Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 30 September 2015 13 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

 Children's personal, social and emotional development is encouraged through regular praise and reassurance. Children make strong bonds and attachments with the childminder and demonstrate that they are happy and settled.  Children's physical development is good. The childminder provides opportunities for them to have fresh air and exercise on a daily basis as they enjoy a range of outside activities. For example, children regularly walk with the childminder to feed the ducks and show great delight as they practise their skills on the childminder's bouncy castle.  Children are making good progress. They are motivated to learn and eagerly engage in planned and spontaneous activities that are linked to their likes and interests. The childminder supports children in acquiring the skills that they need for school.  The childminder engages well with parents and other providers of the Early Years Foundation Stage. She shares information with parents about children's starting points

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This provision is good

and she demonstrates a consistent approach to their learning, by encouraging parents to extend this at home.  The childminder promotes children's safety and welfare. She risk assesses activities and outings to ensure that children can take part safely.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Occasionally, the childminder does not adapt activities to ensure more-able children receive high levels of challenge to help them make the best possible progress.  Children are not always given time to digest questions before the childminder gives the answer to them.

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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

 adapt activities to provide appropriate challenge when caring for children of differing ages and abilities  support children to respond independently to questions that encourage their thinking further.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed some spontaneous activities and jointly evaluated these with the childminder.  The inspector talked to the childminder about how she reviews and evaluates her setting to promote continuous improvement.  The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector looked at some relevant documentation, including the safeguarding and complaints procedures. She also reviewed evidence of the suitability of the childminder and household members over 16 years old.  The inspector took account of the views of parents as provided in documentation. She also spoke to the children present at appropriate times throughout the inspection.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The childminder is aware of the signs and symptoms of abuse and is able to protect the children in her care. The qualified childminder is proactive in developing her knowledge and understanding of how children learn. For example, to refresh herself after a short break from childminding she attended an appropriate early years training course. This means that the childminder is confident in her teaching and has an effective knowledge of how to observe and assess children's learning. The childminder has a range of policies and procedures that support her in promoting an environment that is consistent in challenging discrimination. She treats all children and their families with respect and meets their care needs appropriately. The childminder monitors her setting on a regular basis. She evaluates what activities the children take part in and makes changes that improve her setting, where possible.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Teaching is effective. The childminder finds out what children are interested in and incorporates these into a combination of adult-led and child-initiated activities. This means that children engage easily and show good concentration skills. The childminder plans activities that children happily join in with. However, she does not always take full account of children's different ages and stages of development. For example, as children enjoy an imaginative activity that includes discussion and counting of farm animals, there is no differing challenge for more-able children. During play the childminder uses a wide range of questioning techniques that encourage children to think further. However, on occasions, she gives children the answers before they have had time to digest the question and respond.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children behave well. The childminder shares effective behaviour management strategies with parents, in order to support children effectively. She is consistent in her approach, using distraction and discussion techniques, to ensure that children learn about appropriate ways in which to behave. The childminder is quick to share children's achievements so that they feel good. For example, as children learn a new skill on the bouncy castle she quickly tells the other children so that they can celebrate this achievement together. This means that children's self-esteem and confidence are promoted well. Children lead healthy lifestyles and eat a range of nutritious food, according to their dietary needs. The childminder encourages children to eat a range of healthy vegetables and fruit and they have fresh drinking water or juice available at all times.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children's progress and achievements are good, given their starting points and capabilities. The childminder makes effective use of observations and assessments. She highlights children's next steps in learning and focuses on supporting them to achieve these realistic targets.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY383827 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 873888 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Age range of children 0 - 11 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 4

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Name of provider

Date of previous inspection 13 January 2011

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 2008 and lives in Buntingford, Hertfordshire. She operates all year round from 7am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds an appropriate 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 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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