Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 14 September 2016 13 December 2013

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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 made several improvements since her last inspection. For example, she has increased her knowledge about how to effectively use the progress check for children between the age of two and three years. She now has an accurate understanding of all children's abilities and provides suitable activities to help their development.  The well-qualified childminder has a warm and friendly personality. She offers a homely environment where children form secure attachments with her.  The childminder is enthusiastic and joins in with children's play. She talks to them throughout their activities and encourages them to concentrate on tasks.  The childminder has clear expectations for good behaviour. Children are encouraged to share, take turns and respect each other's feelings.  The childminder monitors the quality of her provision. She shares ideas and good practice with her co-childminder. They reflect on their work and regularly discuss how

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 At times, the childminder does not give enough time for children to respond during their play, so that they can extend their thinking skills.  The childminder's professional development plans do not focus sharply on continuing to develop her knowledge and teaching skills even further, so that children make progress at a more rapid rate.

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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

 provide children with sufficient time to think and respond during their play to help them learn to express themselves effectively  explore ways to engage in professional development opportunities that focus more precisely on further developing knowledge and skills and raising the quality of teaching to an even higher level.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke to the childminder and her co-childminder and children 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 safeguarding policy. She also looked at children's observations and learning and assessment records.  The inspector took account of parents' views through thank you cards 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 is aware of procedures to follow if she has any concerns about children's welfare. Since the last inspection, the childminder has developed her practice. For example, she researches different topics, such as current safeguarding legislation and has attended related training. She has also increased her knowledge about how to effectively use observations and assessments to identify children's learning needs. For example, she regularly completes a detailed summary of all children's progress and shares this with parents. They work together to identify the next steps in children's learning. She updates her policies and procedures and shares all information with her co-childminder.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The childminder knows each child very well. She ensures that activities are planned according to their interests and what they need to learn. For example, games to promote knowledge about numbers, shapes and colours are introduced. Children have fun and enjoy a variety of activities and experiences. They discover how to thread textured materials into a colander to create a colourful hat. This is one example of how their hand- to-eye coordination and concentration skills are promoted. The childminder is very attentive to children's needs and plays alongside them. She knows the children well and ensures that resources they enjoy playing with are easily available to support their next steps in learning.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children enjoy spending time with the friendly childminder and her co-childminder. They are treated as part of the family. The childminder works closely with parents to ensure that children are supported well with their move from home. She ensures that children's ongoing changing needs are well known and are effectively supported, such as during potty training. The childminder praises children during their play. This helps to promote their self-esteem. They happily help to tidy up their toys and are well behaved. Children's health, hygiene and independence are well promoted by the childminder. For example, they are encouraged to cut their own sandwiches and learn how to use a knife safely. Older children are reminded how to safely walk to and from school.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are making good progress. They are learning the key skills they need in preparation for moving on to school. They enjoy sharing books with their friends and the childminder. This helps to support their early interest in reading. Children are learning to recognise colours and they can match the correct number of play items to some written numbers. Children draw and make marks to help their hand-muscle development in readiness for early writing. They learn to socialise with other children when they visit play sessions outside of the childminder's home.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY336537 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 1043594 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 3 - 4 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 3

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Name of registered person

Date of previous inspection 13 December 2013

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 2006 and lives in Welwyn Garden City. She works with her husband, who is also a registered childminder. The childminder operates all year round from 7am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder has an appropriate early years 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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