Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 23 January 2015 14 July 2009

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Good 2 How well the early years provision meets the needs of the range of children who attend Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

The setting meets legal requirements for early years settings

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This provision is good

 The quality of teaching is good. The childminder assesses children's development and provides a good range of challenging experiences that meet their individual learning needs. Consequently, children make good progress in their learning.  Partnerships with parents are strong and ensure children's individual needs are identified from the beginning and are well supported through their time at the setting.  Children have good attachments to the childminder, who is very caring and attentive to their needs. This enables the children to explore the environment with confidence.  The childminder demonstrates a good knowledge and understanding of all safeguarding procedures. This enables her to promote children's well-being effectively.  Children thrive in their health and physical development because the childminder promotes physical activities and provides healthy food.  The childminder has developed effective links with staff from other settings children

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This provision is good

attend. They meet regularly to discuss children's development; this ensures continuity in their learning.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The childminder does not always maximise training opportunities to update her good knowledge and practice, to promote the highest levels of teaching and learning.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 strengthen the already good knowledge of early years practice, for example, by identifying further training opportunities to promote even higher standards of teaching and learning.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the childminder engaging in activities with children and talked with her about their learning.  The inspector viewed the areas of the premises and garden used for childminding.  The inspector looked at children's assessment records, planning documentation, evidence of suitability of household members and a range of other documents, including the safeguarding policy.  The inspector took account of the information shared with parents as recorded in written documents.

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who attend. This is good

The childminder provides a range of activities to promote children's learning and development across the seven areas of learning. Children have free access to a range of toys, which she rotates according to their interests. For example, young children are excited to press buttons on toy telephones and speak into them. This is an effective way of introducing children to early technology. The childminder promotes children's communication skills as she pretends to talk to them on the telephone. She uses puzzles to introduce children to space and shape. As she models counting, children effectively begin to understand number. A range of books is freely available to engage children of all ages. These effective activities ensure children are developing the skills they need in readiness for school. The childminder regularly observes and assesses children's learning. This includes the mandatory progress check for children between the age of two and three

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who attend. This is good

years. She shares these assessments with parents and with other settings children attend and this ensures continuity in their learning.

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good

The childminder's home is safe and welcoming. Children have positive relationships with her and they enjoy her cuddles, praise and consistent reassurance. The childminder is aware of the signs that children are becoming tired. She knows the routines they like to follow to settle them comfortably for sleep. Children have opportunities to be active and engage in physical play in the local park on a daily basis. The childminder promotes young children's physical development in her home. For example, she provides resources at different levels. This encourages the young children to play on the floor and to pull themselves up to standing. As they reach up to resources in the play kitchen, children stretch their muscles; this effectively promotes their physical development. The older children are aware of how to keep the younger ones safe, for example, they ensure they keep games with small pieces on the table. Consequently, children are effectively learning

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provision is good

The childminder has a secure knowledge of how to keep children safe. She continually reviews risks in the environment and on outings. The childminder regularly reflects on her practice. This helps her to maintain the already good standards of care and education she provides for the children. She has undertaken some training to refresh her knowledge as part of her continuous development. For example, she has attended the required first-aid course and this has led to an increased knowledge of how to respond to accidents and emergencies. However, opportunities to complete further training, to ensure that she is constantly improving her good practice, are not always routinely sourced. She completes observations effectively and monitors her assessments of children. As a result, she identifies gaps in learning and ensures that she effectively narrows them.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 149207 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 874945 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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Name of provider

Date of previous inspection 14 July 2009

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 1999 and lives in Stevenage. She operates all year round from 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. She holds a relevant early years qualification at level 3.

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Telephone number

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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Telephone number

procedures set out in the guidance ‘Complaints procedure: raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. 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, safeguarding and child protection.

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Telephone number

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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Telephone number

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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