Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 29/11/2012 05/11/2008

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early years provision

This inspection: 2 Previous inspection: 3 How well the early years provision meets the needs of the range of children who attend The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children 2 The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision 2

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This provision is good

 Children are very content and happy as they play with toys that are suited to their ages and stages of development. They show high levels of independence and good concentration skills as they focus on their play.  Children's language and social skills are well supported as the childminder is involved in their play, engaging them in conversation and extending their play.  Children enjoy a range of play experiences and planned activities. This supports their recently acquired skills that promote their self-esteem and confidence.

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It is not yet outstanding because

 Regular opportunities for parents to share information from home and to contribute to their children's learning at the setting are not fully established.  Parents' views are not included in the evaluation process to enable the childminder to review her practice and outcomes for children more effectively.

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Information about this inspection

Inspections of registered early years provision are scheduled:  at least once in every inspection cycle. The current cycle ends on 31 July 2016  more frequently where Ofsted identifies a need to do so, for example where provision was previously judged as inadequate  brought forward in the inspection cycle where Ofsted has received information that suggests the provision may not be meeting the legal requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage; or where assessment of the provision identifies a need for early inspection  prioritised for inspection where we have received information that the provision is not meeting the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage and which suggests children may not be safe  at the completion of an investigation into failure to comply with the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Information about this inspection

The provision is also registered on the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register. This report includes a judgment about compliance with the requirements of that register.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities in the main lounge and the playroom.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector looked at the records of the children's progress, assessment records and other documents relating to the welfare requirements.

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Information about the setting

The childminder was registered in 2008 on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She lives with her husband and two school age children in Kings Langley in Hertfordshire. The ground floor is used for childminding, there is a downstairs cloakroom. There is a secure garden for outside play.

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Information about the setting

There are currently three children on roll in the early years age group who attend for a variety of sessions through the week and two school-age children who attend around school times. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association and has recently completed a level 3 early years qualification.

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To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

 develop opportunities for parents to share information from home and to contribute to their children's learning records on a more regular basis

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To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

 build on the evaluation process to include the views of parents to assist in identifying areas for improvement.

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who attend

Children are happy and settled in the childminder's care. They are making good progress in all areas of learning. Children are keen and confident learners as the childminder has a good understanding of how children learn. The childminder promotes children's play and learning through a broad educational programme based on the outcomes in the Development Matters document. She uses the observations and assessments in the learning journeys as a basis for the progress check at aged two years. This is shared with parents and other early years settings to support children's continued learning.

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who attend

The children's learning journeys are shared with parents who are encouraged to take them home. They show children are given many play and learning opportunities in the childminder's home, on outings and at playgroups. The format of the observation sheets gives parents opportunities to share events and activities from home. This is not well- established so they do not regularly contribute to the children's records of achievements. A two-way flow of information is not consistent enough to enable parents to support their children's learning at home.

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who attend

Children have many opportunities throughout the day to make independent choices about their play. They are encouraged to choose toys from the playroom and use the floor space in the lounge to lay out the train set. They quickly become absorbed in their play as they concentrate on fixing the track together and the right way up. They soon identify pieces of track that are upside down. Children are able to explain to the childminder that the track is not right and soon make the changes. Children's language is good for their age and well supported by the childminder. They are able to make their needs known and understood. They can name the popular train characters and are keen to tell their childminder they are going over and under the bridge and stopping at the end of the track. Children show good manipulative skills as they join the small engines with the magnetic links and set them on the wooden track. The childminder supports children's achievements with lots of praise.

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who attend

This promotes the children's sense of accomplishment and self-esteem.

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The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children

Children have developed strong bonds with their childminder and the other children attending the setting. They talk about going to collect the other children from pre-school and link experiences they have shared. Children move freely between the rooms and use the floor space in the lounge to extend and develop their own play ideas. The childminder knows the children well so she provides activities she knows the children are interested in. She sits alongside them as they select stamp blocks and she talks about the different faces and supports the children's conversation about taking their pictures home. This supports their social and emotional development as she tells them 'mummy will be very happy with her picture'. The children smile and put the art work on the table for later.

