Childminder in HertfordshireOfsted inspection, 8 Jun 2015

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 8 June 2015 22 February 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 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

 The childminder's key strength is her ability to communicate with children and how she promotes their language and speaking skills. She comments throughout children's play and asks older children probing questions to extend their thinking capabilities. This prepares children very well in readiness for future learning at nursery and school.  The childminder has excellent partnerships with other settings where children also attend. She has regular meetings with other childminders and nurseries to discuss children's individual needs and next steps in learning. This promotes very good continuity of learning and care.  The childminder has a strong knowledge of safeguarding children. She has clear procedures in place and is confident to report any concerns she may have, if necessary. The childminder fully protects children's safety and welfare.  Partnerships with parents are very good. The childminder encourages parents to

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This provision is good

support children's next steps in learning at home, which promotes their good progress even further. Parents are very keen to share their positive feedback about the childminder's care and are happy with how she protects their welfare.  Children learn from an early age about how to keep themselves safe. For example, younger children practise using appropriate knives to cut up their own fruit at snack time. Older children know that standing on chairs is dangerous and could cause them to hurt themselves.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 There is scope for the childminder to extend her good knowledge of how children learn even further, in order to provide a superior standard of teaching.

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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 the current good quality of teaching by targeting training in order to enhance knowledge and understanding of how children learn even further, so that children are supported to make very rapid progress in their learning.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed children taking part in a range of activities and spoke with the childminder and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection.  The inspector saw evidence of the suitability checks for the childminder and those persons over the age of 16 years living in the household.  The inspector looked at children's assessment records, policies and procedures and the childminder's self-evaluation form.  The inspector conducted a joint observation with the childminder.  The inspector has taken account of the views of parents, as recorded in reference letters provided by the childminder.

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who attend. This is good

The quality of teaching is consistently good and children are progressing well towards the early learning goals. The childminder is well qualified and plans a wide range of interesting learning experiences that engage children for extended periods of time. Young children enjoy planting strawberry seeds and exploring the soil and water, before eating strawberries for snack. The childminder responds to children's interests very well. During role play, she provides resources, such as nappies and gloves, to teach children how to take care of their dolls. Children are keen to tell the childminder when their doll needs changing and repeat the process frequently throughout the day. This helps children to learn about self-care. The childminder promotes children's mathematical knowledge well. She uses number language when talking to younger children and counts objects during their play. Older children can competently count independently past 35 and are able to

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who attend. This is good

answer simple number problems involving adding and subtraction.

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good

The childminder makes good use of her garden and promotes outdoor play well. Children are able to move between the indoor and outdoor environments freely, which allows those who prefer to learn outside to flourish. The childminder regularly takes children to the local parks, where they are able to develop their physical skills further. This promotes children's good health. The childminder has an effective settling-in procedure in place. She invites children to attend play sessions at her setting, both with their parents and by themselves. This enables them to become familiar with her and her house and settle in with confidence. The childminder enthusiastically praises children for their achievements, which makes them feel important. Children demonstrate their high levels of self-esteem as they play and interact with the childminder. They are keen for her to join in with their play and are clearly very happy in this friendly and exciting setting.

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provision is good

The childminder has a good understanding of the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage and implements it well. She reflects on her activities and care practices on a regular basis, and considers how she could improve her setting. For example, the childminder has identified that the learning of older children in the early years age range could be enhanced even further. She would like to plan an even wider range of learning experiences to promote their swifter progress. This demonstrates her dedication to providing high-quality teaching and care. The childminder keeps herself up to date with safeguarding and first-aid knowledge. She regularly attends network meetings with other childminders, in order to learn about current issues in early years practice. However, the childminder does not always routinely access other training opportunities to extend her already good understanding of how children learn even further. There is scope for her to

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provision is good

acquire expert knowledge, in order to deliver first-class teaching, so that children make the very best progress that they can.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY362286 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 863739 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 11 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 7

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Name of provider

Date of previous inspection 22 February 2012

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 2007 and lives in Croxley Green. She operates all year round from 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Thursday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder provides funded early education for three- and four-year-old children. She holds an early years 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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