Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 11 September 2015 5 January 2011

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This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

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This provision is good

 The childminder makes excellent use of her home as a stimulating learning environment. Toys and resources in the playroom are easily accessible to all children and this helps children to learn independently. Children thoroughly enjoy learning outdoors in the welcoming garden.  Children are happy and settled with the childminder. The youngest children have secure routines, the childminder is aware when they are hungry or tired. The older children display very high levels of confidence and hold meaningful conversations with the childminder and visitors.  The childminder has established strong partnerships with parents. She listens to their views on the services she offers and makes effective changes. For example, she now provides them with information by text and email.  The childminder teaches children how to be safe and healthy. For example, as children notice birds eating berries, the childminder explains the dangers of children eating

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This provision is good

berries. As they make dough, the childminder explains why eating too much salt is not good for health.  The childminder ensures that young children who are learning to walk, have clear space and safe areas to pull themselves up to standing, both in and outdoors.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The childminder collects information from parents when children register with her, but this is not always precise enough for her to accurately identify children's initial development levels and starting points.

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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

 collect more-detailed information from parents, when their children start to attend in order to develop a more accurate initial assessment of children's development and skills.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the childminder engaging in activities with the children and, at appropriate times, jointly 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 and planning documentation. Evidence of the suitability of household members and a range of other documents, including the safeguarding policy, were also seen.  The inspector took account of the views of parents and of the childminder's self- evaluation form.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The childminder has a good understanding of the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. She is fully aware of her responsibility to report any concerns about children's well-being and is confident in her ability to recognise child protection issues. The childminder use her good knowledge gained from her higher level qualification to good effect. She reviews the activities she provides and the children's progress. This ensures that any gaps in learning are quickly identified and strategies are put in place to narrow them. She is aware of the requirement to form positive relationships with other settings that children attend. Although no children she cares for at the moment attend other settings, the childminder has evidence of how she has shared children's development information in the past to encourage continuity in learning.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Teaching is effective and all children make good progress. The childminder provides activities that interest and challenge them. As children make dough, the childminder supports them by showing them recipe cards. Children show a good understanding of how to follow the clear instructions as they look at pictures, words and numbers. Children are confident to suggest ideas of how to continue their play. They take their pretend cakes into the garden to cook in the mud kitchen. Their play becomes imaginative as they use their ideas as to what the cakes may be for. The childminder meets with parents when they register with her. She gains information on children's care needs and on what they can do at home. However, at times, this information is not precise enough for her to clearly identify children's starting points in all areas. The childminder is aware of children's next steps and is able to ensure that the activities they experience are challenging.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children enjoy daily fresh air. The childminder provides them with many opportunities to be active in her lovely garden or at the nearby park. Younger children enjoy crawling over different textures, such as bark. They stop to pick up pieces and feel it. The childminder stays close by to ensure that children are safe as they explore. Children have many opportunities to choose where and with what they want to play. They show high levels of independence as they find their belongings and go upstairs to use the bathroom. The older children show care and concern for the younger ones. They bring toys for the babies to play with and demonstrate how they work. The babies enjoy these interactions and respond by smiling and babbling.

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Outcomes for children are good

The quality of teaching is very good. The childminder makes excellent use of adult- directed activities to promote children's mathematical and literacy development. These activities, along with the quality observations and assessments, help to ensure that children make consistently good progress in preparation for their next stage of learning, such as at school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY411764 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 851221 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Age range of children 0 - 11 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 8

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Name of provider

Date of previous inspection 5 January 2011

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 2010 and lives in Watford. She operates all year round from 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds a recognised childcare qualification at level 4. She provides funded early education for three- and four-year-old children.

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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 reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/, write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Telephone number

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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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