Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 10/01/2013 21/11/2011

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early years provision

This inspection: 3 Previous inspection: Met 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 3 The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision 3

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This provision is satisfactory

 Babies are helped to settle because the childminder uses successful techniques to divert their attention. She selects toys that make sounds or move to capture their interest.  Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are supported well because the childminder has experience in this area. This helps her show sensitivity and understanding to the needs of children and their families.  Children's needs are managed appropriately because the childminder carries out her designated roles and responsibilities within the team, as well as taking initiative in order to respond to unplanned situations.

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It is not yet good because

 The childminder has not developed strong partnerships with other settings children attend that fully support continuity in children's learning.  The childminder has not fully considered ways to review the extent of her own knowledge of all the requirements of the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage or identify ways in which this can be improved.

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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 living room, the playroom and in the garden.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke with the childminder and other childminders and assistants at appropriate times throughout the inspection.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector looked at children's learning journeys, parent link books, record systems and a selection of policies.  The inspector took account of the views of one parent spoken to on the day.

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Information about the setting

The childminder was registered in 1999 on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She lives with four adult children and 15- year-old twins in a house in Bushey, Hertfordshire. She uses the whole of the ground floor and the rear garden for childminding. She currently has no children on roll at her home address but works part time as a co-childminder at the address of another registered childminder in Bushey. She collects children from the local schools, nurseries and pre- schools.

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Information about the setting

There are currently 24 children on roll at the co-childminder's setting, 17 of these are in the early years age group who attend for a variety of sessions and seven are school-age children who attend before and after school. The co-childminder's setting operates from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday except for family holidays. When working from her home address the childminder opens from 7.30am to 6pm. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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must:

 build stronger partnerships with other settings that children attend by exchanging information about children's learning and development to support transitions and continuity in learning.

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

 develop self-evaluation to maintain continuous improvement and strengthen knowledge and understanding of the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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who attend

The childminder currently works in the home of another registered childminder and alongside other childminders or assistants. She contributes ideas to the planning of the educational programme based on her knowledge of the needs of the children attending. Although she is not directly involved in keeping observations of children attending at this setting, she knows them well enough to be able to meet their needs and support their learning through play and activities. This contributes to the steady progress that children make towards the early learning goals. The childminder is sensitive to the needs of parents, in particular parents of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. She builds positive relationships with them in order to share information about children's development and learning.

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who attend

The childminder uses appropriate activities and techniques to support children's learning. For example, children learn to communicate and develop language through conversation, sharing books and singing songs. They explore shape and size when using play dough cutters. The childminder builds on their curiosity to find out about the world by using an atlas and books about different peoples. She encourages children who have travelled abroad to share what they know about other countries. Consequently, children are developing the basic attitudes, skills and knowledge required for the next stage in their learning.

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

Children are helped to settle because the childminder gathers information about children's care routines and their likes. She recognises and responds to any anxiety shown by babies as they learn to separate from their parents. She sits with them on her lap to gradually build attachments and confidence to help them feel secure. If upset, she successfully diverts their attention to toys that move or make sounds to try to engage them in play and exploration. The childminder encourages children to behave responsibly and uses strategies matched to children's level of understanding. For example, older children who may be disruptive are taken aside and asked to think about their actions so they can reflect on the impact of their actions on others.

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

The childminder follows procedures within the setting to support children's health and well-being. For example, she wears disposable gloves when preparing and handling food and adheres to hygienic nappy changing procedures to limit the risk of cross- contamination and keep children comfortable. She monitors children at regular intervals while they are sleeping to check they remain safe and well. She enables children to be physically active outdoors each day and to develop the necessary strength and control of their hands to manipulate materials such as play dough and crayons. This prepares them for mark making and writing later on.

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provision

The childminder has worked with children for many years. She takes steps to update her knowledge and recently attended training in safeguarding children and the revised Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage. As a result, she has satisfactory knowledge and understanding of how to implement most of the requirements. However, she does not have her own copy of the framework so cannot use this to evaluate the extent of her knowledge or the effectiveness of her practice. She does though contribute to the self-evaluation process within the setting where she works and is willing to share her ideas and reflections of daily practice issues.

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provision

The childminder builds appropriate relationships with parents in her capacity as a support childminder in the setting and has well-established procedures that she would follow when working in her own home. Partnerships with other early years settings that children attend are not as strong. When she takes or collects children from nursery or school she does not use the opportunity to find out what children are learning at nursery or to share what she knows about their learning. This means she does not use information-sharing well enough to fully support children's transitions or use opportunities to plan for their continuity in learning.

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provision

The childminder understands her role in protecting children. She knows how to implement her own safeguarding procedure and the procedure for the setting where she works. She knows what to do in the event of having to carry out the emergency evacuation procedure and follows the systems for recording information about children's routines and activities throughout the day. She demonstrates that she takes direction from the main childminder in the setting and equally takes initiative to deal with any unforeseen circumstances, such as a child being taken ill. She ensures that all the adults living within her own household have a criminal record check to deem them suitable people.

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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 129859 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 817080 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 24

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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

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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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