Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 4 July 2016 19 September 2014

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Requires Improvement

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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 taken positive steps to address the actions raised at the last inspection. She has increased her knowledge about how to effectively use observations and assessment to support and extend children's learning. The childminder also analyses each activity to see how these benefit children and promote their good progress.  The childminder has a kind and caring nature. She has effective settling-in procedures to ensure that children are supported well with their move from home. Children are treated as part of the family.  The childminder has clear expectations for good behaviour. She involves older children in discussions about how to treat each other with respect. They are encouraged to have good manners and they enjoy helping their younger friends.  Children are able to mix with similar-aged children. They are taken to stimulating group activities. These are led by the local childminding network group. This helps them to

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This provision is good

interact positively with other children outside of the childminder's home.  The childminder checks the quality of her provision. She shares ideas and good practice with her co-childminder and ensures that he is very aware of the policies and procedures they implement.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The childminder does not always encourage all parents to share information about children's ongoing learning at home to support her to plan sharply focused activities.  The childminder does not provide many opportunities for children to take part in sensory exploration.

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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

 build further on the partnerships with parents, so that they are consistently encouraged to share information about their child's learning at home  extend the range of opportunities for sensory exploration to enable children to discover and experiment with a wide variety of materials.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke to the children, the childminder and her co-childminder at appropriate times. She engaged in the children's play. The inspector observed the childminder's and children's interactions with each other indoors and outdoors.  The inspector checked evidence of the suitability and qualifications of the childminder and the suitability of other adults living and working in the home.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the childminder.  The inspector looked at a range of documentation, including the childminder's safeguarding policy. She also looked at children's observations, learning and assessment records.  The inspector took account of parents' views through references left with the childminder.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The childminder is familiar with signs that indicate children may be at risk of abuse. She knows the procedures to follow if she has any concerns about a child's welfare. Since the last inspection, the childminder has developed her practice. For example, she continually reads about new ideas related to activities. She also researches specific issues, such as current safeguarding legislation. She shares all information with her co-childminder and monitors his work with children. Together they reflect on their work and regularly discuss how they can continually improve. The childminder shares diaries and learning journals with parents. However, she does not consistently include information about children's ongoing learning from home in her planning.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The childminder knows the children well. She ensures that resources they enjoy playing with are easily available to support their next steps in learning. For example, toddlers enjoy learning how to independently use the interactive train. They smile in delight when they copy the childminder's actions of pressing the button to make the train move along the floor. The childminder is very considerate to children's needs and plays alongside them. She listens attentively to them and sings songs and nursery rhymes to help support their language development. She effectively extends their learning by introducing items linked to their interests, such as wheels. She shows children how to use the cogs so that the wheels turn. This helps to support their hand-to-eye coordination and their concentration skills.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children enjoy spending time with the welcoming childminder and her co-childminder. Children's health, hygiene and independence are well promoted by the childminder. For example, the childminder takes time to ensure that younger children are able to master the skill of feeding themselves. She praises them during routines and activities so that they develop good levels of self-esteem. The childminder works closely with parents to ensure that changing needs, such as sleep and eating habits, are very well known. Children learn to keep themselves safe. For example, toddlers learn how to climb safely in and out of the play car without catching their fingers in the door. Older children are reminded how to walk safely to and from school.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are making good progress and they are learning the key skills they need in preparation for moving on to school. The childminder regularly shares books with them to support their early interest in reading. Tools to support writing skills are easily available. Children's understanding of numeracy and problem solving is supported during routines and play, such as baking and model building using construction items.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 117595 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 1044232 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 1 - 1 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 1

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Name of registered person

Date of previous inspection 19 September 2014

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 1993 and lives in Shenley. She operates all year round from 7am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder offers overnight care and works with a co-childminder.

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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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