Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 21 January 2016 25 May 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

 The quality of teaching is outstanding. Children enjoy a wealth of excellent learning experiences that successfully interest and involve children of all ages and levels of ability. The childminder meticulously monitors children's learning and fully understands their individual needs and personalities, contributing strongly towards the excellent progress they make.  The childminder is passionate about providing high-quality care and learning. Children's sense of well-being and belonging are strong because the childminder forms secure emotional attachments with them. She works extremely closely with parents to ensure that she has a wealth of knowledge about each individual child. This contributes to children feeling very settled and secure.  Children are valued as unique individuals. They develop an exceptionally strong sense of belonging and emotional security. They build firm attachments with the childminder.

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This provision is outstanding

 The childminder is very experienced. She continually seeks additional knowledge and expertise. She proactively attends a variety of purposeful training courses. The childminder successfully implements knowledge gained to enhance children's experiences. This approach contributes extremely well to the high standards of care and education children benefit from.  The childminder offers a very warm, welcoming and home-from-home environment. She has a broad range of high-quality interesting resources. She skilfully adds to these, using natural materials and equipment from around the world. These contribute to children developing an awareness of others and exceptional communication and language skills.

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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

 implement plans to develop even more opportunities for children to recognise and understand the meaning of numerals.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities and evaluated these with the childminder.  The inspector took account of the views of parents from references, thank you cards and questionnaires containing their comments on the provision.  The inspector looked at children's records, policies and procedures and a range of other documentation, including assessment and planning.  The inspector looked at training records and discussed the impact of these. She also checked evidence of the suitability of all those living on the premises.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Children are extremely well protected as the childminder has an excellent understanding of her role in safeguarding children. Robust policies and procedures underpin her outstanding practice and are shared with parents. These, and the childminder's vigilance, help to ensure children are kept safe from harm. The childminder has very high aspirations for the quality of her practice and is very aware of the positive impact that continuous purposeful training provides. For example, following any training she critically reflects on her own practice and implements new ideas to significantly extend children's learning even more. The childminder continually monitors her practice and highly values the views of parents and children. The childminder has a very close partnership with other providers where children attend and meticulously shares information about their learning and development.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

The stimulating experiences offered by the childminder build on what children already know, like and can do. The enthusiastic childminder uses every opportunity to help children make rapid progress in their learning. For example, during nature walks, they stop and actively listen to sounds around them. This leads to in-depth discussions and helps to extend children's speaking and listening skills. In addition, the childminder provides a wealth of opportunities for them to extend their learning, such as the creation of cosy areas for children to be inspired and enjoy their favourite activities. The quality of her interactions with children is excellent. The childminder engages children in meaningful discoveries, such as the planting and growing of a variety of vegetables at the family allotment. They enjoy baking cakes for special occasions and learn about weighing and measuring in the process. The childminder has identified that she would like to do even

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

more to further expand children's recognition and understanding of numeracy.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children are extremely confident and show high levels of curiosity. They feel very settled and secure in the childminder's welcoming home. They demonstrate very good independence skills and they behave extremely well. The childminder is sensitive to children's individual care needs so that they continue to feel emotionally secure. She ensures that routines are flexible and are tailored to each child's own routine. Meals and snacks provided are healthy and nutritious and the childminder enthusiastically discusses the important of healthy eating. Rich, varied and imaginative experiences are provided to help children develop excellent physical skills. For example, the local environment is expertly used to help children understand a wealth of information about the wider world. They regularly go on purposeful bus journeys to places of interest, such as museums and parks containing challenging and interesting play equipment further afield.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

All children make outstanding progress from their starting points. They are extremely well prepared for the next stage in their learning and are active, interested and motivated learners.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 130305 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 797284 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 1 - 2 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 4

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 1989. She operates all year round from 6.30am to 7pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder offers overnight care.

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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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