Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 07/01/2015 09/11/2011

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early years provision

This inspection: 1 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 1 The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision 1

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This provision is outstanding

 The childminder is highly qualified and skilled in organising an exceptional range of activities for children of all ages. She has an in-depth understanding of how young children learn through well-planned play. She uses imaginative teaching methods to engage children and support them to make outstanding progress in their learning.  Children are extremely happy and content in the childminder's care. They make their needs known to the childminder as they have excellent language and communication skills. Children are confident and help in the day-to-day routines, and they are involved in making decisions about what they want to do.  The childminder plans and adapts flexible and well-managed daily routines to meet the growing needs of all children. She has established excellent links with parents, finding out about children's individual likes and interests. This enables her to help children gain the important skills they need for their future learning.

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This provision is outstanding

 The childminder has a strong commitment to training. She uses a detailed evaluation process to review her practice and the learning opportunities for the children in her care. She shares her excellent skills through the local childminder network.  The childminder has an in depth and detailed knowledge of safeguarding issues and how to keep children safe. She reviews and updates documents in line with the welfare requirements. She carries out robust risk assessments, enabling her to monitor and maintain children's safety in the home, at activity sessions and when on outings in the community.

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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 the childminder about the individual needs of the children in her care and observed children at play with a range of resources and toys around the home.  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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Inspection activities

 The inspector took account of parents' views from questionnaires and letters of reference.

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Information about the setting

The childminder was registered in 2004 and is on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She lives with her husband and two children in Watford. The whole of the ground floor of the house and the garden are used for childminding. The childminder attends toddler groups and activity sessions in the community. She visits the shops and park on a regular basis. She takes children to and collects children from local schools and pre-schools. There are currently five children on roll, four of whom are in the early years age group and 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. The childminder holds a relevant early years qualification at level 3 and has experience of working as a teaching assistant. 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:

 enhance the already excellent links with other early years settings to further support children's learning.

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who attend

The childminder is dedicated to providing outstanding learning opportunities for all children. She uses robust, focused observations and detailed assessments to support children's recently acquired skills and to plan for the next steps in their learning. The childminder uses a scrap book style learning journal and an online computer application to track children's progress. She shares these with parents on a regular basis, so they have frequent opportunities to be involved and support their children's learning at home. 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. Young children are encouraged to make decisions about what they want to do. They move freely around the home and make choices from an excellent selection of very good quality toys and resources.

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who attend

The childminder asks children if they would like a story and she sits with them to read books. Children are excited as they join in and call out the familiar phrases of the characters in the story. Their learning is extended because the childminder uses every opportunity to introduce linked learning experiences to daily activities. Puppets and toys linked to the story line are used to bring stories to life, children excitedly point and talk about the physical characteristics of the creature in the book. They look for orange eyes and purple prickles on the soft toy. Children's finer physical skills are supported as they use large crayons to colour in and draw on a printed picture of the very familiar character.

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who attend

The childminder teaches young children to speak clearly. Consequently, they are developing excellent language skills and are very confident in sharing their ideas and telling the childminder what they want to play with. The childminder supports and extends all areas of learning to an outstanding level, to ensure children have the skills to make excellent progress in their future learning, particularly in preparation for school.

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

Children build extremely close emotional bonds with the childminder, her family and other children being cared for. They take great delight in looking at photographs of activities and events, naming their friends and talking about previous experiences with great detail. The childminder speaks frequently with parents and between them they maintain a daily diary to ensure children's individual needs are recognised and met to a very high standard. Children benefit from a range of challenging and interesting opportunities to be active. The childminder uses a resource pack from the childminder network to enhance the use of indoor resources in the outdoor learning environment. She plans extremely effectively to provide stimulating activities in the garden, at the park and outside play areas. The childminder supports children in developing an excellent understanding of nature, their own community and the wider world.

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

Young children learn about a healthy lifestyle through excellent daily routines. They are becoming aware of how their body works, telling the childminder when they need a nappy change. When parents provide meals the childminder supports children's understanding of a nutritious diet by providing fruit snacks. She talks to the children about what they like and encourages them to try new tastes and textures.

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

The childminder has a sensible and positive approach to managing behaviour. Children learn about their own safety as they are reminded not to step on toys so they do not hurt themselves and to be aware of other children playing nearby. Older children take part in assessing risks for themselves. They are learning how to identify and minimise risks as they play in the home and garden by using a laminated check list. The childminder is teaching children excellent personal and social skills. They are developing positive attitudes to socialising with others, which helps them to be ready for their move to other early years settings.

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provision

The childminder has an excellent understanding of the learning and development requirements and how to monitor and maintain children's safety and well-being at all times. She has an exceptional understanding of safeguarding issues, having attended safeguarding training throughout her registration, including recent training online. The childminder has detailed safeguarding procedures in place. She is clear about the signs and symptoms that may cause her concern and is confident in making referrals to the local safeguarding team. The childminder uses robust risk assessments for outings and an extremely well-managed home environment helps to keep children safe.

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provision

The childminder has an excellent knowledge of how children learn through activities that they are interested in and that provide challenging learning opportunities. The childminder is highly skilled in identifying any gaps in children's learning and supporting their developing skills to an exceptionally high level. The childminder is not currently caring for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and children who speak English as an additional language. However, she is very aware of the importance of working with other professionals to support all children.

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provision

The childminder has a very effective process for evaluating and monitoring the learning opportunities for children and her own practice. The detailed evaluation document outlines areas of practice that work well and aspects to be developed. The childminder uses an action plan to identify new activities and resources and she uses the information to influence her future planning. She is proactive in continually promoting and extending all areas of the children's learning. The childminder uses the feedback from parents and a children's questionnaire to continually review and improve her practice. Partnerships with parents are extremely strong and letters of reference are provided by parents to be used as part of the inspection process. However, at times, the excellent links with other early years settings are not used to the fullest potential to enhance the support for children's learning at home and while in the care of the childminder.

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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 EY297078 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 861601 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 5

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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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