Childminder in Milton Keynes

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 are happy, settled and confident in the childminder's care. Her calm and patient manner encourages children to settle quickly. The childminder creates a warm and positive environment where children are keen to play and learn. Younger children demonstrate strong bonds with the childminder as they choose to sit next to her and play. Children enjoy exploring the environment. For example, children focus well as they sort coloured animals into containers. They persevere as they practise using tweezers to move the animals.

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The provision is good

The childminder plans a curriculum that appeals to children's interests. She ensures that children can make choices in their play and learning. For example, children are able to access a variety of colourful and attractive toys and books. The childminder provides opportunities for children to use their imaginations and develop their own ideas. For instance, they pretend to be doctors and look after their dolls. The childminder plays alongside children and interacts positively with them.

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The provision is good

The childminder is a positive role model. She provides children with plenty of praise and encouragement, which supports their self-esteem and confidence effectively. She has high expectations of children and gives gentle reminders to guide their behaviour. This encourages children to behave well.

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need to do better?

n The childminder collects detailed information from parents when their children first start attending. For instance, she finds out about children's interests, current levels of development and their routines. This helps her to provide good consistency in care and learning from their arrival at the setting. The childminder uses assessments of children's learning to help them achieve their next steps in learning. This supports children to make good progress from their individual starting points. n The childminder understands the need to promote children's communication and language skills. She talks clearly to children about what they are doing and uses ongoing commentary as they play. However, on occasion, the childminder does not always recognise when to help to extend young children's speaking skills, such as when they try to gain her attention by pointing to objects or uttering sounds. n The childminder works with children to encourage their mathematical skills. She

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need to do better?

counts with them and uses activities and games to promote an interest in numbers, colours and shapes. For instance, the childminder asks children to sort objects into colours. She encourages children to match numbers as they complete puzzles. Children focus and engage fully in these activities and delight in the praise given by the childminder.

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need to do better?

6 September 2024 n The childminder provides many opportunities for children to enjoy fresh air and exercise. She takes children to activity sessions with other childminders and their children. Children can play in the garden and have opportunities to visit various places of interest. For example, they walk to the local parks, go to playgroups and visit the shops. This helps to support their social development and broadens their first-hand experiences of their local community. n The childminder ensures that children are ready to move on to the next stage of learning and school. For example, she extends their learning by helping them to make marks and recognise their name. She focuses on children's independence and self-care skills. For instance, children learn to dress themselves and go to the toilet independently. n Partnership with parents is good. The childminder keeps parents well informed about their children's learning and development. She liaises with parents to

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need to do better?

ensure that they receive daily information about their child's day. Parents appreciate the good care and interesting experiences that the childminder provides for their children. Parents comment about the care and good progress that their children have made. n The childminder reflects on her practice to drive forward improvements in her setting. She meets with other childminders to share ideas and good practice. The childminder attends mandatory training, such as safeguarding and paediatric first-aid training. However, she does not keep up to date with recent developments in early years education or take advantage of other professional development opportunities, such as communication and language training, to strengthen her teaching practice further.

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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 make better use of professional development opportunities to further enhance knowledge and improve teaching skills, particularly with regard to supporting children's speech and language development.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 141562 Local authority Milton Keynes Inspection number 10355314 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 5 Date of previous inspection 26 November 2018

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 1994. She lives in Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire. She offers care from Monday to Friday, 7.30am to 2.30pm, for most of the year. She offers early years funding for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The childminder and the inspector completed a learning walk together around the areas of the childminder's home used for childminding. n The inspector talked to the childminder at convenient times during the inspection to discuss her practice. n A range of documentation was looked at, including safeguarding policies, training certificates and evidence of the suitability of adults living on the premises. n The inspector and childminder discussed an activity and talked about how it supports children's learning. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this had on children's learning. n During the inspection, the inspector spoke to, and interacted with, the children.

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Inspection activities

6 September 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

6 September 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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