Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 27 July 2015 16 March 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

 The quality of teaching is good. The childminder promotes children's communication and language development very well. She encourages children to join in with their favourite nursery rhymes and introduces them to new words that relate to their play.  The childminder takes children to a wide range of organised groups and educational outings, such as museums and wildlife parks. This helps them to develop a good understanding of the world and be physically active. It also extends their personal, social and emotional skills as they meet and play with other children.  The qualified childminder offers a fun-filled and nurturing environment for children. She is caring and attentive to children's needs. Her consistent praise and reassurance gives children the confidence to carry out responsibilities independently and develop a secure relationship with her.  The childminder has a good knowledge and understanding of safeguarding policies and

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This provision is good

procedures and is aware of her responsibilities in this respect. Children play in a secure, safe environment where the childminder completes daily safety checks and regularly reviews risk assessments to promote children's welfare.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The initial information about children's learning that the childminder obtains from parents is not always sufficiently detailed to fully support her early identification of children's precise learning needs.  Opportunities to reinforce younger children's growing awareness of good hygiene practices are not consistently in place.

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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 the level of initial information obtained from parents to include further detail of children's development to plan even more precisely for their continued progress from an early stage  reinforce younger children's emerging understanding of good hygiene practices from an early age as they learn to connect this with their personal care routines.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed a range of indoor and outdoor play activities and spoke to the childminder and children at appropriate times.  The inspector conducted a joint observation with the childminder.  The inspector looked at children's assessment records, evidence of the suitability of the childminder, a selection of policies, safety procedures and required documentation.  The inspector took account of the written views of parents.  The inspector discussed with the childminder how she reflects upon her service.

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who attend. This is good

The childminder's ongoing knowledge of the children is gained through observations of their achievements and accurate assessments. This enables her to identify their next steps in learning. Children are active and inquisitive learners. Activities are exciting and stimulating, based on children's interests. Consequently, they make good progress in their readiness for school. Younger children develop superb control and coordination of their hands as they use tools to scoop rice and pasta into different sized containers. The childminder extends older children's thinking skills as she asks them probing questions that encourage them to make predictions and solve mathematical ideas. They use their finger to write their name in the rice. The childminder sounds out each letter of their name, helping them to link letters to sounds. Parents are kept well informed of their children's achievements and how to support their children's learning at home. The

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who attend. This is good

childminder works closely with them to obtain relevant information when children first begin attending. However, she does not request enough detail about children's development to plan more precise next steps in their initial learning.

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good

Children independently access a wide range of good quality toys and activities in the indoor and outdoor environment. They have immense fun helping the childminder to set up and participate in an obstacle course in her garden. This helps to develop their physical skills as they run, jump and climb. The childminder is a very good role model. Children play exceptionally well together and consistently use good manners when speaking to each other and the childminder. Older children develop an understanding of good hygiene practices. They know why they need to wash their hands before eating and after going to the toilet. However, she does not always support this so effectively for younger children as they begin to connect handwashing with their personal care routines after she has changed their nappies.

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provision is good

The enthusiastic childminder has a good understanding of her responsibility to meet and implement the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. She shares her comprehensive range of written policies and procedures with parents. This means that they are well informed about her service and responsibilities. The childminder demonstrates a strong commitment to continuing to develop her knowledge. She shares good practice with a network of other childminders and researches ideas online. As a result, the childminder now has an enhanced understanding of strategies to effectively manage specific types of behaviour. The childminder is reflective and continuously evaluates her practice and monitors the learning programmes. Exciting plans are in place to continue to enhance her garden. Children's continuity of learning is supported well as she works in partnership with other providers that children attend.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY348578 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 857412 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 16 March 2009

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 2007 and lives in Welwyn Garden City. She operates all year round from 8.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Thursday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder 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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