Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 04/11/2014 11/05/2009

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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

 The childminder uses a range of effective teaching methods to promote children's learning to a good level. She plans a range of imaginative activities and outings that support and promote children's learning. Consequently, children are keen and active learners because they are involved in making decisions about what they want to do.  The childminder meets the individual needs of the children very effectively. She has established good links with parents and she knows the children well. Children are confident in making their needs known to the childminder. As a result, they are developing strong emotional and social skills.  The childminder is well-organised and she has a very good understanding of safeguarding issues with robust policies and procedures in place. Effective risk assessments help to monitor and maintain children's safety and well-being at all times.

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It is not yet outstanding because

 Information about children's recently acquired skills are not always consistently used to inform precise planning for the next steps in their learning.

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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 talked to children and watched them play with a range of toys and resources around the home.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector talked to the childminder about the individual needs of the children in her care.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the childminder.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector looked at a selection of documents in relation to the children's progress and developing skills.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector looked at a variety of documents used by the childminder to support her in monitoring the safety of the children through robust safeguarding procedures

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Inspection activities

 The inspector looked at evidence of the childminder's qualifications and the suitability checks undertaken for all adults in the home.

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Information about the setting

The childminder was registered in February 1998 and is on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She lives with her husband, one adult child and one school-aged child in Rickmansworth. The whole of the ground floor of the childminders home is used for childminding and there is an enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder regularly attends a toddler group and activities at the local children's centre and she visits the shops and park on a regular basis. The childminder takes children to and collects children from local schools and pre-schools. There are currently eight children on roll, of whom five are in the early years age group and who attend for a variety of sessions. The childminder operates all year round, from 7am to 6pm, 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:

 use the information about children recently acquired skills to focus more precisely on the next steps in their learning.

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who attend

The childminder has a good understanding of how to promote children's learning and development through well-planned play opportunities. The quality of teaching is good, as a result, children make good progress across all areas of learning. The childminder completes the progress check for children between the ages of two-and-three years and shares a written summary with parents to enable them to support children's developing skills at home. The childminder is an experienced practitioner, providing good care and learning experiences for children over many years and gaining additional teaching experience by helping at the local infant school. The childminder carries out regular observations and assesses children's development effectively. This information is used to help her to monitor children's progress and assist in identifying the next steps in their learning. However, occasionally the next steps in children's learning are not specifically

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who attend

focused to further extend their recently acquired skills.

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who attend

The well-resourced playroom provides a stimulating space for children to make independent choices about what they want to play with. The childminder provides interesting and varied craft opportunities for children to explore tactile materials. Children are delighted to play with the dough they made earlier in the week. They take delight in searching through a varied selection of resources in the dough box. Children's language is extended as the childminder encourages children to talk about what they can find and to describe how they are going to add eyes, ears and tails to the curious animals they create. The use of tools promotes children's physical development, as they carefully cut and press out shapes to add to their dough animals. The childminder uses open-ended questions with children. For example, she asks them what colours and shaped pieces they need to look for to complete a jigsaw puzzle. This encourages children to think for themselves and

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who attend

The childminder plans activities throughout the month to meet the needs of the different ages and stages of development of the children in her care. Outings are an important aspect of the weekly routines as well as special events during the school holidays. Visits to toddler groups, farms, stables and local parks support children's personal and social skills as well as their understanding of their community and the wider world. Children are developing a positive attitude to learning new skills as they are supported extremely well by a highly skilled childminder. They are confident and are developing the skills they will need to be well prepared for the next steps in their learning and eventually the move onto school.

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

The childminder is warm and supportive towards the children in her care and she knows them extremely well. She has long-standing care arrangements in place, caring for younger siblings and older children during school holidays. She works with parents to develop children's confidence and self-esteem. For example, she takes children to events at school and to community play groups so they experience playing with a range of children in different social situation. Young children's emotional development is supported to a high level. The childminder sits alongside them, giving lots of praise, as they play with dolls and brush their hair. They show great concern as they tell her they want to change the dolls clothes. Children's learning is supported well by the childminder as she provides more dolls clothes and resources for the doll's' house. Children competently re-enact daily routines which supports their developing personal and social skills to a very good level.

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

Children learn about a healthy lifestyle through effective and well-managed daily routines. Parents provide children with snacks and meals and the childminder sits with the children at the dining table to help them eat their lunch. The childminder talks about what they are eating, supporting their understanding of a healthy diet. The childminder helps children to learn about their own safety because they are involved in helping to tidy away the dough when they have finished playing. Children are reminded to look on the floor and to be aware of the little bits of dough that may cause them to slip over. When walking out in the community the childminder teaches children about road safety and to be aware of their surroundings. The childminder supports children's understanding of keeping themselves safe by reinforcing simple rules, such as picking up toys and not running in the home. Through well-planned group activities with the other children, such as sharing colouring

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

pencils and art materials, children are learning to share and take turns. Consequently, children's behaviour is good because the childminder is clear about what is expected of them.

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

The childminder's home and garden provides space for children of all ages to play and explore. Children learn about the importance of exercise as they play in the garden or visit the local parks and playgrounds on a daily basis. The childminder teaches children to think for themselves and to be independent. She talks to them about the how the weather impacts on what they are going to wear and supports them in finding their coats and putting on their own shoes. Children are developing the skill they need to take part in new life experiences which means they are well prepared to move onto other early years settings.

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provision

The childminder is well-organised and she regularly evaluates her overall practice to ensure she meets the requirements for the Early Years Foundation Stage. The safety and well-being of all children is of high priority. Children are protected as the childminder is very knowledgeable about safeguarding issues. She has consistently attended safeguarding training throughout her registration. Information from the Local Safeguarding Children Board is on display and available for parents. All adults on the premises have relevant background checks to further ensure the safety and well-being of the children. A robust risk assessment is effective in helping to ensure the safety of children around the home and when out in the community.

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provision

The childminder has implemented effective observations and assessments to record and monitor children's progress. When children attend other early years setting the childminder has established good links with other professionals. This helps to ensure a consistent approach to their developing skills and continued learning. The childminder is aware of the support services at the local children's centre and she is part of a local childminder support group. This group meets regularly to share experiences and to organise and attend training. The childminder is not currently caring for any children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. However, she is aware of the importance of working with parents and other professionals, to make sure the needs of such children are met appropriately. The childminder has addressed the recommendations from the previous inspection. This has enabled her to plan more effectively to promote children's overall

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provision

progress. She has established a robust evaluation process which enables her to consistently review her practice and helps to ensure continued improvements.

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provision

The childminder has established very good relationships with parents. Children's learning journals are shared on a regular basis. Consequently, parents are well-informed about the activities their children have enjoyed and how they can support their children's learning at home. Parents and older children's views are sought through detailed questionnaires. This enables the childminder to improve the service to families and to consistently extend and promote learning opportunities for children of all ages.

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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 130269 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 874869 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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