Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 10 March 2015 13 October 2009

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Previous inspection: Outstanding 1 How well the early years provision meets the needs of the range of children who attend Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

The setting meets legal requirements for early years settings

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This provision is outstanding

 The quality of teaching is outstanding. The childminder and her assistant provide an interesting range of high-quality learning experiences for children, both inside and out. As a result, children are exceptionally motivated and eager to explore.  Children who speak English as an additional language are supported extremely well, so that by the time they move on to other settings and school, they have excellent skills in spoken English.  Children's sense of well-being and belonging is very strong because the childminder forms secure emotional attachments with them. She works extremely closely with parents to ensure that she has a wealth of knowledge about each individual child. This contributes to children feeling very settled and secure.  The childminder demonstrates an excellent understanding of how to protect and safeguard children. Through the implementation of meticulous policies and procedures,

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This provision is outstanding

she actively promotes children's safety and welfare.  The childminder has established exceptionally strong partnerships with parents. She goes the extra mile in the support that she offers to them. Parents, through written documentation, thank you cards and questionnaires, express their very high levels of satisfaction with the care that the childminder, the co-childminder and the assistant provide.  The childminder makes best use of everyday routines to foster children's independence and support their awareness of keeping themselves safe. For example, children are encouraged to put their own shoes and coats on, and she consistently explains why some behaviours are not safe.

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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 children's already very good outdoor learning experiences even more, for example, through re-organising the outdoor environment to give children more space for riding bicycles and cars.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the childminder and her assistant engaging in activities with children and talked with them about children's 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 the suitability of household members, and a range of other documents, including the safeguarding policy.  The inspector took account of information from parents as recorded in written documents and looked at the childminder's self-evaluation form.

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who attend. This is outstanding

The childminder's quality of teaching is outstanding. There is an excellent focus on learning and all children are highly valued as individuals. The childminder demonstrates a strong passion for, and commitment to, providing children with a stimulating child-centred environment where they are able to flourish. For example, children engage in role play in the playroom and have opportunities to choose to dress up in the vast array of outfits available to them. Young children develop a great love for books as the childminder's assistant shares warm interactive stories with them. Visits to the local library to chose books or to join in rhyme times further increase children's excitement of sharing books. The childminder uses both spontaneous and planned observations to inform her excellent assessments. As a result, she demonstrates an excellent and precise knowledge of each child's starting points, their stage of development and the progress that they make.

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who attend. This is outstanding

Consequently, children develop the attributes of competent learners and make exceptional progress in preparation for their move to nursery and school.

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outstanding

Children form strong emotional attachments with the childminder and her assistant. They settle extremely quickly and are happy and relaxed in this welcoming home. Children play and learn together extremely well and their behaviour is exemplary. The childminder and her assistant teach children about expected behaviour through the use of consistent messages and very clear boundaries. They remind children to say 'please' and 'thank you', and to generally have good manners. Children are supported exceptionally well in developing the skills that they need to adopt a healthy lifestyle. They are provided with nutritious meals and snacks each day. Children are taught to follow good hygiene practices as they wash their hands at appropriate times. The childminder's use of the garden and nearby parks enables children to have fantastic fun and provides wonderful opportunities. However, on occasions, the space in the garden for riding bicycles and cars

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outstanding

is cramped and children find it difficult to move them around.

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provision is outstanding

The childminder demonstrates an excellent understanding of the learning and development and the safeguarding requirements. She is extremely confident about child protection procedures, which protects children's welfare. She uses very effective systems to monitor the educational programme and children's progress. The childminder demonstrates a determined drive to continuously develop her practice. She attends training and consults with other childminders for support and to share ideas. For example, she has completed training on meeting the needs of children who speak English as an additional language. This impacts positively on these children in her care. The childminder includes the views of parents in her effective self-evaluation and acts on these for future developments. Highly effective arrangements for regular supervision and checking the performance of the assistant lead to a high level of consistency of practice.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY311294 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 848995 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 13 October 2009

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 2005 and lives in Stevenage. She operates all year round from 7.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder works in partnership with a co-childminder and employs a part- time assistant.

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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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