Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 05/08/2014 13/02/2014

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early years provision

This inspection: 2 Previous inspection: 4 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

 The childminder delivers good teaching by providing a wide range of interesting and challenging activities and resources. She talks to children about what they are doing and what decisions they are making, and this helps them to be independent and make choices for themselves.  Children have quickly established strong bonds and attachments with the childminder and her family. This promotes their feelings of safety and security and they display good levels of confidence and self-esteem.  The childminder prioritises children's safety at all times. She has a secure knowledge and understanding about her role and responsibility to protect children and keep them from harm.  The childminder has established effective partnerships with parents and other key persons in the children's lives. This benefits children by providing consistency and coherence at home, in other settings and with the childminder.

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It is not yet outstanding because

 There is scope to expand on how children's growing communication and language skills are supported, so that children think more deeply about their responses before they answer questions.

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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 spoke to and interacted with the childminder and children throughout the inspection.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector looked at the environment, resources and equipment provided and how effectively they are used to support children's play and learning.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector examined a selection of information and documentation relating to the suitability of adults, children's safeguarding, welfare and developmental progress.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector and childminder jointly observed and discussed children's learning and development during an outdoor adult led activity.

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Information about the setting

The childminder was registered in 2010 and is on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She lives with her partner and two children aged four and under one year in a house in Redbourn, Hertfordshire. The whole of the property and the rear garden are used for childminding. The family has two dogs and tropical fish as pets. 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. There are currently three children on roll, two of whom are in the early years age group and attends for a variety of sessions. The childminder operates all year round, from 7.30am to 7pm, Monday to Friday, except bank holidays and family holidays. She is a member of the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years.

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

 extend children's learning further by increasing opportunities for them to practise exploring and developing their ideas before they respond to questions, in order to raise their communication and language skills to the highest levels.

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who attend

The childminder has developed her practice and now displays a strong understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Overall, teaching is effective and based on a good understanding of how children learn. She now regularly observes children and uses the information to assess the progress that they make, based on their individual starting points. The childminder effectively enables children to develop their communication and language through play and discussion. For example, she asks the children lots of questions around their topic of holidays. Children show that they understand, and they act out finding and packing the clothes and toys that they will take. However, there is scope to enhance teaching further by making the best use of all available opportunities to fully extend children's learning. For example, by carefully phrasing questions during children's general play to enable them to think more deeply about their ideas and how they are

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who attend

going to respond. This will help to raise children's communication skills to a higher level. The childminder plans and provides a wide range of interesting and exciting activities which support children's good progress across the prime and specific areas of learning. They regularly play and explore in the garden and visit the park and play areas to extend and master their physical skills. They plant, tend and harvest a good selection of fruit and vegetables in the garden, learning about nature, the seasons and weather. Children display high levels of confidence and independence as they choose and access toys and activities of their choice. For example, they look for and find an envelope to keep their passports in.

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who attend

The childminder's regular observations clearly identify children's individual next steps in their learning and development. This information, alongside complementing learning topics from their pre-schools, is effectively used to plan future challenging activities. All activities provided by the childminder are based on children's interests and enable them to extend their understanding and learning. Children regularly attend parent and toddler groups, which enables them to get used to interacting in group situations. The childminder praises children's good social skills and uses positive re-enforcement to ensure that children develop and adopt the attitude, skills and confidence they need to be good learners. Therefore, children are displaying positive attitudes and dispositions to learning; consequently, they are effectively prepared for school.

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who attend

Partnerships with parents are effective because the childminder encourages them to be actively involved in their child's learning. She obtains detailed information from parents about the children, which enables them to settle quickly. Parents and the childminder speak on a daily basis and share information and observations about children's progress and achievements. Parents actively participate in their children's learning by sharing what their children do at home and discuss their next steps in their learning and development. Consequently, children's learning and development is successfully promoted due to good communication and consistency between the childminder and parents.

