Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 10 March 2015 21 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 childminder has an excellent understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage. She accurately uses observations, assessments and children's current interests to provide a superb and inspiring range of activities. As a result, children are highly motivated, eager to explore and make exceptional progress in their learning and development.  The childminder is extremely knowledgeable about how children learn. She includes children and their parents in her planning of rich, imaginative experiences. The children's views are highly valued and they take an active part in choosing additional resources to support their interests and continued learning.  Children enjoy numerous, purposeful outings to support their interests and learning. For example, the childminder takes children to popular woodland, where they love building dens. In addition, during summer months, they visit the seaside and London, so that

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This provision is outstanding

they can learn about the world around them.  Children's sense of well-being and belonging is strong because the childminder forms secure emotional attachments with them. She works extremely closly with parents to ensure that she has a wealth of knowledge about each individual child. This helps children to feel safe and secure in her home.  The childminder makes excellent use of the room used for children's play. It is bright and welcoming, with a wide variety of high quality resources. Artwork and photographs displayed on the walls enthuse children to talk about previous activities. This helps children to develop exceptional communication and language skills.  The childminder continuously evaluates her practice to ensure that ongoing quality improvements are identified and addressed swiftly. She is committed to attending training to drive increased knowledge, to ensure she continues to develop her already

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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

 extend further, the wide range of opportunities for outdoor learning, so that children who prefer to learn outdoors make even better progress in their mathematical and literacy development.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke to the childminder and children at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the childminder.  The inspector looked at children's records, assessment and planning and policies and procedures, including the safeguarding policy.  The inspector took into account the views of parents and carers through their written comments provided to the childminder.  The inspector checked evidence of the childminder's qualifications and of the suitability of all those living on the premises.

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who attend. This is outstanding

The childminder is extremely knowledgeable about how children learn. As a result, children are motivated, confident and eager to participate in the exciting activities on offer. For example, the childminder introduces ramps and tubes to extend children's learning when they are engrossed in playing with cars. She expertly helps them to solve problems and extends their language when they consider the position of their ramp to make the cars go faster or slower. In the garden, items, such as wind chimes and windmills, create added interest for discussion about weather changes. There is scope to build on the already excellent outdoor learning, to include a greater focus on mathematics and literacy. The childminder is able to effectively tailor children's learning requirements, by adapting activities, so that younger children quickly gain new skills. All children love joining in with choosing favourite songs and nursery rhymes from the 'song bag'.

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who attend. This is outstanding

Exceedingly good use is made of the related picture cards to extend children's language and understanding of turn taking. Assessment is sharply focused and used extremely well to monitor the excellent educational programmes and the rapid progress children make in their learning.

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outstanding

The very effective settling-in procedures support children's emotional well-being to a very high level. The childminder is extremely caring and sensitive to children's and families individual needs. Consequently, children feel secure and have high levels of confidence. Children's independence is highly promoted; they freely select from the well-organised resources, chop fruit for their snack and put on their own coats and shoes. This helps prepare children for the move to school. Children have ample opportunities to be active and enjoy a healthy lifestyle. They take safe, supervised risks in their play when they use the large equipment at soft-play centres. The childminder expertly manages behaviour, helping children to understand how to express their emotions.

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provision is outstanding

The childminder demonstrates an excellent understanding of the learning and development and the safeguarding and welfare requirements. She has a vast range of knowledge and experience; this ensures she fully understands how to support all children's needs to an exceptional level. The childminder uses the knowledge gained from training to continually enhance children's learning, such as their communication skills. She has an excellent understanding about child protection procedures, which protects children's welfare. The childminder robustly monitors children's progress, evaluates her practice and proactively acts on feedback from parents and children. In addition, she attends regular childminder meetings, where good practice and new ideas are shared. Overall, her commitment to continuous reflection and her professional developmental plan support her in providing care and learning for children to an outstanding level.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 130105 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 854207 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 21 October 2009

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 1992 and lives in Oxhey, near Watford. She operates all year round, from 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year- old children. The childminder has a related 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

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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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