Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 14/11/2014 30/09/2009

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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's good teaching skills support children to learn successfully and grow in confidence.  The childminder establishes effective partnerships with parents, so that they are well informed about the setting and involved in their children's learning.  The childminder promotes safeguarding well. Children have good emotional attachments to her and are happy and settled in this welcoming environment.  The childminder is a reflective practitioner who is continually reviewing her practice and has a strong commitment to her professional development. She undertakes relevant training and seeks the views of parents and children. This ensures that children receive a high quality learning experiences.

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It is not yet outstanding because

 The childminder does not always maximise opportunities for children to be fully involved in reviewing and planning for the next steps in their learning, as they do not have access to the photographs of themselves and their friends that are included in their detailed learning journals.  The childminder occasionally overlooks opportunities to fully challenge children to relive important events in their lives and communities through the role-play activities in the indoor area.

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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 on the ground floor of the premises and undertook a joint observation with the childminder.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector talked to the childminder and children at various times throughout the inspection and looked at a sample of children's records.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector checked evidence of suitability and qualifications of the childminder, and her self-evaluation and improvement plan.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector took account of the views of parents from the parental questionnaires.

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Information about the setting

The childminder registered in 1998 on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She lives with partner and adult son and daughter, in a house in Kings Langley and uses the whole of the ground floor and the rear garden for childminding. The childminder attends a childminder group and the local children's centre. She visits the local shops and park on a regular basis. She takes and collects children from the local schools and pre-schools. The childminder has an appropriate early years qualification at level 3. There are currently 15 children on roll, four of whom are in the early years age group and attend for a variety of sessions. The childminder cares for children all year round, from 7.45am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday except for family holidays.

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

 enhance children's learning experiences by extending opportunities for them to be fully involved in reviewing and planning for the next steps in their learning, for example, by encouraging children to see and talk about their photographs in their learning journals

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

 enhance opportunities for children to recall events in their own lives and communities during role-play activities indoors.

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who attend

The childminder gathers detailed information from parents prior to children starting with her through the thorough settling-in process. The information gathered contributes to the childminder's precise and systematic observation and assessments of children's development. This allows her to plan and provide activities that reflect children's interests and learning styles and build on what they already know and can do. As a result, children's next steps for learning are clearly highlighted.

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who attend

The childminder's good teaching skills support children to learn successfully and grow in confidence. She skilfully supports children's language development by speaking clearly and slowly. She constantly chats to them, providing new vocabulary and repeating what they say. The childminder encourages children to sing simple, well-known action rhymes and extends the range to help them explore rhythmic patterns and to imitate sounds. She details the good progress children have made, including that they are beginning to be eager to talk with confidence. The childminder is a good role model and ensures that children's favourite toys are easily available. She sits beside them, sensitively encouraging them to continue moving the cars around the pretend garage and to turn the handle to work the lift. This involves lots of laughter and helps children to persist and be eager to learn. Consequently, this prepares children well in readiness for the next stage of their

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who attend

learning and eventually for school. Children enjoy playing outdoors, where they can adapt the equipment to make up their own games. They turn the pop-up tents into a hotel to act out their experiences. However, the childminder has not taken full advantage of the children's curiosity following their trips to the local pet shop. Children do not have access to a full range of role-play equipment indoors that relate to care for living things and that help them extend and elaborate on events in their lives and communities.

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who attend

The childminder works very closely with parents, regularly discussing children's development. The childminder comprehensively completes the required progress check for children between the ages of two and three years. Parents are involved in this process and this enables them to be fully engaged in their child's learning at home. The childminder sends home to parents their child's learning record. This includes observations of children at play, accurate assessments of their development linked to all the areas of learning and the suggested next steps in their learning. However, children do not often see or use the delightful photographs included within these valuable documents. This does not always maximise opportunities for children to be fully involved in reviewing and planning for the next steps in their learning.

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

The childminder takes time to get to know each individual child and their family and this helps children quickly build secure bonds with her. She has frequent discussions with parents to provide care routines that match those that they follow at home. The environment is welcoming and child orientated as children can rest in comfortable surroundings and relax. The childminder is very aware that children need to feel secure and shows this through her gentle and skilful interaction. The childminder helps children to be independent in their self-care skills. They are encouraged to manage their clothing and to visit the toilet independently.

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

The childminder helps children to behave well. She is consistent in her approach and this helps children to quickly learn her expectations for good behaviour and to feel safe. The childminder is a good role model, using please and thank you when requesting children to undertake a task. She effectively encourages children to explore and gain confidence in new situations. For example, she sensitively prepares and supports children for visitors to the setting and this develops children's personal and social skills well. Young children begin to form friendships and look forward to their time playing with their friends. The childminder takes children to local toddler and music groups and they begin to play with others following the reassurance of a familiar adult. This helps to build children's confidence in bigger groups. This assists children to be emotionally prepared for their move on to other settings or school in the future.

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

Children learn the benefits of exercise to build healthy bodies. They move around the childminder's home safely and enjoy energetic play on the challenging play equipment in the garden and during outings. The childminder ensures that children learn to use the small step into the garden safely and older children enjoy climbing the apple tree in the garden. This means they are starting to take reasonable risks without being fearful. Children are learning about healthy eating as the childminder provides nutritious, freshly prepared meals according to parents' wishes. Children enjoy snacks, such as fresh fruit and vegetables and the childminder sensitively encourages children to try new tastes in order to extend their healthy eating habits.

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provision

The childminder has a strong understanding of her responsibility to meet the welfare requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. She has detailed information of safeguarding issues and has booked on further training to make sure she is fully up to date with the latest practice. The childminder is very aware of the procedures to follow should she have a safeguarding concern about a child in her care. As a result, children are well protected. The childminder is very conscientious about keeping children safe from harm and ensures that they are well supervised. She makes her broad range of written policies and procedures available to parents, so that they are clear about her provision. Her documentation is well maintained and up to date for the safe management of the provision. The childminder is fully aware of protecting families' personal data. For example, she uses a disposable camera as a more secure system to take photographs

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provision

rather than using a mobile telephone. There is an effective two-way flow of communication, enabling the childminder and parents to share information to meet the changing needs of their children.

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provision

The childminder is ambitious about improving provision and practice, and wants children to receive a highly effective service. She is well motivated and continually looks for ways in which to improve children's learning experiences. She makes good use of her membership of a professional organisation to update her knowledge through their online training and web seminars. The childminder seeks input from parents and children and efficiently uses the Ofsted self-evaluation form to monitor and evaluate her practice. She also works closely with other childminder's and her local children's centre to help to keep her practice up to date.

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provision

Parents comment how pleased they are with the service the childminder offers. The childminder has a good understanding of how to promote children's progress throughout the Early Years Foundation Stage. She effectively monitors their learning and development by highlighting development statements. This ensures that she can easily identify children who are not progressing as rapidly as expected and can plan future activities to quickly narrow any gaps in their achievements. The childminder demonstrates that she is able to work closely with other professionals as necessary, so that children receive any additional support they may need. The childminder has established effective partnerships with other providers delivering the Early Years Foundation Stage to children and she shares information to support their learning and development. This provides strong consistency of care and education.

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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 149100 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 874936 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 15

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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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