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

The childminder's skilled and nurturing nature encourages children to form effective relationships and affectionate bonds with her and her family. As a result, children's emotional well-being, confidence and self-esteem are successfully promoted. The childminder talks to them at their level and she values their affection. This is shown in the good way that children behave; they are happy and content in her care. The childminder provides a well-resourced and welcoming environment where children grow in confidence and self-esteem. Children freely choose and select from a wide range of equipment, toys and resources. This is effective in promoting their independence and enables them to make decisions for themselves. They smile and laugh frequently, showing that they enjoy their time with the childminder, and freely learn and explore in the well-resourced environment. As a result, children display the skills and confidence to show that they are

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

emotionally well prepared for their eventual move on to other settings and school.

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

Individually tailored settling-in procedures, in partnership with parents, benefits the children. They quickly feel secure and happy in the childminder's home. The childminder's effective and regular links with parents ensures that children's routines, care needs and well-being are successfully supported. The childminder regularly talks to parents to ensure that she has a good understanding about the children in her care. Children show that they have strong attachments with her and they clearly enjoy the childminder's company. They arrive happily and leave their main carer with confidence. Arrangements for promoting children's health, safety and well-being have improved through more effective risk assessments and ensuring first-aid training is kept up to date. Children have also been helped to develop a good awareness of assessing risks and keeping themselves safe. They competently free flow into the garden and back into the home. Children's independence is

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

promoted by the childminder who gives them clear directions and encouragement which gives the children the confidence to try to do things for themselves while being aware of hazards. As a result, children show that they understand how to keep themselves safe while exploring.

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

Children regularly have opportunities to take part in a wide range of physical exercise indoors and outside. They are adopting good routines in their own personal hygiene, by independently using the toilet and washing their hands before eating. Children are learning about healthy eating as they grow their own fruit and vegetables in the garden. This enables them to adopt a positive approach which supports their understanding about leading healthy lifestyles.

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provision

The childminder has made meaningful improvements since the last inspection and monitoring visit. She has refreshed her understanding of the requirements. This has enabled her to ensure that she maintains the correct ratios. Children's safety and well- being have been improved because the childminder ensures that appropriate risk assessments are completed. Their health and well-being in an emergency situation have been improved because the childminder has completed an appropriate paediatric first-aid course. The childminder has reviewed and improved her assessment and planning procedures by attending specific training to implement a computerised system to support this area. As a result, the assessments of children's achievements are effectively recorded and are used well to plan and provide activities and learning experiences to support their progress. The childminder is effective in meeting the safeguarding and welfare

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provision

requirements because she ensures that suitable checks are carried out on all adults in her home. Additionally, she conducts robust risk assessments inside her home and when outside on trips and outings. The childminder displays a clear understanding of her responsibilities and the procedures to be followed in the event of a child protection concern. As a result, children are effectively safeguarded.

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provision

The childminder monitors and the quality of the teaching that she provides. She assesses this by measuring children's progress, from their starting points, against the typical expectations for their age. She actively seeks new ideas and activities, which engage the children and provide suitable challenges. She uses interesting resources and topics to capture children's interest in a variety of learning experiences based around the seven areas of learning. The childminder has expanded her knowledge since the last inspection and continues to increase her knowledge through training and links with other early years professionals.

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provision

Effective partnerships with parents and links with other settings that children attend ensure that children's needs are met cooperatively. Written daily diaries, supported by verbal discussion and records of children's progress, enable parents and other providers to have a detailed understanding of children's time spent with the childminder. The childminder has established successful links with other professionals and key persons, which provides a consistent approach in the children's care, welfare and learning. The childminder talks to the children, parents and other professionals, in order to help her to evaluate the strengths and areas for improvement in her practice. The childminder has made significant strides forward since her last inspection, which has improved her knowledge and training. This shows that the childminder displays motivation and enthusiasm to continue to make further improvement to her good early years setting.

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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. We re-inspect nurseries and pre-schools judged as requires improvement within 12 months of the date of 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

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Grade Judgement Description

is not meeting the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. It will be monitored and inspected again within six months of the date of this inspection. Met There were no children present at the time of the inspection. The inspection judgement is that the provider continues to meet the requirements for registration. Not met There were no children present at the time of the inspection. 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 EY421651 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 965362 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 3

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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

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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