Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 13/12/2012 29/04/2009

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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 have a warm, close relationship with the childminder and this helps them to feel settled and secure.  The childminder provides suitable levels of challenge to the children because her plans are comprehensive and meet the needs of children well.  Children behave well because the childminder manages their behaviour by using positive methods, such as praise to encourage good behaviour  The childminder keeps children protected from harm by ensuring that all areas, resources and equipment used by the children are safe by carrying out comprehensive risk assessments.

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It is not yet outstanding because

 The garden is not used to maximum potential to support children's learning. This means that there is scope to develop this aspect of the childminder's provision so that children's learning is enhanced.

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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 spoke to the childminder at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector looked at relevant records and documentation.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed interaction between the childminder and the minded children.  The inspector observed the indoor and outdoor learning environments.

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Information about the setting

The childminder was registered in 1994 on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She lives with her husband and three adult children in a house in Watford, Hertfordshire and uses the whole of the ground floor and the rear garden for childminding.

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Information about the setting

The childminder attends local playgroups and visits the local shops and park on a regular basis. She collects children from local schools. There is currently one child on roll in the early years age group who attends on a part- time basis. The childminder is open all year round from 8am to 6pm from Monday to Friday, except for family holidays.

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

 maximise the potential of the garden so that children's learning and development is supported in all areas of learning. For instance, use natural resources to promote children's grouping and sorting skills.

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who attend

Children engage well with a wide range of interesting activities because the childminder makes plans influenced by children's interests and skills. She has attended training on the revised Early Years Foundation Stage framework and structures her plans and resources effectively around the areas of learning. Consequently, children make good progress.

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who attend

Children have free choices because there is a good balance between child-initiated and adult-led activities. Children are supported effectively by the childminder in several ways. For instance, she provides a variety of resources to enable children to pursue their interest in lining up objects carefully. She follows their lead as they make select books and shares their interest in story characters. The childminder extends children's learning by encouraging them to count during every day routines. Children enjoy exploring different materials as they make paper Christmas trees. They learn about the world around them as they create stories using small world resources, such as train tracks and car sets.

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who attend

The childminder supports children's communication skills by questioning children effectively and giving time for them to respond. Children practise a variety of physical skills as they balance on scooters, climb and run at the local park or in the childminder's garden. However, the outdoor area is not used to its potential to be of most benefit to children. This means that there are limited opportunities for children to consolidate their learning in the outdoor environment.

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who attend

Children's development is carefully recorded in learning journeys and observation books. These collections of samples of work, photographs of children's skills, and regular observations are used well to plan next steps for learning.

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

Children relate well to the childminder because the relationship between them is warm and strong. They are motivated to learn because the childminder plans well to meet their needs and offers a wide variety of interesting, accessible resources.

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

Children have good awareness of how to keep themselves safe. For example, they know not to run around while eating because it could create a choking hazard. The childminder talks to the children about road safety so that they learn how to walk along the street safely. The childminder assists children to wash their hands at appropriate times and talks to them about why they need to do so.

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

Children practise a range of physical skills and get fresh air when they go into the garden or visit the local park. They learn to develop healthy eating habits as they select nutritious snacks and drinks. The childminder helps children to understand the benefits of these foods because she talks to them about it. She caters for special dietary needs.

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

The childminder has good links with local schools. The schools support children to be ready for school by inviting them to school assemblies and to meet their teacher. Children are also prepared for school by visiting local toddler groups where children get used to being away from the home environment.

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provision

The childminder keeps children safe because she has required parental consents, records, and insurance in place. Children are protected further because the childminder carries out daily risk assessments on all areas and resources used by the children and she has implemented and updated safeguarding policies and procedures. The childminder is aware that she must comply with the requirements of the revised Early Years Foundation Stage framework. As a result, children are kept safe.

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provision

Parents have good opportunities to be involved in their child's learning, and are kept informed of their child's progress. The childminder understands the importance of working closely with other professionals involved in the lives of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and is willing to do so.

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provision

The childminder has identified areas of strength and weakness of her provision because she has reflected well on it. For instance, she intends to attend further training courses on the revised Early Years Foundation Stage framework so that she can offer children improved learning opportunities. Previous recommendations have been met, such as increasing resources to promote diversity, value and acceptance. The childminder has good capacity to help children to make progress in all areas of learning.

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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 130002 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 817882 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 1

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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:

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Type of provision

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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