Childminder 506771

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 20 June 2016 8 February 2012

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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 provides interesting activities to support children's learning. Her good knowledge and understanding, gained through qualifications and many years of experience, contribute to her confidence in using different teaching methods. Children enjoy making finger puppets to use in a story about a mouse.  The childminder works very closely with parents. She ensures she shares information with them and gives them ideas to help them support their children's development at home.  Parents are pleased with the care the childminder provides for their children. She often looks after children for many years. This helps children feel secure while they benefit from her consistent care.  The childminder discusses new ideas with her co-childminders and assistants. Together they effectively review the quality of care and education they provide. They value feedback from parents, which helps them adapt and enhance their already good

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This provision is good

provision.  The childminder provides a wide variety of toys and equipment for children to explore and use. She utilises the space within her home and garden very well, allowing children to move around and learn in a way that they prefer.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The childminder is sometimes a little too eager to help children. She does not always give them sufficient time to solve problems and complete tasks for themselves during their play and activities.

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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

 give children more time to independently complete tasks and solve problems at their own pace.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities in the childminder's house and spoke to her and her assistant and children at suitable times throughout the inspection.  The inspector checked the evidence of the suitability of the childminder, her co- childminders and assistants and all household members. She viewed a range of documentation including the safeguarding procedures and attendance records.  The inspector observed the quality of teaching and discussed the impact this has on children's learning with the childminder.  The inspector looked at children's records and assessments.  The inspector took into consideration the views of parents recorded in email responses.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The childminder knows how to protect children and who to report any concerns about children's welfare to. She ensures her co- childminders and assistants understand their roles and responsibilities in keeping children safe too. The childminder ensures that all those working with children in her home are suitable to do so. They regularly meet together and share new information or ideas gathered through training, reading articles and talking with other childminders and professionals. The childminder asks parents for permission to share information about children's learning and development with staff from other settings that children attend. This helps her to provide consistent approaches to learning. The childminder effectively monitors the progress that children are making, helping her to quickly identify and close any gaps in learning should they arise.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Children confidently select toys and resources that interest them. Very young children enjoy making marks with wax crayons. This is one way that the childminder helps to develop the skills children will later use for drawing and writing. Children help the childminder to sort the crayons into colours and repeat the words she uses, helping to expand their emerging vocabulary. Older children enjoy using their imagination while they use small figures and animals. The childminder uses the information she gathers from parents and her observations to help her shape activities that assist children to achieve the next steps in their learning. Children borrow storybooks to take home and share with their parents and siblings.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

The childminder provides a warm and welcoming environment within which children play and learn. Children enjoy exploring in the garden. They watch snails and run around, collecting stones in a bucket. The childminder ensures that she, her co-childminders and assistants use consistent rules to help children behave very well. They gently remind children why it is important to be kind to others. The childminder gathers information from parents about the children when she begins to provide care for them. This helps her to continue key routines, such as nap times at a similar time each day. When children sleep, they each have their own cot or rest area with familiar toys and comforters. The childminder has effectively put plans into place for children to move to a new setting. Their new childminder has visited the children and key information has been shared with her, helping to establish a positive relationship with her over a period of weeks.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children make good progress in their learning and development. They quickly become confident, happy learners. When the time comes, children are prepared to continue making progress at nursery, pre-school or school. Children learn to put their own shoes and coats on. They confidently carry out self-care tasks, such as toileting and washing their hands. Children recognise numbers and letters and enjoy borrowing books to take home and share with their families.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 506771 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 855554 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 18 Number of children on roll 12

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Name of registered person

Date of previous inspection 8 February 2012

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 1985. She lives in Harpenden. The childminder works from her home with two co-childminders and two part-time assistants. She operates Monday to Thursday 8am until 6pm, all year round, except for family holidays and bank holidays. The childminder holds a relevant 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

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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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