Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 27 January 2016 17 May 2010

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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 understands how young children develop and provides a good range of play experiences. The childminder makes frequent observations of children, which build towards a record of assessment and help her to plan for their next steps in learning.  Children are physically active outdoors. One activity they do is planting a range of vegetables and fruit bushes in the vegetable garden and at the childminder's allotment. The childminder supports children to learn about the link between healthy eating and their well-being.  The childminder talks to children about their families, the languages they speak and celebrations that they enjoy. They attend a social group each week where they can hear and speak their home language, as well as many other languages. This is one way she helps to enhance their understanding of diversity beyond their immediate family.  Children thrive in this setting. They choose activities freely and begin to learn that their

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This provision is good

decisions are respected. The childminder helps children to put their toys away when they have finished with them. This assists towards their developing sense of responsibility.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The childminder does not work as effectively as possible with all other settings that children attend, to ensure continuity in children's learning and to enhance progress further.  The childminder does not undertake sufficiently robust monitoring of the assistant's work to ensure that professional development is focused on improving teaching.  The childminder does not always make the best use of information from parents about their children's achievements at home, in order to enrich the planning of activities so that children make rapid progress.

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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

 extend the partnerships with other childcare settings that children attend to more effectively support continuity in their learning  rigorously monitor and evaluate the assistant's practice and use the information to focus professional development and improve the quality of teaching further  make better use of ongoing information from parents about their children's learning and development at home.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector talked with the childminder, her assistant and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection.  The inspector looked at a range of documentation, including policies, evidence of the suitability of household members, observation and assessment documentation and the safeguarding procedures.  The inspector observed a planned activity and jointly evaluated this with the childminder.  The inspector spoke to a small selection of parents and took their views into account.  The inspector reviewed the childminder's self-evaluation.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The childminder and her assistant know the signs and symptoms that might indicate a cause for concern about children's welfare and how to report such concerns. The childminder consistently promotes children's welfare. She completes clear risk assessments and uses children's daily diaries to keep parents informed about their well-being. Self-evaluation is effective. The childminder demonstrates that she is motivated to sustain her knowledge. She undertakes research to help her to keep abreast of changes to legislation. The childminder's assistant helps to contribute towards the good standard of care. He willingly undertakes training, such as first aid and safeguarding, and works diligently alongside the childminder to help her observations of children.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The enthusiastic childminder offers well-planned activities to support children's learning. She identifies the next steps for every child's learning each week and plans activities to support these. Children have time to play cooperatively and develop their imagination. They enjoy role play, where they represent what they see around them. Children settle comfortably with the childminder, or her assistant, to listen to stories. This is one activity that helps to enrich their interest in literacy. The childminder helps children to develop good communication skills. She describes what she sees them doing as they play. The youngest children start to repeat the words they hear and listen carefully before beginning to follow simple instructions, such as sharing picture cards with their friends. Children enjoy physical activity indoors, as well as outside. Amongst other things they play musical instruments, follow simple activity rhymes and relish playing with the ball-pool.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

The childminder promotes children's well-being very effectively. She offers several sessions to children and families to help them to settle in. Parents comment on the success of these arrangements for their children. They report that they value the care children receive from the childminder and her assistant, which contributes towards the close bonds and feeling of security that children develop in the setting. Children respond well to the childminder's calm approach. She acts as a good role model to aid children in developing positive attitudes towards others. Children learn that good hygiene is important to their health; they wash their hands, with support, from an early age. The childminder talks to them about the importance of simple hygiene practices to help them to understand such routines and contribute towards their growing independence.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children, including those who speak English as an additional language, make good progress given their starting points. The childminder reviews children's progress to help them acquire and practise the skills needed for the next step in their learning, including school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 149278 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 874954 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 1 - 10 Total number of places 12 Number of children on roll 15

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 1992 and lives in Stevenage. She operates all year round from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder works with an assistant. 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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