Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 29 April 2015 22 March 2011

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Previous inspection: Good 2 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

 Children are extremely motivated by the excellent enthusiasm and teaching skills of the childminder. She is a natural communicator with children and makes learning fun. She is skilled in following children's lead and provides stimulating activities that interests them. This contributes to children making rapid progress in their learning and development.  Children's sense of well-being and belonging is strong because the childminder forms secure emotional attachments with them. She offers a very warm, welcoming, homely environment which helps children to settle rapidly. Consequently, children are extremely happy and feel safe in her home.  Partnerships with parents and other professionals are excellent. Parents are extremely complimentary about the care provided by the childminder and the excellent progress their children have made since starting with her.  Children's learning and development are accurately monitored by the childminder,

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This provision is outstanding

through precise and detailed observations and assessments. As a result, planning is sharply focused and effectively supports all children's individual learning needs.  The childminder is highly motivated and dedicated to improving the quality of care and education for children and their families. She attends a wealth of purposeful training and actively takes part in new projects to continually make improvements to her already excellent practice.  The childminder places a high importance on safeguarding children. She attends regular training and implements knowledge gained. She provides children with a safe and secure environment. This effectively supports their growing understanding of how to keep themselves safe and healthy.

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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

 continue to enhance the already strong focus on supporting children's readiness for school, for example, by enabling children to see and use even more numbers outdoors.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke to the childminder and the children at appropriate times throughout the inspection.  The inspector looked at children's records, policies and procedures and a range of other documentation, including self-evaluation, assessment and planning.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with 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 has an excellent understanding of how children learn. She provides really well-organised activities that fully include and engage children of different ages. The childminder is friendly, resulting in lots of laughter taking place during children's play. She effectively tailors children's learning requirements, such as adapting mathematical language used during indoor play and mealtimes. Children are able to freely play between the indoor areas and the garden. In particular, they love imaginative play and exploring the interactive painting mat. The childminder successfully uses different teaching methods during routines and play to encourage children's communication skills. For example, she spontaneously sings songs and nursery rhymes, reads interactive stories and provides natural sensory resources to younger children. The childminder talks clearly, using gestures alongside her words, and sensitively echoes back what children say, using the

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who attend. This is outstanding

correctly pronounced word. This contributes to children's readiness for school as they become confident communicators.

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outstanding

Exceptional care practices support children's physical and emotional well-being. Children are confident and very well settled and have strong relationship with the childminder. She has organised her home to provide self-contained areas for childminding, including a covered outdoor area. This is used all year round to provide opportunities for children to be active and to lead a healthy lifestyle. In addition, children regularly plant and grow vegetables and herbs in the garden and use these in their meals, which children help to prepare. Children are encouraged to take safe risks, for example, they confidently use knives to cut their sandwiches. Resources are extremely well organised to give children excellent opportunities to make independent choices. All children demonstrate very friendly behaviours and show they understand the childminder's expectations. They are highly praised for showing respect to others, sharing and taking turns.

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provision is outstanding

The childminder demonstrates an excellent understanding of the learning and development, and the safeguarding requirements. She is inspirational in her pursuit of excellence. The childminder develops highly effective partnerships with other professionals, where children attend. This along with the strong relationship with parents means that children maintain the highest levels of achievement. The childminder has a childcare qualification and uses her skills to consistently review children's progress, identify and effectively support any gaps in learning. The childminder sets very challenging goals to improve her already first-class skills. She has a clear professional development plan, which is linked to children's needs, to drive future improvements. This forms part of her sharply focused self-evaluation to ensure practice is continually at the highest level, such as further promoting children's mathematical skills in the outdoors.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 129791 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 874848 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 22 March 2011

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 1992. She operates all year round from 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder has 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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