Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 22 August 2016 Not applicable

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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 well-qualified childminder has a good understanding about how children learn and develop. She provides a range of stimulating activities that is challenging and captures the children's interests. This helps support children to make continued good progress in their learning and development.  Children behave well and are kind to one another. The childminder is a good role model and is consistent in her approach to behaviour. She supports the children to share and take turns. The childminder supports the children's growing understanding of what is right and what is wrong.  The childminder successfully evaluates her practice and the activities that she provides for the children. She seeks the views of parents and children and incorporates their ideas into plans for improving her practice.  Children's mathematical development is promoted through the positive interactions and support the childminder provides during activities. For example, they confidently count

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This provision is good

the number of bricks that they have sorted into piles of different colours.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The childminder does not always make the best use of professional development opportunities in sharpening the focus to extend and build on teaching skills even further.  The childminder does not consistently give parents sufficient information and ideas about how they can effectively contribute to, and be involved in, their children's learning and development.

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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

 expand continuous professional development opportunities to sharply focus on extending and building on teaching skills even further  increase the level of information and ideas given to parents so that they can actively contribute to further extending children's learning and development.

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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 observed and discussed a planned activity with the childminder.  The inspector spoke with the childminder at appropriate times during the inspection. She looked at relevant documentation, such as the childminder's self-evaluation, children's learning records and a sample of policies.  The inspector read feedback from parents and talked to children during the inspection and took account of their views and responses.  The inspector reviewed evidence of the suitability of the childminder and all adults living at the premises.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The childminder has a very good understanding of the signs and symptoms that would raise a concern about the safety and welfare of children. She knows the procedures to follow and who to contact in her local authority. She also carries out thorough risk assessments to minimise hazards to children both on and off the premises. The childminder regularly reviews the assessments of children's learning and development in order to identify any gaps in their learning. She sets targets for improvement which ensure children continue to make good progress. The childminder often meets with other childminders to share good practice and ideas for activities. She uses this information when reviewing her own practice.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The childminder supports the children's language and communication development and talks to them about what they are doing. For example, the childminder explains to them why the water makes a shimmery pattern on the floor. She also encourages them to share their news about their recent holidays. During a water activity, the childminder supports the children's letter and colour recognition as they fish for different letters of the alphabet with their nets. Children are encouraged to explore activities for themselves. They have fun building towers using different coloured bricks to make a sequence of pattern. The childminder assesses children's starting points during their settling-in sessions and this enables her to accurately plan their next steps in learning.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children acquire strong independence skills. For example, they help to tidy away toys, make their own choices for activities and put on their own shoes. Children have built good relationships with the childminder and feel happy and safe in her care. The childminder helps children to learn about keeping healthy. For example, she talks to them about why they wash their hands before eating. The childminder provides healthy meals and snacks for the children which they help to prepare. This is one of the ways that she supports them to understand about what food is good for them and what food is better as an occasional treat. Children become aware of their own safety when out and about. They enjoy exploring and learning about their local environment as they visit the library, farm and nearby wooded area.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are eager to learn and participate in the range of learning opportunities offered. All children are making good progress from their starting points. They develop all the necessary skills they need ready for moving on to nursery and eventually for their move on to school. Children develop their physical skills as they visit the local park, play ball games and practise cutting up their own fruit for snack time. They enjoy learning about the world around them as they practise using chopssticks, trying new food and reading stories about different festivals.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY480621 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 986405 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 3 - 11 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 22

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Name of registered person

Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 2014 and lives in St. Albans. She operates all year round from 7am 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

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our website for news, information and updates at www.ofsted.gov.uk/user.

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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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