Childminder EY442501

Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

The quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Met

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The provision requires improvement

The childminder focuses on supporting children's emotional and personal development. Children are happy and secure in the care of the childminder and there is a calm and welcoming feel to the setting. Children move confidently around the childminder's home and their behaviour is good. They show an age-appropriate understanding of the need to share and take turns. The childminder supports children to gain age-appropriate independence. Children of all ages are encouraged to feed themselves. Older children show a good understanding of how to wash and dry their hands before snacks and mealtimes. The childminder helps children understand the importance of eating the savoury parts of their packed lunches before moving on to sweeter things for pudding.

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The provision requires improvement

Although the children are generally engaged in play, the childminder has not sufficiently developed her understanding of how children learn and develop to ensure that all children make the very best possible progress. The childminder's curriculum is not adequately planned and sequenced to ensure children make optimal progress across all areas of learning. Furthermore, the childminder's teaching and interactions with the children do not always extend their interests and fascinations in a way that would enable children to become highly absorbed in their learning.

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need to do better?

n Children play in a well-resourced environment and show some level of focus, when playing on their own. However, the childminder is not always skilled in recognising the interests and fascinations that children demonstrate as they play. At times, her engagements with children are over directive or too product focused and, as a result, children often lose focus and flit between activities and resources. n The childminder shows a general understanding of the level of development of the children in her care. She identifies some of the areas she would like them to progress to next. However, the childminder shows a lack of knowledge in building an effective curriculum that fully supports children to make the best possible progress. n The childminder generally talks with older children during their play and introduces them to some new words, such as butterfly, caterpillar and bumble bee. However, the childminder does not always pick up on babies' and younger

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need to do better?

children's attempts to communicate. This has an impact on their ability to learn to talk and communicate. n The childminder has engaged in some ongoing professional development, such as statutory courses for child protection and paediatric first aid, as well as reading articles on subjects, such as food safety and safer sleeping. However,

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need to do better?

17 July 2025 she has not targeted her professional development to enable her to stay abreast of best practice in supporting children's learning and development. n Despite the weaknesses in the childminder's curriculum, children are learning to socialise and become confident around people. They show interest in visitors to the setting and have regular opportunities to meet other children and adults at a weekly toddler group. The childminder provides opportunities for children to learn about nature and the living world. They visit local nature reserves, looking for bugs, collecting pine cones and enjoying being physically active in the fresh air. The childminder provides opportunities for children to develop large motor skills through stepping stones and tunnels to crawl through. Babies have opportunities to pull to standing and cruise round low tables. n Children are developing an interest in books and enjoy sitting and looking at

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need to do better?

them. They turn pages correctly and talk to themselves as they look at the pictures. Children are keen to snuggle with the childminder as she reads stories with them. n Despite the weaknesses identified, parents are complimentary about the service the childminder provides. They talk about how she offers a 'home-from-home environment', where their children feel safe and happy. Parents value her flexibility and the information they receive about their child's day.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

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

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Due date

improve the planning of the curriculum that provides children with an ambitious learning environment and builds on what children know and can do across all areas of learning and development 18/12/2025

p.3

Due date

target professional development to identify gaps in knowledge and practice that will raise the quality of education for all children. 18/12/2025

p.3

should:

17 July 2025 n enhance the quality of teaching and interactions with children, to fully support their interests and fascinations n strengthen support for babies and younger children's language development.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY442501 Local authority Central Bedfordshire Inspection number 10388788 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 30 July 2019

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2012 and lives in Sandy, Bedfordshire. She operates all year round from 7.30am to 4.45pm, Wednesday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder provides government funded childcare for children between nine months and four years of age.

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Inspection activities

n The childminder showed the inspector the premises and discussed how she ensures they are safe and suitable. The childminder spoke to the inspector about 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 Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector through written testimonials. n The childminder provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation, including attendance records and the childminder's paediatric first-aid certificate. n The inspector spoke with the childminder and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection.

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Inspection activities

17 July 2025 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 July 2025 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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