Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 01/10/2013 19/07/2012

p.1

early years provision

This inspection: 2 Previous inspection: 2 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

p.1

This provision is good

 Assessment and tracking of children's developmental stage is precise and records demonstrate how each child is making good progress towards the early learning goals.  Effective partnerships with parents keep them informed and involved. This supports children's home learning well.  Children's independence is supported, they are well coordinated and quickly learn to manage self-care tasks.  Strong links with other settings that children also attend, effectively support continuity in their care and learning.

p.1

It is not yet outstanding because

 Opportunities to support children's critical thinking are not fully maximised because the childminder does not consistently use open questions or give children time to form response to encourage active learning.  Some children are not routinely provided with individual towels for drying their hands after washing to prevent cross infection and to help them learn about good hygiene.

p.1

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

p.2

Information about this inspection

 scheduled more frequently where Ofsted identifies a need to do so, for example where provision was previously judged 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 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  scheduled at the completion of an investigation into failure to comply with the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage.

p.2

Information about this inspection

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

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities in the play room, the sitting room, garden and conducted a joint observation with the childminder.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector, childminder, assistants and children had conversations at appropriate times during the inspection.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector looked at documentation related to the management of the setting, children's progress and self-evaluation.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector took account of the views of parents from information provided by the childminder.

p.2

Information about the setting

The childminder was registered in 2012 and is on the Early Years Register and the compulsory part of the Childcare Register. She lives with her husband, and grown up children in a house in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Most of the ground floor and three upstairs bedrooms are used for childminding purposes. The family has a pet dog and two cats. The childminder attends toddler groups and activities at the local children's centre. She visits the shops and park on a regular basis. She collects children from the local schools and pre-schools.

p.3

Information about the setting

There are currently 10 children on roll, all of whom are in the early years age group and attend for a variety of sessions. The childminder supports children who speak English as an additional language. She operates all year round from 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except bank holidays and family holidays.

p.3

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

 increase the use of open questions and give children plenty of time to consider their answer and respond, so they develop their critical thinking

p.3

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

 provide children with sufficient clean towels to dry their hands after washing to prevent cross infection.

p.3

who attend

The childminder has secure knowledge of the learning and development requirements, which enables her to plan interesting and suitable activities for children. When outdoors the childminder engages well with the children as they spot aeroplanes in the sky and look for mini-beasts under the edge of the artificial grass. There is an appropriate focus on the prime areas of learning for the youngest children who are developing effective communication skills and becoming increasingly independent. The balance of adult-led and child-led play is successful in helping children to make progress at their own pace. However, there are times when the childminder asks closed questions or provides an answer to her question too quickly. This limits children's chances to develop their ideas. The childminder regularly assesses children's achievements so she knows they are making good progress. Parents are involved effectively because the system enables them to

p.3

who attend

receive immediate updates, which they comment and respond to, online. Parents and the childminder share the progress check at age two, agreeing on the assessment and children's next steps. This means there is a shared view of the child's level of achievement and a clear understanding of how the child will be supported to make progress. The childminder uses her assessments effectively to plan suitable and interesting activities for all children.

p.4

who attend

Children eagerly participate in cutting and sticking activities. They choose a variety of different coloured tissue paper to decorate their autumn leaves. Children develop their mathematical understanding by counting objects. A popular past time is looking to see how many snails and worms they can find. Children's literacy is developed with books, some in other languages, and by the childminder as she helps them to recognise letters and sounds when writing their names on artwork. The childminder uses children's home language and English to communicate and this means they are clearly understood and are developing a secure foundation in both languages. Children's learning is well supported by the weekly music sessions. They sing songs and join in with action rhymes and this supports communication and language skills as well as mathematics and has links to their topic based learning.

p.4

who attend

The childminder makes good use of the local riverside walk where they go on nature walks, to see the seasonal changes and the wildlife. They visit local groups where they meet other children for activities and fun. This helps children to develop their knowledge of their local community and provides opportunities to develop a wider group of friends. The childminder is helping children to make progress towards the early learning goals in readiness for the next stage in their education.

p.4

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

The children have strong, secure relationships with the childminder and her assistants. This means they feel confident secure and at home. The relationships with parents are equally strong in relation to children's care needs. This means there is continuity for children because the childminder and parents regularly discuss and agree routines. Children are making good progress in their independence skills that will help them adjust to group care and learning in the future. Children fully comprehend the importance of hand washing to maintain hygiene and all are eager to join in. However, the childminder does not always provide sufficient individual, clean towels to support fully children's understanding of good hygiene practice. They learn to manage their own clothes and shoes when they get ready to go outside. Children are well behaved, polite and listen to the childminder.

p.4

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

Children are busy and active. The childminder makes good use of outdoor space in the well-resourced garden to develop children's physical skills, their body awareness and to promote an active lifestyle. As a consequence, they are learning about the effects of exercise on their bodies and its importance in being healthy. Children eat a balanced diet that includes fresh fruit and vegetables. The childminder offers freshly prepared, home cooked foods. She offers some traditional South African meals, which are familiar to some children and extend the variety dishes eaten and enjoyed by others. Children develop their understanding of food and its link to health because they talk about it when they eat.

p.4

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

Children use scissors with care. The childminder and assistant take the trouble to demonstrate and give practical guidance on how to cut paper safely and successfully. Outdoors children show their understanding of their own safety when they climb down from the trampoline on to the steps with great care. The range of resources and storage arrangements supports children in making choices about their play. They can easily reach most items stored in the large plastic boxes. Children are therefore, confident and capable of making decisions about their activities.

p.5

provision

The childminder has a secure understanding of the legal requirements for the Statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage. This means that all learning and development requirements and those for safeguarding and welfare are successfully met. Her knowledge of child protection is clear and supports her in being able to recognise and act appropriately in the event of any concerns. Policies and procedures support the childminder and her assistants in providing effectively for children's safety and day-to-day needs. For example, the childminder has recently implemented a more rigorous procedure for the safe use of the trampoline.

p.5

provision

The childminder works very well with parents enabling her to meet their care needs effectively at all times and to exchange progress information on a regular basis. Parents comment positively about the care their children receive. The childminder has established effective working relationships with other settings that children attend. This ensures progress is shared and all involved in children's care and education are fully included. The childminder has links with her local children's centre, which helps her to keep up-to-date with current practice issues.

p.5

provision

The childminder reflects on her practice and sets herself targets for improvement. Since the last inspection, the childminder has addressed the recommendations to such an extent that they are now strong aspects of the provision. She has increased the range of resources outdoors and installed an all-weather surface so children can spend more time outdoors in the winter, which supports those who enjoy outdoor experiences effectively. The views of parents and children form part of the evaluation and this means their opinions are valued and included when deciding on improvements. The childminder provides an effective base for learning for all the children currently in her care, which helps them to make good progress towards the early learning goals.

p.5

The Childcare Register

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

p.6

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 action. 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.

p.7

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.

p.7

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.

p.8

Setting details

Unique reference number EY441161 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 934229 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 12 Number of children on roll 10

p.8

Telephone number

set out in the guidance ‘Complaints procedure: 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.

p.8

Type of provision

For the purposes of this inspection the following definitions apply:

p.8

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.

p.8

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.

p.8

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, which are usually the childminder’s own home. They are registered on the Early Years Register and must deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage.

p.9

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,

p.9

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’.

p.10

Type of provision

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

p.10