Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 20 November 2015 23 March 2011

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1

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This provision is outstanding

 Children make rapid and sustained progress. The childminder has robust systems to measure and check children's learning. She uses this information to make certain that any gaps in their progress are promptly addressed. Children are very well prepared for the next stage in their learning.  The children learn and play in an extremely safe, stimulating and caring environment. Resources are attractive, colourful and easily available to them. Children learn to make decisions, select their own toys and develop their own games and ideas.  The childminder helps children develop healthy lifestyles. She uses a snack station where children make good choices about the food they eat. They talk about eating a rainbow, as the fresh food they choose from is colourful and appealing. The children record how many portions of fruit and vegetables they eat on a tally chart.  The childminder establishes excellent relationships with parents. They value her

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This provision is outstanding

knowledge and understanding. Parents regularly use the activities the childminder plans for them to take home. Parents are extremely well informed about their children's achievements and know how they can contribute to their progress.  The childminder forms exceptionally strong partnerships with other early years providers where children attend. They regularly share comprehensive information on children's learning and development. This further supports children's excellent development.  Children learn to use books for pleasure and for learning. They demonstrate their understanding of using books to gain information as they look for different types of boats in factual books. The childminder makes stories fun as she reads children their favourite books.

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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

 continue to enhance the programme of professional development to develop and maintain the excellent standard of teaching already achieved.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the childminder engaging in activities with the children at appropriate times and 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. The 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 outstanding

The childminder has an uncompromising drive to improve outcomes for children. She has very high expectations for her practice and that of her assistant and sets an excellent example to others. The childminder works closely with other childminders and they state how highly supportive she is to them. She is extremely reflective about the effectiveness of the care and teaching she provides. She sets challenging but achievable goals for further improvement. The childminder places a strong emphasis on continuing to build her skills and teaching practice. She recognises her ongoing need to enhance her professional development. She is currently researching how to gain further qualifications in order to maintain the excellent standards she has already achieved. The arrangements for safeguarding children are effective. The childminder regularly updates her knowledge of child protection. She has an excellent understanding of the signs and symptoms of abuse

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

and the procedure to follow should she have any concerns about children in her care.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

The childminder knows the children extremely well, and plans her excellent activities according to each child's needs and interest. She uses the information she receives from parents about their children's knowledge and understanding very well to ensure a speedy start to their learning. Children enjoy exploring leaves, pine cones and conkers they have found on their walks. The childminder adds scissors and string to this activity and this helps children to use their thinking and physical skills. They use the string as a measure. The childminder uses children's own ideas to extend their mathematical understanding as she suggests they use the string to measure other things, such as their heights. The childminder asks children clear questions which help them form new ideas and express their own thoughts clearly. The high quality of teaching ensures children make excellent progress whatever their starting point.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children are exceedingly confident and happy. Their behaviour is outstanding. They respond extremely well to the calm and purposeful example the childminder sets for them. Children demonstrate their high sense of belonging in the childminder's home. They love to help and are very excited to use the vacuum cleaner. Children are very curious. For example, they enjoy exploring how the vacuum cleaner works. They explain how it is charged and what the different buttons do when they are pressed. The childminder helps children to feel highly valued and cared for. She gives constant praise and tells them how good their work is and what good ideas they have. Children make decisions about the food they eat and choose from a healthy range of snacks. Children are often given new and exciting experiences, such as visits to the coast or farms.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

Children make excellent progress, given their individual starting points. The childminder helps children build rapidly on their key skills which underpin future learning. Children are extremely well placed to continue their learning at school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY343509 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 849345 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Age range of children 2 - 3 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 2

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Name of provider

Date of previous inspection 23 March 2011

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 2006 and lives in Hemel Hempstead. She operates all year round from 7.30am to 6pm, Monday until Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder provides funded education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. The childminder occasionally 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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