Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 11 February 2016 9 March 2009

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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 childminder is extremely hardworking, enthusiastic and conscientious. She shows an outstanding dedication to her role that is equally shared with her co-minder and his assistant. The childminder demonstrates an uncompromising, highly successful drive to achieve excellence in all areas of her practice.  The quality of teaching is outstanding. The childminder uses extremely detailed observations and accurate assessments to plan an exciting range of activities and experiences. These are expertly used to challenge and motivate children to learn. All children make excellent progress in their learning and development.  Children form very warm and caring relationships with the childminder. They demonstrate high levels of confidence as they independently explore the stimulating play environment, choosing toys that they wish to play with.  Partnership working with parents is excellent. Parents are kept exceptionally well

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This provision is outstanding

informed about their children's progress. They are actively involved in every stage of their children's learning and development.  The childminder has developed extremely effective systems for sharing information with other settings that children attend. This helps to ensure that children's needs are well known and extremely well met.  Children's behaviour is excellent. They are polite, kind and considerate. The childminder effectively models how to behave towards others and sensitively communicates her high expectations to the children.  The childminder skilfully supports children to develop an understanding of the importance of a healthy lifestyle. She provides a rich and varied range of nutritious meals. Children have many opportunities to be outdoors, engaging in exercise and helping to grow vegetables on an allotment.

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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 develop children's already excellent understanding of people, families and communities different from their immediate experience.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector looked at those parts of the childminder's home used for the care of children.  The inspector observed teaching and learning activities both inside and outdoors. The inspector discussed the learning that was taking place with the childminder.  The inspector looked at a range of documentation, including the childminder's self- evaluation, policies and procedures. She also looked at the children's learning and assessment records.  The inspector looked at evidence of all suitability checks for the adults living and working on the premises.  The inspector took account of the views of parents, as recorded in written references and questionnaires.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The safety and welfare of children is central to the childminder's practice. She attends regular training and uses online forums to keep her outstanding knowledge of safeguarding children up to date. The childminder is well qualified. Since her last inspection she has gained a qualification which has helped her to develop an even more detailed knowledge of child development. The childminder carefully tracks children's progress to ensure that any gaps in learning are quickly addressed. The childminder regularly reviews the excellent work of the setting and actively seeks the views of parents and children. She successfully addresses their ideas, such as using more emails and texts to share information with parents. The childminder is committed to continually improving her understanding and practice through ongoing training and professional development.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

The childminder has an excellent knowledge of children's individual needs. Activities and experiences are extremely well planned to cover all areas of learning. The childminder's skilful interactions are expertly used to extend and enhance children's learning. For example, children are excited to play with toy dinosaurs. The childminder adds interesting resources, such as blocks and shredded paper, to enhance children's imagination and language. She plays alongside the children, asking probing questions. She models counting and a range of other mathematical language, such as naming the various sizes of the dinosaurs. The childminder takes into account what children are learning at nursery. She plans activities to complement and extend their learning. These children are excited and proud to share their knowledge and skills with the others. Children attend a range of different groups where they learn about festivals and other events that are important to

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

them. However, the childminder recognises that these activities do not include diversity outside the children's immediate experience.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children are very happy and secure. The childminder places an exceptionally high emphasis on promoting children's emotional well-being and is skilled in supporting children during settling-in times. She actively promotes children's independence and their ability to manage their own care needs. The childminder enthusiastically teaches children how to stay safe and healthy, which greatly helps to promote their physical well-being. Children have regular opportunities to be physically active. The childminder makes excellent use of local amenities and places of interest to enhance and develop children's understanding of the world around them. The childminder promotes children's language and communication skills extremely well. She enthusiastically talks to the children throughout the day, explaining their actions and modelling the use of new words.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

All children are making excellent progress in their learning and development and are acquiring superb skills that they need for the next stage in their learning and school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY309507 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 848981 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 7 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 6

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Name of provider

Date of previous inspection 9 March 2009

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 2005 and lives in Welwyn Garden City. She works with her husband, who is also a registered childminder, and he employs an assistant. The childminder operates all year round, from 7.30am to 7pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds an appropriate qualification at level 3. The childminder provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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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