Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 14 June 2016 8 July 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 childminder has a good understanding of how young children learn through play. She provides a varied range of stimulating resources and activities. This helps to support children in making good progress in their learning and development.  The childminder provides a flexible service and establishes positive and trusting partnerships with parents. She works closely with them to ensure children's routines and dietary needs are known and followed. The childminder is proactive in ensuring parents receive frequent information to support children's ongoing progress.  The childminder makes very good use of the local environment to develop children's learning. They attend purposeful group activities where they play with similar aged children. This helps to build on their social skills outside of the childminder's home.  Children develop good levels of communication and language skills. This is due to the

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This provision is good

positive interactions and support which the childminder and her assistants provide, during play and activities.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The childminder does not always monitor her teaching practice sharply enough, with regard to the challenge and support offered to older and most-able children.  Some of the information exchanged with other settings that children attend does not contain precise details about what children know and can do, in order to support their progress more accurately and consistently.

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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

 strengthen the monitoring of teaching practice, so that older and most-able children are offered sufficient challenge during activities, helping them to excel in their learning  strengthen the partnerships with other settings that children attend, sharing more precise details about children's achievements and abilities to support their progress more consistently and accurately.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke with the childminder and her assistants at appropriate times. She engaged in children's play and observed interactions taking place during the inspection.  The inspector discussed children's learning with the childminder following the observation of an activity.  The inspector checked evidence of the qualifications of the childminder and her assistants, and the suitability of all those living and working on the premises.  The inspector took account of parents' views through references left with the childminder.  The inspector looked at a range of documentation, including children's learning records and policies and procedures.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The childminder is familiar with local safeguarding procedures and is aware of signs that indicate concerns about children. She also ensures that her well-qualified assistants are up to date with new legislation that may affect children's welfare. The childminder follows safe recruitment procedures to ensure that her assistants are suitable for their role. She monitors their practice and they plan stimulating activities together. These are based on children's interests and the observations and assessments made by the childminder and her assistants. Their daily discussions and the sharing of children's diaries help to help promote individual children's health and safety. The childminder and her assistants attend training to improve their knowledge and teaching skills.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The dedicated childminder knows children's interests and their stages of development very well. Children benefit from prolonged periods of uninterrupted time to play and experiment. This means they remain engaged and focused on activities. They particularly enjoy imaginative play. The childminder and her assistants skilfully use these opportunities to extend children's language and understanding of numeracy. For example, younger children chatter on toy telephones. Discussions take place about who they are talking to, what the person may be doing and the numbers that they press. The childminder develops children's thinking skills as they play with shaving foam. For example, she asks probing questions and helps children to write numbers and letters of their names in the foam.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

The childminder ensures that all areas used by children are safe. She routinely speaks to children about safety issues and completes detailed risk assessments for the wide variety of outings. For example, they visit animal parks, stately homes and museums, and learn how to safely use a range of transport, such as trains. Children's behaviour is managed very well. The childminder effectively supports children to share and take turns as they play. They receive frequent meaningful praise. Older children are considerate and kind to their younger friends. This helps to promote children's self-esteem. Children learn the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle. They play in the childminder's garden, visit parks and woodland where they get plenty of fresh air and practise their physical skills. Parents speak highly about the childminder. They state that their children have made great progress and that they love coming to play with their friends.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are learning the key skills they need in preparation for moving on to school. They enjoy making models of their own choice using a varied range of art and craft materials. This helps to support children's hand-to-eye coordination, which helps their future writing skills. Children show an interest in reading and learn to independently manage their own care needs.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY413918 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 851462 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 1 - 4 Total number of places 12 Number of children on roll 12

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 2010 and lives in Bushey, Watford. She operates all year round from 7.30am to 7.30pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. She works with four assistants at various times. Two of the assistants hold appropriate qualifications 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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