Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 29 January 2015 4 March 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 childminder provides children with a wide range of enjoyable and challenging activities. Children are eager to participate and focus for long periods as the childminder and her assistants skilfully interact and extend the learning at timely moments. As a result, children progress well towards the early learning goals.  Partnerships with parents are strong. Highly successful communication strategies involve them in all aspects of their children's care and offers consistency between home and the provision. This ensures that children's individual needs are met well and supports continuity in the care that they receive.  Children have formed secure attachments to both the childminder and her assistants. They thoroughly enjoy their time in the home and have developed fond relationships with their peers. This fully supports children's well-being.  Safeguarding measures are robust as the childminder and her assistants are all aware

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This provision is good

of their roles and responsibilities to promote the safety and welfare of children.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The childminder has not yet embedded her new system for peer observations to support both her and her assistants to continuously strengthen their practice. Therefore, they do not always enhance children's care and development to the very optimum.  The childminder does not make the best possible use of the stimulating outdoor area to support children's learning at all times of the year. This is because she does not use some areas of the garden during the winter months to expand children's opportunities for physical play.

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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

 consolidate the new system for peer observations, so that staff's good, and sometimes excellent, practice is maintained and constantly enhanced  maximise children's opportunities to enjoy fresh air and outdoor activities even further, for example, by making the best use of the appealing garden during the winter months.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed children's general play and the snack and lunchtime routines indoors.  The inspector observed adult-led activities and discussed the intentions and learning outcomes with the childminder and an assistant.  The inspector sampled the childminder's documentation including policies, a hard copy self-evaluation, training certificates and children's learning journeys.  The inspector took account of the views of parents through recently completed questionnaires, a selection of written documentation and feedback viewed online.  The inspector saw evidence of the suitability of all persons living or working on the premises and other documentation in relation to the safeguarding and welfare requirements.

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who attend. This is good

The childminder and her assistants have a secure knowledge of the learning and development requirements. They offer children stimulating experiences, which include a vast array of natural resources. For example, the assistants allow children time to explore the properties of rice and the various tools and containers they provide to support their smaller physical skills. The childminder completes regular observations and assessments on each child to identify their current stage of development. She notes their interests to support her planning. As a result, children focus well and make good progress in their development. This includes children learning to speak English as an additional language. The childminder and her assistants learn new words in the child's home language and gather keywords from the parents to support their communication and language. The childminder has established effective links with the other settings that children attend to

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who attend. This is good

further complement their learning and promote a cohesive way of working.

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good

Children seek reassurance as needed and display perseverance with each task. For example, a child regularly reaches for the hand of an assistant to help them maintain balance as they learn to walk. The childminder uses a pictorial daily routine to help children experience a smooth move between their home and the provision. She has clear rules and boundaries in place. These teach children to behave well and helps them learn how to keep themselves safe. Children are encouraged to manage their own personal needs, such as feeding and dressing themselves, to support their independence. This helps them to acquire the essential skills they need to move on to school. The childminder takes children on outings to enjoy regular fresh air and exercise and provides nutritious meals and snacks to support a healthy lifestyle. However, she does not always maximise their opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. This is because some areas of the appealing

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good

rear garden are not used during the colder weather to further support their development.

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provision is good

The childminder has successfully addressed the previous recommendations raised. She now actively involves parents in establishing children's accurate starting points and provides ongoing activities to introduce children to a variety of cultures and places. For example, she annotates a selection of displayed maps by adding postcards from any trips that they take. She values parents' feedback and uses this to improve aspects of her practice. Both the childminder and her assistants eagerly complete regular courses to support continuous improvement and identify current needs. The childminder keeps herself up to date through the regular network meetings that she attends. She is in the process of implementing peer observations to ensure that the good quality of teaching of all those working with children is continually maintained and enhanced. However, these have not yet been carried out or evaluated to focus on the quality of teaching practices to

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provision is good

enhance children's care and development to the very optimum at all times.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY305106 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 861862 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 12 Number of children on roll 8

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Name of provider

Date of previous inspection 4 March 2009

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 2005 and lives in Hitchin. She operates all year round from 8am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, except bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder and one of her assistants hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The childminder provides funded early education for three- and four-year-old children.

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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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