Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 4 March 2015 28 January 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

 Teaching is good. The childminder promotes children's communication and language development. She plans a wide range of activities that promote opportunities for them to express themselves through imaginative play. Additionally, she spends quality time talking and listening to children, which encourages their self-confidence.  Children are making good progress. The childminder uses opportunities during adult-led activities and child-initiated play to extend their learning. For example, as children enjoy a story, the childminder encourages and extends their thinking through matching and counting games linked to the story.  Children's personal, social and emotional well-being is promoted through regular praise and encouragement. Children are happy and settled and they develop strong bonds and attachments with the childminder and their peers.  Partnerships with parents and carers are strong. Information sharing through verbal

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This provision is good

discussion and written newsletters regularly encourages good communication. Effective settling-in procedures means that children are fully supported in their move from home and onto school. Consequently, children's learning and development are continuously promoted.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The childminder sometimes misses the opportunity to challenge more able children because, on occasions, she provides pre-cut materials and worksheets for them to use.  Partnerships with all providers of the Early Years Foundation Stage, where children attend, are not consistently promoted.

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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

 enhance opportunities for challenging more able children, for example, by encouraging them to do more for themselves during art and craft activities  extend partnerships with other providers to include the sharing of information with settings children attend, outside of the local area.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector held joint discussions with the childminder throughout the inspection in relation to observations of the children's play, learning and progress.  The inspector observed adult-led activities and child-initiated play. She observed snack and lunchtime routines and talked with the childminder and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection.  The inspector reviewed the childminder's self-evaluation.

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who attend. This is good

The childminder demonstrates a good knowledge and understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage. She regularly observes children and assesses their progress using approved guidance. The childminder produces written summaries for parents and she incorporates children's next steps in learning into future activities. The childminder provides a range of resources and activities that encourage children to have fun, while supporting them in acquiring the skills they need for school. For example, they learn enthusiastically about life cycles as they watch a caterpillar grow into a butterfly. In addition to this, the childminder links activities together to extend children's thinking. For example, they use a range of objects that bring a story about a hungry caterpillar to life and engage fully in telling the story with the childminder. However, during creative activities, the childminder does not always take children's learning to the very optimum.

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who attend. This is good

This is because she provides worksheets and pre-cut resources, which impede opportunities for children to express their own imagination.

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good

Children are motivated to learn. They demonstrate close bonds and attachments with the childminder and their peers. For example, during lunch, children discuss what they have been doing that morning at pre-school and at the childminder's home. Children behave appropriately and learn from the childminder who is a good role model. She ensures that she listens to what they say and praises them effectively for their good ideas. Children take part in a range of outside activities, such as regular visits to the childminder's allotment and this supports their understanding of being healthy. They eat a range of nutritious and balanced meals and the childminder demonstrates a good understanding of meeting their individual dietary needs. She provides parents with allergen information and ensures that she meets children's specific health, medical and dietary needs effectively. As a result, children's well-being is good and they learn about the importance of hygiene as

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provision is good

Arrangements for safeguarding children are good. The childminder demonstrates a strong understanding of the importance in safeguarding the children in her care. She carries emergency details when out of the home and she completes a range of risk assessments to promote their safety. The childminder employs an assistant, to work on an emergency only basis. She ensures that, through discussion, her assistant is updated with any changes to legislation. The childminder attends a range of training to improve her knowledge and she evaluates her practice on a daily basis, to support continuous improvement. The childminder promotes a strong partnership with parents and carers and they are happy with the care and learning she provides. However, she could improve relationships with settings that children attend, outside of her local area, to promote consistency for every child.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY316166 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 862222 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 5 Number of children on roll 7

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Name of provider

Date of previous inspection 28 January 2009

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 2005 and lives in Hertford. She operates all year round from 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder works with an assistant on an emergency basis only. 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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