Walker, Marion Gibson

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 25 August 2015 21 January 2009

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Previous inspection: Outstanding 1 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

 The quality of teaching is outstanding. The childminder and her assistant have a superb understanding of how children learn and develop. They extend children's play and enable them to develop their own ideas to promote learning. For example, they note down children's questions on the board and support them to investigate these further using books or the internet.  Children enjoy a fantastic range of innovative and challenging activities that stimulate their curiosity. For example, they make predictions and comparisons as they play with 'dinosaur eggs' made from ice. As a result, all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, make rapid progress in relation to their starting points in readiness for school.  The childminder and her assistant form superb, warm and caring bonds with children. Children are very happy and demonstrate that they feel exceptionally secure and

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This provision is outstanding

confident in their care from a very early stage. The childminder invites parents to share a photograph book of her setting with their children prior to starting. This helps to make the move to the childminder's home smooth.  The childminder is inspirational and committed to her role. She uses self-evaluation extremely well to consistently reflect on the service and activities she provides. As a result, she consistently raises the quality of her service.  The childminder forms highly successful partnerships with parents. She involves them in every part of her setting. Parents describe how the childminder always goes above and beyond what they expect. They value her expert knowledge and wealth of ideas to support their children's learning and development at home.  Children's safety and well-being are of paramount importance to the childminder. Safeguarding procedures are fully understood. The childminder regularly updates her

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This provision is outstanding

training in this crucial area of practice. She is aware of any new legislation which she implements into her practice most effectively.

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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

 explore further innovative ways to share the exemplary practice and build even more successful partnerships where new providers become involved in children's early education and care.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed a range of indoor and outdoor play activities and spoke to the childminder, her assistant and children at appropriate times.  The inspector conducted a joint observation with the childminder.  The inspector looked at children's assessment records, a selection of policies, safety procedures and required documentation.  The inspector looked at evidence of the suitability of the childminder, her assistant and other adults who regularly visit the premises.  The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to on the day of the inspection, in addition to the written views of parents.  The inspector reviewed the childminder's self-evaluation form.

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who attend. This is outstanding

The childminder proactively identifies children's next steps in learning through her pertinent observations and rigorous assessments. She meticulously records these electronically. Children make superb progress in their language development. The childminder and assistant introduce them to the meaning of new words, such as polka dot. The childminder and assistant ask children probing questions that require their response. Children use complex sentences to talk about previous experiences and clearly express their thoughts and feelings. The childminder's attention to creating wonderful sensory play experiences inspires children's imagination, as they explore and learn about dinosaur habitats. Children develop superb control and coordination of their hands as they squirt foam to create lava to ooze from the volcano. The assistant makes story time a truly interactive experience for children as he reads books written by the childminder. This

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who attend. This is outstanding

helps to enhance children's literacy development as he encourages them to identify rhyming words in the story. Children gain an excellent understanding of diversity. They enjoy regular parties that help to enhance their understanding about different ways of life.

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outstanding

The childminder and her assistant's interactions with children show that they all thoroughly enjoy spending time together. This creates a vibrant and happy atmosphere for all. The childminder provides children with optimal opportunities to be independent. They learn to manage putting on their own coat and shoes from an early age, and clear away their plates from snack without being asked. They know how to keep themselves safe as they carefully use knives to prepare their own snack. The childminder places the utmost priority in providing children with an outstanding range of healthy, nutritious meals. Children's work is beautifully presented in the highly stimulating indoor and outdoor areas. This helps them to feel very much part of the childminder's family. Children have superb opportunities to take part in physical exercise in the fresh air.

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provision is outstanding

The childminder has an exemplary understanding of the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. She very efficiently implements and reviews the educational programmes she provides. The well-qualified childminder and assistant are passionate about continuing to improve their knowledge and skills. They successfully identify areas for improvement by observing each other's practice. As a result of recent training, the childminder has an excellent knowledge of enhancing children's physical skills required for writing. She passes on her wealth of experience and comprehensive knowledge of new initiatives with other early years settings that children attend. She also supports newly registered childminders, enabling them to raise the quality of their practice. Partnerships with other providers and professionals are exceptional. The childminder plans to explore further innovative ways to build upon these successful partnerships with any new

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY377230 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 849764 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 21 January 2009

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 2008 and lives in the Thorley area of Bishop's Stortford. She works with her husband, who is her assistant. The childminder provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. She supports children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. The childminder operates all year round from 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder and her assistant both hold Qualified Teacher Status.

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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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