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The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children

Children are learning about their own safety through daily routines and trips out in the community. Road safety is an important aspect of the daily walks to the local school. Children of all ages are becoming aware of simple rules that will keep them safe when out in the community. Young children hold onto the buggy and are involved in making decisions about when it is safe to cross the road and therefore start thinking for themselves. In the home children are very good at tidying away toys they have finished playing with. They take responsibility to put the track and trains away with no help from the childminder.

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The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children

Children learn about a healthy lifestyle through every day routines. Older children are reminded to take responsibility for their own personal care with posters in the cloakroom about hand washing. At this time parents provide packed lunches for the younger children and children cared for after school have a nutritional snack. The childminder supports the children's developing understanding of healthy eating with discussions about what is good for you and what helps you to grow. Children are learning that exercise can be fun as they enjoy playing in the large garden and are taken for walks in the nearby fields.

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The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children

The childminder supports children as they start at pre-school and school. She provides activities and routines which helps to develop their social skills. This enables children to move onto new life experiences such as nursery with confidence and a strong sense of self-esteem.

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provision

The childminder has worked hard to ensure she has a secure knowledge of the revised Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage. She strives to provide a quality provision for all children and is committed to progressing her professional development. She has attended various courses since her registration and has recently completed a Level 3 course in Early Years Care and Education that has enhanced her practice and this has had a positive impact on children's developing skills. The childminder reviews her practice and talks to parents about the service she provides. She understands the importance of establishing a process to enable her to fully evaluate her provision. However, at this time parents' views are not consistently included in the process to support her identification of future improvements. The childminder has identified further training she would like to complete to enhance her practice and

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provision

outcomes for children. The childminder uses the Sure Start children's centre for support and the drop-in play session. She has been pro-active in making links with other early years settings to ensure continuity in children's learning.

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provision

Children's welfare is fully protected as the childminder has a secure knowledge and understanding of safeguarding procedures. She regularly updates her safeguarding training and has a comprehensive policy in place that is shared with parents to keep them informed of her commitment to providing a safe environment for all children. Effective risk assessments identify and minimise risk to children in the home and on outings.

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The Childcare Register

The requirements for the compulsory part of the Childcare Register are Met The requirements for the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are Met

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Grade Judgement Description

Grade 1 Outstanding Outstanding provision is highly effective in meeting the needs of all children exceptionally well. This ensures that children are very well prepared for the next stage of their learning. Grade 2 Good Good provision is effective in delivering provision that meets the needs of all children well. This ensures children are ready for the next stage of their learning. Grade 3 Satisfactory Satisfactory provision is performing less well than expectations in one or more of the key areas. It requires improvement in order to be good. Grade 4 Inadequate Provision that is inadequate requires significant improvement and/or enforcement. The provision is failing to give children an acceptable standard of early years education and/or is not meeting the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. It will be inspected again within 12 months of the date of this inspection.

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Grade Judgement Description

Met The provision has no children on roll. The inspection judgement is that the provider continues to meet the requirements for registration. Not Met The provision has no children on roll. The inspection judgement is that the provider does not meet the requirements for registration.

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Inspection

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted 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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Setting details

Unique reference number EY372930 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 821319 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 5 Number of children on roll 5

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Telephone number

set out in the guidance ‘raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted', which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk.

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Type of provision

For the purposes of this inspection the following definitions apply: Full-time provision is that which operates for more than three hours. These are usually known as nurseries, nursery schools and pre-schools and must deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage. They are registered on the Early Years Register and pay the higher fee for registration.

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Type of provision

Sessional provision operates for more than two hours but does not exceed three hours in any one day. These are usually known as pre-schools, kindergartens or nursery schools and must deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage. They are registered on the Early Years Register and pay the lower fee for registration.

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Type of provision

Childminders care for one or more children where individual children attend for a period of more than two hours in any one day. They operate from domestic premises that are usually their own home. They are registered on the Early Years Register and must deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Type of provision

Out of school provision may be sessional or full-time provision and is delivered before or after school and/or in the summer holidays. They are registered on the Early Years Register and must deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage. Where children receive their Early Years Foundation Stage in school these providers do not have to deliver the learning and development requirements in full but should complement the experiences children receive in school. 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 Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, 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,

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Type of provision

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. You may copy all or parts of this document for non-commercial educational purposes, as long as you give details of the source and date of publication and do not alter the information in any way. To receive regular email alerts about new publications, including survey reports and school inspection reports, please visit our website and go to ‘Subscribe’.

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Type of provision

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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