Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 14 October 2015 8 August 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 well-qualified childminder knows how to promote children's learning and development. Teaching is consistently strong. She builds on children's interests to provide a wide range of stimulating and challenging experiences.  Children have excellent outdoor learning opportunities; they develop their smaller physical skills as they investigate items they collect and use various tools to move and explore sand. They climb, jump and experiment with different ways of moving on larger items of equipment.  Children's well-being is promoted. The childminder gathers detailed information on each child and their family when they start in her care. This helps her to swiftly begin meeting children's individual needs and sensitively gain the trusted support of each family.  Partnerships with parents are successful. The childminder draws on innovative ideas to involve parents in children's learning. For example, she encourages parents to take

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This provision is good

home activity bags that she creates to extend the learning at home.  The childminder places a high emphasis on developing her knowledge in all areas and is currently working towards completing a foundation degree. This supports her continuous improvement.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The childminder has not yet implemented plans to develop her own knowledge and understanding of the use of technology to enhance children's learning in this area.  The childminder has not precisely reviewed the impact of her teaching on children's good progress to set clear defined targets for supporting children to reach their highest levels of attainment.

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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

 provide children with more opportunities to extend their knowledge and understanding of the use of technology  focus more precisely on evaluating the impact of teaching on the progress children make in their learning to set clear targets towards supporting substantial and sustained progress that leads to outstanding achievement.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed children's activities indoors, outdoors and during the lunchtime routine. She talked to the childminder and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection and joined them on a walk to nursery.  The inspector observed adult-led activities and jointly discussed the intentions and learning outcomes of these with the childminder.  The inspector sampled the childminder's documentation, including policies, a self- evaluation form, training certificates and children's learning journals.  The inspector took account of the views of parents through discussions on the day. She looked at recently completed questionnaires and references from parents and colleagues.  The inspector saw evidence of the suitability of all persons living on the premises and other documentation in relation to the safeguarding and welfare requirements.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The enthusiastic childminder strives to provide the best quality care for children. Children make very good progress in her care. The childminder has successfully addressed her previous recommendation. She has worked hard to establish effective links with parents and other providers. These support her in keeping herself up to date with any changes and promote continuous learning for each child. The childminder is aware of how different groups of children learn and tailors her plans to ensure that all children experience a wide range of learning opportunities. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The childminder is alert to indicators that suggest children may be at risk of harm and knows the appropriate action to take should any concerns arise.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The childminder provides a well-balanced activity programme to complement each child's preferred learning style. This includes elements of the Montessori approach alongside more traditional methods of teaching. The childminder observes children to identify their next steps in learning. She has a clear understanding of how to provide them with consistent challenge. For example, children proudly collect and carry around their individual learning bags containing activities to support their next steps. They practise their smaller physical skills as they place coins into a money box or develop their pencil control as they draw. The childminder chooses timely moments to extend children's learning and understands how much can be learnt through self-initiated play. For example, she encourages children to locate a magnifying glass to take a closer look at the snail they have found. Children demonstrate good communication and language skills; they talk

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

about their day at nursery and rapidly begin to use new words in conversation.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children thrive in this child-led environment. They are eager to learn and behave well as they take turns with the toys. Secure attachments with the childminder result in children who are confident to ask for help or comfort as needed. Children are beginning to develop an understanding of risk. As they walk within the nursery grounds they show awareness that stop signs indicate a safe place to wait. The childminder is a good role model and has high expectations of the children in her care. She offers regular praise for their achievements and encourages them to practise their self-help skills at every opportunity. Children help to lay the table, competently feed themselves and are aware that they must wash their hands to reduce the spread of germs. The childminder provides a range of nutritious snacks and meals; she talks to children about the food that they eat and how vegetables change once cooked. This helps to promote their good all-round health.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children make good progress from their starting points. They are independent and well prepared for the next stage in their learning as they move on to nursery and then school. Cooperative partnerships and precise assessments support all groups of children to achieve very good outcomes.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY409371 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 850992 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Age range of children 1 - 5 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 7

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Name of provider

Date of previous inspection 8 August 2011

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 2010 and lives in Letchworth Garden City. She operates all year round from 8am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder follows a Montessori approach to learning and provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. She 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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