Halpin Amanda Helen

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 14 September 2016 25 April 2013

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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 reflects on the service she offers to children and their families. She seeks the views of parents to help drive continuous improvement. She meets with other childminders and they hold professional discussions as they reflect on their own and each other's practice.  The childminder understands the importance of regular attendance for all children. She explains to parents how this helps children to settle quickly and gives them a good start to their education.  Children make good progress. The childminder helps children to understand how to use technology safely, to find information and to develop new skills. Children use the internet to plan days out at a wildlife park. They also work out how to skilfully steer a remote-control car around the childminder's house.  The childminder understands the importance of working in partnerships with other settings children attend. She supports children to settle at pre-schools and nurseries.

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This provision is good

She meets with children's new key persons to share development information. This supports continuity of care and learning for each child.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The childminder does not give the same consideration to the thoughtful planning of the outdoor environment as she does inside. This means that children who prefer to learn outdoors do not always benefit from the same stimulating learning experiences.  The childminder does not always give children clear messages about why it is important to have a healthy diet.

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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 planning for activities in the outdoor environment, in order to help children who prefer to learn outside have the same level of stimulating experiences as is provided indoors  enable children to begin to understand the benefits of eating healthy food.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the childminder joining in activities with children and discussed the learning that was taking place.  The inspector saw the areas of the premises and garden used for childminding.  The inspector looked at children's assessment records and the childminder's planning documentation. Evidence of the suitability of household members and a range of other documents, including the safeguarding policy, were also seen.  The inspector spoke to and interacted with children at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector took account of the childminder's self-evaluation form and of the written 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, which helps to protect children's welfare. She ensures her assistant attends child protection training to help her to understand her role in safeguarding children. The childminder sources professional development opportunities, in order to improve her knowledge. For example, she attends training on new initiatives that have an impact on her work with children. She reflects on her learning and engages in research in order to gain an even better understanding. The childminder regularly tracks children's learning. She ensures that any gaps in their development are quickly identified and plans strategies to address them.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The childminder provides many opportunities for children to gain good mathematical skills. Children independently complete number puzzles, demonstrating how they can easily sequence numbers. The childminder introduces counting to the younger children as she counts how many steps they walk down together. Children enjoy looking at a globe. They spin the globe around and put their finger on where it stops. The childminder helps children to learn about the world as she names the country and gives them factual information about what they might see or do if they went there. The childminder is aware of children's next steps in learning and plans activities indoors that are suitably challenging. She shares development information with parents and receives updates from them regarding what children have been learning at home.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children are very keen to be outdoors in the garden or visiting the park. They enjoy physical activities, such as ball games. Children are highly skilled at kicking, throwing and catching balls, which they do with proficiency and ease. Children are happy; they have fun together and demonstrate they feel secure in the childminder's home. The childminder works with parents to help children develop good independence skills, such as by respecting parents' views on toilet training. She helps children understand how to keep safe in the sun. For example, she explains why they need to have plenty of water to drink and why they need to wear sun cream. Parents speak highly of the childminder. They talk about the positive impact she has on their children, especially with regard to their social skills, which they feel prepares their children well for school.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are making good progress and enjoy learning. They gain good skills in using their hands, which prepares them for learning to write. They carefully thread bobbins and beads onto laces, concentrating well and trying to do it themselves before asking the childminder for help. They are developing effective communication and language skills. Children hold effective conversations with the childminder and with each other. The childminder supports children to be ready for the move on to school. She ensures they are developing some skills they need, such as understanding numbers and letter sounds.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 149347 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 1063625 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 0 - 10 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 11

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Name of registered person

Date of previous inspection 25 April 2013

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 1998 and lives in Stevenage. She operates from 7am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder employs her daughter as an assistant on a part-time basis.

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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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