Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 10 March 2015 1 March 2012

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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 Outstanding 1

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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 quality of teaching is good. The childminder understands how young children learn. She accurately assesses their development and provides a good range of interesting and challenging experiences that meet children's individual learning needs. Consequently, children make very good progress in their learning.  Children enjoy choosing books from the wide variety that is available to them. The childminder uses books to extend children's language and communication skills, and she gently introduces numbers and counting to the young children through picture books.  Children feel happy and emotionally secure in the childminder's care as she quickly builds up a trusting relationship with them. They seek reassurance and support from the childminder as they play, and calmly settle to sleep through her constant care.  Partnerships with parents are excellent and ensure children's individual needs are identified from the beginning and are exceptionally well supported through their time at

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This provision is good

the setting.  The childminder is confident about her role in safeguarding children. She is aware of the action to take and whom to contact should she have any concerns regarding children's welfare. This enables her to promote children's well-being effectively.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The childminder does not always maximise training opportunities to update her good knowledge and practice, to promote the highest levels of teaching and learning.

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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

 strengthen the already good knowledge of early years practice, for example, by identifying further training opportunities to promote even higher standards of teaching and learning.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the childminder engaging in activities with children and talked with her 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 the childminder, co-childminder, assistant and other 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 of the childminder's self-evaluation form.

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who attend. This is good

The childminder provides a very good range of activities to support children's learning and development across the seven areas of learning. For example, she provides a range of colourful objects and large tweezers for the young children to explore. They use their hands to manipulate the tweezers as they pick up the objects. The childminder supports them as she models counting and she gives children lots of praise and encouragement. The outdoor area is used to allow children to have opportunities to use large construction blocks. As they build, the childminder introduces the names of the shape of blocks they are using. This supports children's mathematical understanding and so promotes their learning in readiness for nursery or school. The childminder regularly observes and assesses children's learning. This includes the mandatory progress check for children between the age of two and three years. She shares these assessments with parents and

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who attend. This is good

with other settings that children attend, which ensures continuity in children's learning.

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outstanding

Children are extremely happy, confident and sociable. They have formed exceptionally secure attachments with the childminder and, as a result, they feel safe to explore their environment. The childminder is an excellent role model, showing respect for the children and supporting them as individuals to her utmost. Children enjoy the security of routines and the flexibility to choose where and with what they want to play. Children learn appropriate hygiene practices through the daily routine. They know they need to wash their hands before eating and after being in the garden. Children have many opportunities to be active and engage in physical play in the garden or at the local park on a daily basis. They show excellent physical skills as they climb up and go down the slide and repeat this many times. Children demonstrate care and concern as they support each other. For example, if a child is upset, children copy the caring nature of the childminder as they give

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outstanding

their friend a cuddle and stroke their back. The childminder has established strong partnerships with parents. Parents, through written documentation, express their very high levels of satisfaction with the care and education that the childminder provides.

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provision is good

The childminder has a secure knowledge of how to keep children safe. She continually reviews risks in the environment and on outings. The childminder regularly reflects on her practice, which helps her to maintain the already good standards of care and education she provides for the children. She has undertaken some training to refresh her knowledge as part of her continuous development. For example, she has attended the required first- aid course and this has led to an increased knowledge of how to respond to accidents and emergencies. However, opportunities to complete further training, to ensure that she is constantly improving her good practice, are not always routinely sourced. She completes observations effectively and monitors her assessments of children. As a result, she identifies gaps in learning and ensures she effectively narrows them.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY373780 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 873779 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 12 Number of children on roll 10

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Name of provider

Date of previous inspection 1 March 2012

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 2008. She works with another registered childminder and assistant in the co-childminder's premises 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 holds a relevant 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

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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