Dell, Marie Jane

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 21/11/2014 22/10/2008

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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

 Children are very happy and settled in the childminder's care. The childminder has a good understanding of how children learn through interesting and challenging play opportunities. She uses a range of teaching methods to engage children and to support them in making good progress across all areas of learning.  The childminder has very good links with parents, which ensures that she meets children's personal care needs to a high level. She has established excellent links with other early years settings. As a result, children's continued progress and individual learning needs are supported extremely well.  The childminder has a secure understanding of safeguarding issues and how to keep children safe. Children are beginning to have an awareness of their own safety as they are involved in daily routines.  The childminder is well organised. She maintains robust policies and documents in line with the welfare requirements. Effective risk assessments help her to monitor and

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This provision is good

maintain children's safety and well-being at all times.

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It is not yet outstanding because

 Some of the activities that are planned to support children's ongoing learning do not take into account children's recently acquired skills that have been identified by key persons at other early years settings, which they attend.

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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 2007 on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She lives with her husband and two children in Park Street, St Albans. The whole of the childminder's home is used for childminding and there is an enclosed garden for children to access on a regular basis. The family has a cat. The childminder takes children to and collects them from local schools and pre-school. There are currently four children on roll, one of whom is in the early years age group and attends for a variety of sessions. The childminder operates all year round, from 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays.

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

 enhance opportunities for children's continued progress by incorporating their next steps in learning, as identified by other early years professionals where they also spend time, to inform planning.

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who attend

The childminder is an experienced practitioner, who has a good understanding of how children learn through well-planned play opportunities. The quality of teaching is good because she identifies and uses different teaching methods to support children's progress across all areas of learning to a good level. The childminder completes the progress check for children between the ages of two and three years and shares a written summary for parents to enable them to support their developing skills at home. She carries out regular observations and assessments, which she records in the children's learning journals. The childminder uses this information to help her to monitor children's progress and assist her in planning for the next steps in their learning. However, at times, children's recently acquired skills that have been identified by key persons at other early years settings, which they also attend, are not effectively used to inform planning to further extend their

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who attend

learning. Children 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 to other early years settings and onto school.

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who attend

The childminder provides children with a choice of activities. She uses open-ended questions to make children think about what they are doing and what they want to do next. Children clearly enjoy taking part in adult-led activities and excitedly sit alongside the childminder. They select a matching game using coloured animals and a home-made colour chart. Children are confident and understand the simple rules of the game as they tell the childminder, which coloured animals she needs to find. They make their needs known when they want to change activity and they are confident to ask for a story. The childminder responds to children changing needs very effectively. She is an accomplished story teller using different voices to bring the story about monsters to life.

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who attend

The childminder plans a range of activities and outings throughout the year, which extends their personal, social and physical skills. Children are taken to visit farms, a butterfly farm, parks and nature areas, which extends their understanding of their own community and the natural world.

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

Children form strong emotional bonds with the childminder, her children and other children cared for. The childminder is a good role model. She talks to children and asks them to take part in the planning for future outings and activities. The childminder talks to parents on a daily basis to ensure she meets the changing needs of all children. When children attend other early years settings, the childminder seeks information about their personal needs from key persons and adapts routines to meet the individual needs of all of them. For example, she allows time for children to have an afternoon sleep if needed.

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

Children learn about a healthy lifestyle through daily routines. They learn about the importance of good hygiene. For example, the childminder teaches them to wash their hands before lunch and cooking activities and when they come in from playing in the garden. She supports their understanding of a healthy diet by liaising with parents and providing nutritious meals and snacks. Children learn about the importance of exercise as they play in the garden and are taken to parks and play areas.

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

The childminder has a positive approach to managing behaviour and she plans activities to help children to learn to share and take turns. She uses lots of praise when children are helpful and there are clear boundaries, so they know what is expected of them at all times. Children are beginning to be aware of their own safety as they help to pick up and tidy away toys when they move onto other activities. The childminder teaches children about road safety and to be aware of their surroundings when out in the community. The childminder provides children with a wide range of experiences to support and extend their personal, social and emotional development to a good level.

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provision

The childminder is well organised. She evaluates her overall practice to ensure she meets the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. The safety and well-being of all children is of very high importance. The childminder protects children as she has a good understanding of safeguarding issues. She has completed recent training, bases her policies and procedures on the Local Safeguarding Children Board code of practice and shares the information with parents. A robust process for assessing risks around the home and when on outings helps to further ensure the safety and well-being of all children.

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provision

The childminder has effective observations and assessments to help her to monitor children's progress. She is aware of the training and support team at the local children's centre. The childminder attends training to enable her to improve her practice and learning outcomes for children. She is not currently caring for 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 meet appropriately. The childminder has addressed the recommendations from the previous inspection. This has enabled her to evaluate her practice and develop good links with other early years settings. However, information from these providers is yet to be used effectively to support children's learning further still.

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provision

The childminder has excellent relationships with families that she has cared for over many years. She informed parents of the forthcoming inspection and they provided her with reference letters to be shared with the inspector as part of the inspection process. Parents express their trust in her and greatly value the homely environment and the outings and activities, which she provides for all children in her care. The childminder is very pleased to receive letters from school-aged children she cares for. They tell her they love coming to her home, enjoy performing in shows and they enjoy her 'yummy dinners'. The childminder is committed to providing a fun and interesting care and learning environment 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 EY350559 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 857451 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 4

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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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