to Friday, 7.30am to 6pm, throughout the year. She works alongside another childminder in her home and has an assistant. The childminder and her assistant hold relevant childcare qualifications at level 3. She is eligible to receive funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years.

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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 provision. n The childminder showed the inspector the premises and discussed how they ensure it is safe and suitable. n The childminder spoke to the inspector about children's learning and development. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of a group activity with the childminder. n The inspector took account of parents written views about the education and care their children receive. n The childminder provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation on request.

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Inspection activities

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

30 August 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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