Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 6 February 2015 7 December 2008

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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 skilfully observes and assesses children's development. She makes effective use of the information gained to plan further challenging activities that help children make good progress.  The childminder makes good use of outings to extend children's learning in ways that capture their interest. Children enjoy visits to local toddler groups and explore various textures during messy play. They learn on a more active scale in local parks and on trips to nearby attractions.  The childminder is highly skilled and sensitive in helping children to form secure emotional attachments. She has a kind and caring approach and provides a warm atmosphere. As a result, children feel valued and are confident learners.  The childminder effectively teaches children about safety including during outings. This helps them to be aware of hazards and to minimise the risks for themselves.  The childminder has a good understanding of her responsibility for protecting children.

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This provision is good

She implements robust child protection procedures. The childminder has an appropriate first-aid qualification and an awareness of what to do when children are exposed to various allergens. Consequently, children are kept safe from harm.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The childminder does not always give children time to consider a response before answering her questions on their behalf. Consequently, children's thinking skills are not always highly promoted.  The childminder does not consistently promote children's listening skills and attention by monitoring the distractions of the music playing in the background.

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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

 develop children's thinking skills further, for example, by giving them more time to consider their responses before answering  enhance the opportunities for children to listen attentively by keeping background noise to a minimum.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities on the ground floor of the premises and talked with the children.  The inspector undertook a joint observation with the childminder.  The inspector talked to the childminder at various times throughout the inspection and looked at a sample of the children's records of learning.  The inspector checked evidence of the suitability and qualifications of the childminder and her self-evaluation and improvement plan.

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who attend. This is good

The childminder listens and talks gently to children, repeating words and phrases clearly to help children's pronunciation and to extend their vocabulary. She changes the tone of her voice to represent different characters in the small world models, causing much laughter. This helps children enjoy speaking and communicating. The childminder uses a wide range of teaching methods to help children be ready for the next stage of learning and eventually for school. She uses everyday activities, such as encouraging children to count the steps as they climb the stairs. The childminder offers children different resources, such as sponges and cotton wool sticks, to make marks. She writes children's names on their work and this shows them she respects their efforts and also that marks have meaning. This approach helps children to be interested in what they do. The childminder asks appropriate questions to children as they explore mixing different

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who attend. This is good

coloured paints. However, sometimes she answers the questions herself too quickly, without giving children time to respond and extend their thinking to the maximum.

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good

The childminder provides a rich learning environment. Children independently and eagerly choose what they wish to do and they can access a wide range of resources. However, by leaving music playing in the background, the childminder does not fully support children's concentration skills. The childminder makes very good displays of photographs of children enjoying their activities and outings. Children enthusiastically place their photograph on the self-registration tool. This helps them to develop a strong sense of belonging. The childminder encourages children to be independent in their self-care skills. She sensitively supports them in toilet training and this helps them succeed. The childminder gently encourages children to practise dressing the dolls as they learn to use a range of fasteners. The childminder uses appropriate praise and reassurance and sensitively encourages children to remember to say please and thank you. This prepares them very

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good

well emotionally for the move to nursery and school.

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provision is good

The childminder obtains precise information from parents about children's abilities when they start. This helps her to gain a deeper understanding of what they can already do. She regularly monitors children's learning and frequently shares this information with parents. This ensures that children are learning at home and with the childminder. The childminder builds strong and effective relationships with the staff from other settings that children attend. She develops her planning in conjunction with theirs and she accompanies them on a nature walk. This helps develop an effective consistency of care and secures appropriate interventions so that children receive very good support. The childminder is committed to driving continual improvements and has successfully addressed recommendations from her previous inspection. She uses her childcare qualification, short courses and information from other childminders to improve her practice.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 953285 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 869524 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 10

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Name of provider

Date of previous inspection 7 December 2008

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Telephone number

The childminder registered in 2001. She lives in Woodhall Farm, Hemel Hempstead. She holds an appropriate childcare qualification at level 3. The childminder operates all year round from 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays.

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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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