Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 13 November 2015 16 June 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 and her assistant are both well-qualified and experienced professionals who constitute an effective team. They choose timely moments to extend children's learning and know when to step back and give children time to immerse in self-initiated play. Teaching is consistently good and at times outstanding.  The childminder is sensitive to the individual needs of each family. She carries out home visits to become familiar with each family structure and gather meticulous detail about each child. Children's emotional well-being is supported and they settle quickly into their new daily routines.  Partnerships with parents and other professionals are of a high priority. The childminder works tirelessly to maintain the valuable links she has established over many years. These relationships enable her to gain support and promote continuous learning for each child.  Children demonstrate good communication skills; they rapidly learn new words to use

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This provision is good

in conversation and develop expressive language as they respond to skilfully asked questions. They join in with and anticipate key events and phrases in rhymes and stories.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The childminder has not considered extending her professional development to keep abreast of the most recent changes to local and national strategies, in order to drive improvement and maintain the highest levels of achievement for all children.  Plans to precisely track children's progress and set clear targets towards supporting substantial and sustained progress have not yet been implemented.

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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 ways to gain the most up-to-date information on local and national strategies in childcare, in order to maintain and enhance the already good level of practice and knowledge  implement and evaluate plans to precisely track the overall progress of children, in order to set clear targets towards supporting substantial and sustained progress, leading 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 her assistant at appropriate times throughout the inspection.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the childminder and jointly discussed the intentions and learning outcomes with the childminder and her assistant.  The inspector sampled the childminder's documentation, including policies, planning forms, training certificates and children's learning journals.  The inspector took account of the views of parents through a selection of recently completed references.  The inspector saw evidence of the suitability of all persons living or working 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 ambitious childminder and her assistant strive to provide the best quality care for children. They know how to promote the learning and development requirements to support children's good progress. The childminder has successfully addressed her previous recommendation. Robust risk assessments now cover all the areas children access, to minimise potential hazards. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The childminder and her assistant are alert to indicators that suggest children may be at risk of harm. They know the appropriate action to take should any concerns arise. Well-thought- out plans and valid first-aid qualifications enable both the childminder and her assistant to deal with emergency incidents effectively. Regular training, in addition to ongoing supervision, ensures that the very good quality of teaching is maintained.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The childminder provides a well-balanced activity programme to stimulate and challenge children in all areas of learning. The key person for each child has a clear understanding of the skills children need to develop, and consistently plans activities to support these. Activities are evaluated to ensure the learning intention has been met. These findings are then used to inform the following weeks' plans. The well-resourced environment is organised effectively. Children make choices in their play, both indoors and outdoors. They draw on their imagination during role play to incorporate real-life experiences. Children listen to stories with increasing attention and recall. They maintain their focus as they observe the assistant's expressive actions and voice intonation as she reads. The childminder uses an effective range of strategies to share information with parents. This involves them all in their child's learning and informs them of the activities children take

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

part in. Parents are very happy with the care provided and comment on the exceptional progress their children have made since attending.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

The warm relationship between the childminder and her assistant promotes a good role model for children as they learn appropriate ways to behave. Children enjoy cuddles when they are tired and gain immediate support as they require. This demonstrates the secure attachments they have formed with the adults who take care of them. Cultural activities are meaningful to children and warmly celebrated by them all. This helps to raise children's awareness of the similarities and differences of others. For example, the children enjoyed attending a recent Diwali party and sharing traditional foods as part of the celebrations. Children take part in a range of outings and outdoor learning opportunities. They swim weekly at the local leisure centre, attend soft-play activities and enjoy frequent park visits to help develop their physical agility.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children make good progress from their starting point assessments. Gaps in achievement are quickly identified and focus activities are planned to close these rapidly. Children display a positive attitude to learning and gain the essential skills that they need, in readiness for their move on to nursery and then school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY292854 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 861457 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Age range of children 1 - 9 Total number of places 12 Number of children on roll 21

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Name of provider

Date of previous inspection 16 June 2011

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 2004 and lives in Welwyn Garden City. She operates all year round from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds an appropriate qualification at level 3. She provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. The childminder works with an assistant.

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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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