Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 23 May 2016 10 June 2013

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Outcomes for children Requires improvement

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This provision requires improvement. It is not yet good because:

 The childminder is unaware of the need to inform Ofsted about changes to her circumstances. However, this does not have a significant impact on the safety of children.  The childminder does not make best use of what she knows about the children and what they need to learn next. Children do not always have enough time to develop their ideas or persevere at an activity.  Other people can open the gates and access the garden due to a shared right of way. Although risks to children are minimal the childminder has not considered other ways to make this safer.  The childminder does not always evaluate her practice effectively. She identifies where her provision is strong but does not always recognise areas to improve.

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It has the following strengths

 The childminder uses a wide and varied range of interesting toys, resources and equipment to help meet the interests of children and support their learning.  The childminder is alert to signs and symptoms of abuse or neglect and common childhood illnesses. She understands the need to report any concerns and to record any incidents, accidents or illness.  Children are happy and settled in the childminder's home. They are learning skills which will help them move on to the next stage in their learning, For example, children are learning to share, take turns and respect each other.  The childminder is taking steps to expand and develop her knowledge and skills through attending further training.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage the provider must:

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Due Date

 plan activities that build on what children need to learn next and which help them to explore and find things out for themselves 23/06/2016

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Due Date

 make the garden less accessible to others when children are playing outside. 23/06/2016

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Due Date

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

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Due Date

 make better use of self-evaluation in order to identify and action any weaknesses in practice.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the childminder's teaching and the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector and childminder jointly observed and discussed children's learning and development.  The inspector took into account the views of parents through written references, questionnaires and comments.  The inspector looked at a selection of children's records, evidence of the suitability of adults and a selection of other documentation, including policies and procedures.  The inspector spoke to children at appropriate times throughout the inspection.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

The childminder has not informed Ofsted, as required, that an adult has moved out of the household. However, this has no impact on children's safety. Arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The childminder has a suitable understanding of how to protect children and who to contact if she has concerns. She adequately supervises children in the garden to prevent falls and accidents. The childminder is suitably qualified and undertakes training to help her improve her practice. She maintains appropriate records and has a variety of policies in place to support her provision for children. The childminder reflects on what she does with the children and has identified a number of strengths. For example, she has made improvements to children's assessments. However, she does not always recognise where there are weaknesses and misses other opportunities to further improve teaching.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

The childminder's teaching is, at times, inconsistent. She talks to the children about numbers, colours and shapes. However, when asking questions she does not always allow children enough time to respond. On occasions she also moves children on before they have time to explore or do things for themselves. She draws their attention to the size and shape of different objects. She points out numerals and letters to introduce early reading and writing skills. The childminder has developed the use of ongoing assessments; she records these alongside information from other settings and from parents, photographs of children's activities and samples of their drawings or craft. However, she does not use what she knows about the children from her assessments well enough in activities in order to prioritise what they need to learn next.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

The back garden is accessible to others due to a shared right of way. However, the risks to children's safety are minimal. The childminder ensures that the children are well supervised when outside. They are learning about the natural world and about good health. For example, children really enjoy watering the strawberry plants and other flowers. They like to use tools, such as spades and containers to make sandcastles. They confidently jump on the trampoline and throw and catch balls. The childminder gains sufficient information about individual children's backgrounds, needs and abilities from parents and other settings on entry to help them settle well. Children behave well. The childminder reminds them to be gentle with toys and to be careful when using the stairs. Children are learning about similarities and differences between themselves as well as the wider community.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

Children's learning is sometimes interrupted when they are not able to continue exploring. However, at other times children choose toys and resources which they enjoy, such as lining-up cars and playing in the toy kitchen. They roll out play dough and make different shapes. Children attempt to match shapes to the holes in the shaper sorter.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY451516 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 1043121 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 10 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 2

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Name of registered person

Date of previous inspection 10 June 2013

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 2012 and lives in Hertford. She operates all year round from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Thursday, except 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

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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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