Childminder 506770

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 18 July 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 skilfully teaches children as they engage in activities. She introduces numbers and counting as children play with small figures. Children quickly work out how many they need to fit on each of their fingers.  Children make good progress. The childminder supports their learning through her appropriate interactions with them. She talks to children about what they are doing and encourages them to think before they respond.  The childminder, along with her co-childminders, creates a warm, friendly environment. Children are happy and relaxed. They are learning to be kind to their friends, take turns and share resources. Children benefit from continuity of care as parents have used the childminder for many years.  Parents speak very highly of the highly experienced childminder. They feel their children are nurtured through the care they receive. They also state that children thrive because

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This provision is good

of the wonderful opportunities they have in the extensive garden.  The childminder reflects on her practice with her co-childminders. She seeks and implements the views of parents and children and uses this information to drive continuous improvements to the practice.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The childminder's programme of professional development is not always highly focused to ensure that the quality of teaching is improving to the highest possible level.

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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 programme of professional development to help raise the quality of teaching to the highest possible level and to improve outcomes for children even more.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the childminder joining in activities with children and discussed the learning that was taking place with her.  The inspector saw the areas of the premises and garden used for childminding.  The inspector looked at children's assessment records. Evidence of the suitability of household members and a range of other documents, including the safeguarding policy, was also seen.  The inspector discussed self-evaluation with the childminder and took account of the views of parents.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The childminder is confident about following appropriate child protection procedures. She has a good understanding of her role and responsibility in protecting children from harm. The childminder, along with her co-childminders, discusses and reviews the activities she offers to ensure she continues to meet each child's interests and needs. The childminder regularly assesses and tracks children's progress. She ensures any gaps in learning are quickly identified and implements strategies to address them. The childminder promotes continuity in children's learning as she regularly shares information on their progress with other settings that they attend.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Children are very creative. They spend time using paints to explore colour and to make pictures. The younger children are given time to mix paint together and the childminder draws their attention to the emerging new colours. Older children paint pictures with detail. They relate their pictures to their experiences, such as being at the beach. They use colours well to represent sun, sea and sand. The childminder promotes their language development as she chats to them as they paint. She encourages them to talk about what they did and saw at the seaside. The childminder is aware of children's next steps in learning and is able to ensure that the activities they experience are suitably challenging. She regularly shares development information with parents and suggests activities they could complete at home, such as reading.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children thoroughly enjoy, and greatly benefit, from spending time in the spacious garden. At times, they walk quietly round the garden looking at and talking about the plants and fruits that are growing. Other times, they enjoy physical play as they use ride-on toys and run round the bushes and trees. The childminder helps children to learn how to keep themselves safe in the sun. They talk together about the importance of wearing sun cream and hats. The childminder places toys in the shade and ensures children know where to find their drinks. Children are developing good independence as they do things for themselves, such as putting on their own shoes. The childminder gives them time to do this, prompting them to look carefully if they put them on the wrong feet. The childminder helps children through the move to new settings. She invites new providers to visit children and shares information on what children know and can do.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are developing good early reading and writing skills. They join in with stories and rhymes with enthusiasm. Children anticipate what might happen next in books as they gain information from the pictures. The childminder gives children opportunities to write their names on their pictures. They are proud to be able to do this by themselves. All children are developing very good communication and language skills. They hold very detailed conversations with the childminder. Children are making good progress and gaining the key skills required for their next stage of learning at nursery and at school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 506770 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 855553 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 6 Number of children on roll 9

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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 and lives in Harpenden. She works from the home of one of her co-childminders. She operates from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for 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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