Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 21 June 2016 26 September 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 experienced and well-qualified childminder has successfully addressed the actions and recommendations raised at the previous inspection. She has made improvements to her practice to ensure she meets the necessary requirements to support children's care and learning needs.  The childminder promotes children's physical development well. She offers plenty of interesting experiences where children can explore their body's capabilities and achieve good coordination. They thoroughly enjoy blowing bubbles using the small wand and trying to catch bubbles from the bubble machine.  The childminder is very good at recognising children's immediate needs. She adapts her plans, adjusting them to ensure children's care is prioritised. She makes sure children rest or sleep when they need to.  The childminder offers a safe space for play. She encourages children to explore their environment and to play with the things that interest them most, building on what they

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This provision is good

have already achieved.  Relationships with parents are effective. The childminder values parents. She appreciates their input into helping her learn as much as possible about the children. They regularly share information about children's experiences and progress, which the childminder uses effectively to help her shape her service.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The childminder's planned programme of continuous professional development is not highly focused to support her to build on her good teaching skills.  The childminder's use of observation, assessment and planning is not sharply focused to support children to make the best possible progress.

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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 focus on continuous professional development to include teaching and children's learning to further enhance the already good skills  enhance the use of observation, assessment and planning to ensure it is sharply focused in order to support children to make the best possible progress.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector and the childminder discussed and reflected on children's learning through play.  The inspector and the childminder had discussions at appropriate times throughout the inspection.  The inspector looked at a range of documentation including policies, evidence of the suitability of the childminder and other members of the household aged over 16 years, observation and assessment of children's progress, the safeguarding procedures and the childminder's self-evaluation.  The inspector looked at letters and cards from parents and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The childminder recognises the signs that may indicate a child is at risk of harm. She maintains registers and risk assessments to help ensure she works in a safe manner. The childminder keeps up to date with first-aid training in order to ensure she can deal with minor accidents and assess the need for further medical attention. The childminder has reflected on her practice and is working on the targets she sets herself. She works with parents to ensure children's safety and well- being. She has the necessary details for contacting them in an emergency and shares her policies and procedures so that they are aware of her duties as a registered childminder.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The childminder engages well in children's play and they welcome her involvement. She supports the youngest children to explore their environment and to use their rapidly developing standing and walking skills. The childminder spends lots of time playing at children's level. Her interaction when playing with the puppet is particularly good. She uses it to promote children's early communication skills. By making the puppet talk and move, she causes children to laugh out loud and make sounds of excitement and wonder. They follow her movements closely as they wait for the puppet's return with an expression of great anticipation on their faces. The childminder uses storybooks to interest children in pictures and print. Some children concentrate well and point to images in the books. The childminder makes good use of the children's interest in pretend play. They move small cars and farm vehicles along the play mat. Children enjoy showing how some mechanical

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

toys work as they push buttons to make sounds and movements.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

The childminder's calm and consistent approach provides children with a good role model for how to interact with others. She uses gentle but firm reminders to help children understand and follow appropriate hygiene routines, such as washing their hands after playing outdoors. The childminder offers a variety of outdoor experiences, so that children spend plenty of time in the fresh air. They enjoy playing with balls or the sand in the garden and going to larger outdoor spaces in the local area. When playing with the sand, children experiment with different ways to move it around. They try the small spades and using the backs of their hands, carefully remaining balanced as they move the small pile from one place to another. Children eat balanced meals and help themselves to drinks from their individual cups.

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Outcomes for children are good

The childminder supports all children effectively to make progress from their individual starting points. Some children are making better than expected progress. The childminder makes effective use of her assessments to determine aspects of children's learning where they require specific interventions. She focuses her attention on helping children to acquire good speaking and listening skills. As part of the preparation for learning in school, the childminder helps children to achieve independence in personal care and teaches them the basics of counting and letter recognition.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY265774 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 1037103 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 4

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Name of registered person

Date of previous inspection 26 September 2012

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 2003 and lives in St Albans. She operates all year round from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds an appropriate 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

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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