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

The childminder welcomes children into her home-from-home environment. She prides herself on providing a caring and welcoming provision in which children can play and learn. Children are generally happy and settled. When children are nervous of adults they do not know, the childminder offers comfort and reassurance until they feel more confident. Children benefit from the close bond they have with the childminder, which helps them to feel safe and secure.

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The provision is good

The childminder has a basic curriculum in place that focuses primarily on children's physical, emotional and physical development. The childminder encourages children to learn through their play and the experiences she provides for them. The childminder focuses on children being confident, independent, able to share and to understand basic rules and expectations. The ultimate aim is for the children to be well prepared for their move onto nursery or school. The curriculum is inclusive and supports all children to make the progress they are capable of.

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The provision is good

Children behave well and play well alongside each other. When reminders of expectations are needed, such as to sit carefully at the table, the childminder delivers these sensitively and according to individual children's level of understanding.

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need to do better?

n The childminder seeks information about what children already know and can do from parents when they first start. She builds on this with her own assessments and creates individual learning focuses for children. She then delivers learning to support these through activities and experiences. The childminder is aware of how to identify gaps in learning. To ensure these close quickly, she works with parents and other professionals to get children any additional help they need. This helps to ensure children make the progress they are capable of. n The childminder provides children with healthy and nutritious meals and snacks and ensures they can access drinking water from a labelled bottle at all times. However, she does not consistently promote messages about healthy lifestyles to children. She does not always provide relevant explanations to help children understand the importance of good hygiene practises, such as why we wash our

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need to do better?

hands before meals. Nonetheless, the childminder meets children's care needs well, such as ensuring they can sleep safely when needed. n Children show a keen interest in the activities the childminder plans for them, such as to develop their fine motor skills and finger muscles. They squeal with delight as they manage to put the pom-poms into the metal whisks or tip them out of the bag. The childminder follows children's interests, such as when they indicate they would like to draw. She encourages them to climb up to the table

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need to do better?

28 November 2024 independently and safely, and she provides paper and crayons. This supports children to feel valued and listened to. n The childminder threads very early mathematical concepts into children's play, such as basic counting. She also introduces basic maths language around size and colour into her interactions with children. This helps to build the foundations for children's future learning. n The childminder is keen to develop children's communication skills. She engages them in two-way conversations, even if they are only able to babble back. The childminder introduces new vocabulary to children, such as 'ostrich' and 'giraffe'. Children enjoy singing and reading simple stories. This helps to support their emerging communication and language well. n Children are beginning to learn about their community and the world around them. The childminder takes them on regular trips and walks, such as to the

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need to do better?

garden centre and music groups. They also network with other childminders and their children. This helps children to build the confidence to be away from the home environment and to socialise with others. n The childminder ensures she completes regular training to keep her own knowledge and skills up to date. She has recently updated her safeguarding training and completed some online training relating to the curriculum. She receives updates from the local authority and a childminder network to ensure she is aware of any changes in requirements. Through this training, she ensures that she can provide a quality environment for children and extend their learning experiences.

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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 further support children's understanding of good hygiene practices to enhance their awareness of a healthy lifestyle.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY539607 Local authority Milton Keynes Inspection number 10363940 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 6 Date of previous inspection 16 January 2019

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2016. She lives in Great Holm, close to the centre of Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. She provides care Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 5.30pm, all year round, except for family holidays and Christmas. The family have two dogs. The childminder provides government funded early education places for children aged from nine months to four years.

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Inspection activities

n The childminder and the inspector completed a learning walk together to discuss her intentions for children's learning. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The childminder and inspector discussed how the curriculum had been implemented and the impact that this had on children's learning. n Parents shared their views of the setting, in writing, with the inspector. n The childminder provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation on request.

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Inspection activities

28 November 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

28 November 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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