Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 5 June 2015 28 January 2009

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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

 Children enjoy being creative with art and craft materials. The childminder is skilled in providing activities that are appropriate to all ages of children. For example, the younger children enjoy experimenting with glue, as older children make more complex pictures.  The childminder provides a picture catalogue of toys. She uses this effectively to encourage children to make their own choices from her extensive range of resources. This allows children to be independent in their learning.  Children are happy and settled because of the caring and trusting relationship they share with the childminder. This enables the children to develop confidence, and effective friendships are made.  Partnerships with parents are good and ensure children's individual needs are identified from the beginning, and well supported throughout their time at the setting. Through the use of written documentation, thank you cards and questionnaires, parents express

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This provision is good

their very high levels of satisfaction with the care and education that the childminder provides.  The childminder demonstrates a good understanding of how to protect and safeguard children. Through the implementation of effective policies and procedures she promotes children's safety and welfare.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 On occasion, the childminder's instructions to the children are not specific enough for them to respond appropriately.  The childminder does not always ensure the learning environment is tidy and free from hazards, to consistently promote children's safety.

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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 good independence skills even more, for example, by giving them specific instructions of which toys need to be put away  ensure the good learning environment is consistently free from tripping hazards, for example, by encouraging children to tidy away toys they have finished playing with.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the childminder engaging in activities with the children and, at appropriate times, discussed the learning that was taking place.  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.

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who attend. This is good

The quality of teaching is good. The childminder provides fun, high-quality learning experiences for children, both indoors and outside. She effectively links activities around current topics. For example, the childminder shares stories with the children about caterpillars. The older children engage in looking at numbers and counting. The younger children enjoy a sensory experience of feeling and smelling real fruit, such as those featured in a book. The childminder provides interesting resources for the children to use with paint. They experiment with colour mixing as they print with balloons, using the two colours they identified earlier on the caterpillar. As a result, children are highly motivated and are developing the key skills for the next stage of their learning, such as at school. The childminder regularly carries out precise and detailed observations and assessments. Her planning is sharply focused and effectively supports all children's individual learning

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good

The childminder supports children well to develop the skills that they need to adopt a healthy lifestyle. The children enjoy choosing the fruit they want from a picture chart available to them. Children follow good hygiene practices as they wash their hands at appropriate times. They understand the need to wash germs off their hands before they eat. The childminder encourages children to be independent by giving them opportunities to do things for themselves. However, on occasion, such as when it is time to tidy away toys, the childminder does not always give children clear instructions. Consequently, the children do not always understand what the childminder is asking them to do. Furthermore, at times the floor becomes cluttered with toys. This sometimes makes it difficult for children to move around safely. The childminder ensures that children have access to the outdoors every day. They use the garden, visit local parks and farms. These

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good

visits enable children to use their large muscles and benefit from being in the fresh air.

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provision is good

The childminder is committed to promoting good quality provision for children. She evaluates what is working and what she needs to improve. The childminder sources professional development opportunities through accessing training courses and undertaking further qualifications. For example, she has recently completed an appropriate foundation degree. This has had a positive impact on her practice. For example, she now provides low chairs for the younger children to use at the table. This enables them to be included in social conversation as they share meals. The childminder monitors the activities she provides and children's progress, this ensure any gaps are quickly identified and strategies are put in place to narrow them. The childminder has formed positive working relationships with other settings that children attend. This encourages information relating to children's achievements in learning to be shared, to further support their

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Setting details

Unique reference number 117720 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 1000845 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 11 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 10

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Name of provider

Date of previous inspection 28 January 2009

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 1998 and lives in the Baldock area of Hertfordshire. She operates all year round from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds an appropriate qualification at level 5.

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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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