Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 07/01/2014 19/09/2008

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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

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This provision is good

 Assessment of children's developmental stage is accurate and records reflect children's personalities and characters well. This shows they are making good progress towards the early learning goals.  The childminder sensitively joins in with children's play, fitting in with their ideas and encouraging the children's 'can do' attitude.  The childminder has friendly and positive relationships with parents. This enables children to make secure attachments that support them in making good progress in their learning and development.  The childminder has an effective understanding of safeguarding children. She ensures that children's welfare is prioritised and hazards are minimised.

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It is not yet outstanding because

 There is scope to extend children's knowledge and experience of other cultures through meaningful activities and celebrations.

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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

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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.

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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 sitting room, dining room and kitchen and reflected on the children's play with the childminder.

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Inspection activities

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

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Inspection activities

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

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Inspection activities

 The inspector took account of the views of parents from information provided by the childminder in letters and questionnaires.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector checked evidence of the suitability and qualifications of the childminder and other household members aged over 16 years.

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Information about the setting

The childminder was registered in 2002 and is on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She lives with her husband and children aged 14 and 18 years in a house in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire. The whole of the ground floor, two bedrooms on the first floor and the rear garden are used for childminding. The childminder attends a toddler group 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.

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Information about the setting

There are currently eight children on roll, four whom are in the early years age group and attend for a variety of sessions. The childminder operates all year round from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except bank holidays and family holidays. She is a member of Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years.

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

 develop further children's knowledge and understanding of the wider world by using the experiences of older children in the setting and their families to support children in gaining a greater and more meaningful understanding of other cultures.

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who attend

Children are making good progress in their learning and development because the childminder offers an interesting range of activities based on their needs and interests. Children enjoy developing their independence and decision making as they choose their activities and the childminder helps them to learn by building on what they know. This means that they are becoming increasingly confident in developing and sharing their ideas with others. The childminder recognises the potential learning opportunities in the activities and uses skilful questioning to help children to think through problems and arrive at their own solutions. The childminder includes lots of singing and time for speaking and listening together, which effectively promotes children's communication and language. For example, during snack time she reads children stories related to what they have been doing during the morning. This means children engage with the stories and relate them to

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who attend

their own experiences and this consolidates learning.

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who attend

Children have similar interests and therefore, enjoy playing and learning together. The train track provides them with the opportunity to show their creativity and mathematical skills as they plan and build. The childminder supports learning by encouraging them to look at how they can join the pieces to complete the circuit. The children use their imagination and their language and communication skills to explain what is happening in the game. Children also recreate these games on a larger scale, taking it in turn to be the driver and using dolls as extra passengers. The children demonstrate their awareness of the needs of others, showing considerable care towards the passengers. They take breaks to feed the dolls and lay them down on comfortable blankets for a sleep. The childminder engages in the play sensitively, modelling the care of babies and this supports children well. The childminder's skilled teaching using what children know is effective in helping

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who attend

them to consolidate and achieve further. Children have a secure knowledge and understanding of Christian festivals. However, opportunities to learn about and value diversity are less well-developed because the childminder does not always make use of opportunities to help children learn about and value each other's culture and differences.

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who attend

The childminder has a secure understanding of the learning and development requirements of the Statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage and this means she provides well for children's learning needs. The childminder plans for children's next steps by observing their play, assessing what she sees and comparing this with developmental expectations. She plans and provides suitable activities that challenge and engage children so they make good progress towards the early learning goals and this ensures their readiness for further learning. Parents are involved effectively, the childminder keeps them up-to-date with progress using the daily diary and learning journey book full of photos and observations. She provides them with helpful suggestions for activities that parents and children can try at home to further their learning.

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

Children are happy and content in the childminder's care. She works very effectively with parents to help children settle quickly. The childminder makes sure she has all of the relevant information from parents and they continue to exchange details of any changes in children's needs or routines. As a result, children's emotional well-being and sense of security is given high priority so that children feel confident and ready for new challenges. The childminder supports children's independence at every opportunity encouraging them to do things for themselves. This means children gain essential skills that help them to manage small tasks successfully for themselves.

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

Children behave well and the childminder helps them to share and take turns. She is a good role model for children and this encourages them be polite and get along well with others. The childminder uses consistent strategies with age appropriate explanations so children learn at an early age what is expected of them. She has a calm and gentle manner that reassures children. The childminder is equally consistent in delivering safety messages. On their trips out the childminder helps them to learn and remember how to keep themselves and others safe. Children clearly show they understand about safety in vehicles as they pretend to put on seatbelts completely unprompted by the childminder.

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

Parents provide children's lunches and the childminder provides the snacks and evening meal. Children eat a balanced diet that meets their individual needs. The childminder uses her knowledge of children's nutritional needs and their preferences for particular foods when planning and serving meals. She encourages them to eat a healthy and balanced diet. She uses mealtimes to teach children about food and how it links to their own health. This means children begin to make healthy choices from an early age and this supports their well-being. Children lead an active life with the childminder; they have plenty of fresh air and exercise. She makes good use of her garden, particularly in fine weather. They use local parks and play spaces, which broaden children's experiences and opportunities for physical play that supports them in maintaining a healthy body.

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provision

The childminder has a sound knowledge and understanding of the Statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage. She fulfils her responsibilities in meeting all of the legal requirements and strives to provide a safe environment for children. All adults in the home have undergone the relevant vetting procedures to check their suitability. The childminder checks the identity of visitors and logs their details in her visitors' book. She frequently attends safeguarding training and therefore, is up-to-date with current practice. This means she is confident in identifying concerns about children's safety and well-being and in taking prompt and appropriate action when necessary. She has a comprehensive set of policies and procedures. These are reviewed on a regular basis. As a result, she has the latest information on current practice and requirements and this supports her in providing well for children.

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provision

The childminder monitors her provision successfully. She identifies areas for improvement and takes steps to overcome any weaknesses. She is proactive, finding suitable local training and has attended longer courses to improve her qualification level. The more recent training on the revision to the Statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage and on working with babies is underpinned by her previous qualification. This means she uses appropriate teaching methods to support children in making good progress towards the early learning goals across the seven areas of learning. The childminder has developed her systems for observation, assessment and planning to ensure she tracks children's achievements and identifies any aspect that requires a more intensive approach. The views and opinions of the parents and children are highly valued by the childminder and she uses these when setting new targets and when reflecting on

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provision

Partnerships with parents are very effective. Parents are well-informed about their children's life with the childminder. They willingly become involved in their child's learning, contributing to children's learning journey books and engaging in the home learning suggested by the childminder. Parents say they are very happy with the care, well- informed about their children and find the childminder professional, supportive and flexible. The childminder has effective partnerships with other local childminders. This means there is a supportive network, known to the children who can provide cover in emergencies and share in fun and exciting activities and trips out. The childminder is not currently working with other providers of the Early Years Foundation Stage but has systems in place to support continuity and shared learning should any of the children join another setting. The childminder has positive partnerships with the local children's centre.

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provision

This means she seeks training or advice related to children's care and learning and can direct parents to appropriate services when necessary.

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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 Requires improvement The provision is not giving children a good standard of early years education and/or there are minor breaches of the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. It will be monitored and inspected within twelve months of the date of this inspection. 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

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Grade Judgement Description

the Early Years Foundation Stage. It will be monitored and inspected again within six months of the date of this inspection. 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 EY233635 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 872531 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 8

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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.

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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, which are usually the childminder’s 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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