Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 4 February 2016 29 November 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 quality of teaching is strong. The childminder knows children she cares for well. She provides a range of interesting experiences and activities that is suitable for their ages and abilities.  Children are confident communicators. They eagerly sing along to their favourite songs and engage in purposeful discussion that relates to their own experiences.  Children are happy and secure in the childminder's care. She offers a stable and nurturing environment for children who have experienced many changes. Children gain continued reassurance from the childminder as they try out a variety of new experiences. This helps to support their emotional well-being.  The childminder understands the value of maintaining a two-way flow of information with parents and other providers to enable continuous learning for each child. Partnerships with parents are well established. Parents are extremely happy with the

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This provision is good

professional care the childminder provides and comment on how much their children look forward to attending.  Children have many outdoor learning opportunities and they explore the local and wider environment. They visit the post office and bakery, take part in regular outings to the farm and go on organised day trips to safari parks and the seaside.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The childminder's professional development plans are not sharply focused. She has not considered ways to keep abreast of the most recent changes to local and national strategies, in order to drive improvement and achieve the highest-quality care and learning for all children.  The childminder does not always make the most of every opportunity to encourage children to develop their skills in critical thinking.

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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 strengthen professional development, in order to gain the most up-to-date information on local and national strategies in childcare and drive towards achieving and maintaining outstanding practice  give children more opportunities to think about how they can solve simple problems, predict what might happen and complete tasks for themselves.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed daily routines and children's activities indoors. She talked to the childminder and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection.  The inspector observed adult-led activities and jointly discussed the intentions and learning outcomes of these with the childminder.  The inspector looked at a sample of the childminder's documentation, including policies, training certificates and children's scrapbooks.  The inspector took account of the views of parents through recently completed questionnaires and a number of written references.  The inspector checked documentation in relation to the safeguarding and welfare requirements. She viewed the childminder's safeguarding and first-aid certificate.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The childminder has a good understanding of her responsibilities and the procedures to follow should she have concerns for any child in her care. Through her detailed risk assessments and vigilant supervision, the childminder ensures that children are kept safe. This is particularly pertinent during the current period of building work being undertaken on the home. The childminder reflects on her practice to support continuous improvement. She welcomes the views of parents as she considers how she may enhance the service that she provides. The childminder has established links with other childcare professionals and has joined two local childminding networks. She evaluates the information and feedback from these partnerships. This helps her to review the learning programme that she provides for each child and to maintain her good quality teaching.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The childminder closely follows children's lead. Children make choices in their play and flourish as they take part in the well-planned activities. They maintain their focus as they use their smaller physical muscles to break noodles into small pieces and explore an array of textured materials. Young children create collage pictures, using glue sticks as they decorate and complete their unique designs. The childminder recognises children's engagement and skilfully extends the activity so they can observe how the texture of noodles changes when cooked. Older children receive support with their school work, such as sharing reading books with the childminder. This helps to promote their emerging literacy skills. The childminder regularly observes and assesses children's levels of development. She uses relevant guidance to identify their next steps in learning and plans ways to promote these to ensure children's continued good progress.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

The childminder acts as a good role model and provides children with clear guidance about her expectations. This prompts their good behaviour as they relish the praise that they receive. Children have many opportunities to develop their social skills and they talk fondly about other children that attend. The childminder takes them to regular groups and organises activities with other childminders. These experiences help children to learn how to respect, build relationships and interact with others. The childminder's sensitive approach encourages children to persevere as they begin to manage their own personal needs. She teaches children to keep themselves safe, for instance, by reminding them to sit at the table as they eat their food. Children enjoy a range of nutritious snacks which the childminder offers to complement the food provided from home, helping to promote their good health.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children make good progress from their starting points. They are developing into confident, self-assured individuals and gain the essential skills that they need in preparation for starting school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 129140 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 874809 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 3

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Name of provider

Date of previous inspection 29 November 2011

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 1993 and lives in Hatfield. She operates all year round from 8am to 5pm, Monday to Thursday, except for bank holidays and family holidays.

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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

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our website for news, information and updates at www.ofsted.gov.uk/user.

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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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