Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 6 October 2016 24 March 2015

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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

 Teaching is good. Children have an appropriate balance of adult-led and child-led play. For example, the childminder teaches children how to use kitchen utensils while they explore different types of breakfast cereals. She is especially good at promoting children's language skills and they learn sophisticated vocabulary with her.  The childminder provides children with effective challenge during play. For example, younger children squeeze and poke modelling dough and learn colours. Older children make numbers from zero to 10 using the dough and add different numbers together to make higher numbers. Children learn at a fast pace.  The childminder successfully celebrates children's cultural backgrounds and effectively teaches them about life in Britain. For example, children refer to maps to show where their parents come from and talk about how to get to places in their community.  Since the last inspection, the childminder has kept records of children's attendance. She

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This provision is good

effectively documents her practice to monitor children's safety.  The childminder conducts daily safety checks of her house and any outings, and involves children in helping to minimise risks. For example, children know that to keep safe, only one child at a time is allowed on the trampoline and slide.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Children's starting points in learning are not accurately identified. The childminder does not obtain enough information from parents about children's skills when they start.

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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

 obtain more detailed information about children's skills from parents when they start to ensure an even more assertive identification of children's starting points in learning.

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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 completed joint evaluations of activities with the childminder.  The inspector held discussions with the childminder and looked at relevant documentation, such as her self-evaluation and evidence of qualifications and training. She checked evidence of the suitability of household members.  The inspector took account of the views of parents as expressed through written feedback.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The childminder invests in professional development opportunities to continuously improve her practice. She regularly attends safeguarding and child protection training and is aware of current legislation. The childminder knows where to go for support should concerns about children's welfare arise and is very secure in her duty to protect and prevent children from risks and harm. She shares her policies with parents and introduces them to her routines and educational programmes. The childminder involves parents and children in her reflective practice, and they share their views in questionnaires. The childminder works in an efficient partnership with other settings that children attend, ensuring the continuous support of their needs at all times.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The childminder effectively identifies children's next steps in learning. She skilfully plans activities to promote children's needs and interests. For example, children love trains and enjoy themed activities across all areas of learning, including visits to train shows and stations. Children learn about local routes of trains, their types and different mechanisms. They engage well in activities. The childminder shares ongoing information and ideas with parents about how to best support children. She effectively promotes children's continuous learning. For example, children develop a range of skills while picking and tasting blackberries. They make a blackberry pie and learn to freeze the blackberries to use another day. Educational programmes for children are varied and they progress well in their development.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

The childminder works with parents to ensure that her care routines, menus and outings are suitable for children. Children exercise and enjoy fresh air on a daily basis. For example, they go on daily nature walks, learn about the seasons of the year and changes of the weather. Children are independent with their personal care, enjoy nutritious home- made meals and have fresh drinking water available. They learn to lead healthy lifestyles. The childminder works with parents to support children's emotional well-being. She uses praise as a tool for encouragement. Children are social, comfortable and form strong bonds with her. They are happy, confident and behave very well.

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Outcomes for children are good

The childminder closely observes children's skills and effectively narrows gaps in their learning through their individual planning. For example, young children who are crawling have secure support to learn to walk. Children are creative and access a wide range of drawing and art tools. They effectively use the toys and resources available to extend their imaginative play. For example, they dress up while playing with cars on the floor. Children have fun and learn through play. For example, they create obstacles for their cars as they play under the table and chairs. Children develop all the necessary skills in preparation for school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY298977 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 1050906 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 1 - 8 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 6

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Name of registered person

Date of previous inspection 24 March 2015

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 2005 and lives in Brookmans Park, Hatfield. She operates Monday to Thursday from 8am to 6pm, during term time only. The childminder provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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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