Woods Julie Ann

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 18 October 2016 15 January 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

 The childminder has made considerable improvements to her practice. She is closely monitoring children's progress, making sure they are achieving in all aspects of their development.  The childminder has reviewed the organisation of the resources, making many more of them easily accessible to children. This helps them to make more decisions for themselves about what they use to support their learning.  Parents are regularly included in their children's daily lives with the childminder. She keeps them updated with lots of pictures, comments and observations of their children's experiences. This helps to ensure they know how to support learning at home.  The childminder is an effective teacher. She successfully supports children to develop their personal and social skills. She enables children to express their interest in particular activities and helps them to sustain this so they can build on their

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This provision is good

capabilities.  The childminder is a good role model for children and has a very good understanding of how they behave. She is very understanding of the possible causes that may influence children's behaviour and has good strategies for coping with this.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The childminder's continuous professional development is not precisely focused on enhancing teaching skills.  Children do not always have as many opportunities as possible to pursue their growing interest in literacy.

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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 focus on continuous professional development to ensure teaching skills and knowledge are enhanced  explore further ways to support children to develop their growing interest in literacy.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector and the childminder discussed and reflected on children's learning through play.  The inspector spoke to the childminder and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection.  The inspector looked at a range of documentation, including policies, evidence of the suitability of adults in the home and assessments of children's progress. She reviewed the safeguarding procedures and discussed the childminder's self-evaluation.  The inspector looked at letters from parents and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The childminder is very knowledgeable about child protection and the recent government guidelines issued. She confidently explains how to recognise and respond to concerns about children's well-being. Her policies and procedures are in line with the Local Safeguarding Children Board. The childminder has the required documentation and information from parents to ensure the safe day-to-day care of each child. She makes regular checks on her premises to ensure hazards are dealt with promptly and effectively. The childminder closely tracks children's progress to help ensure they are achieving what is expected of them for their age. She works in partnership with pre-schools and school to ensure children receive continuity in their care and learning.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The childminder offers children experiences that they want to be part of. She is very patient and allows children the time they need to explore and develop their ideas. Children spend considerable time with dough, first making it with the childminder and then using it creatively to make their own shapes and models. Children show their very good concentration skills, their ability to communicate their ideas to others and their enjoyment of manipulating the soft substance. The childminder helps children to explore using their senses. They add colour and scent to the dough. Children describe the changing shades, smell and temperature of the dough as they knead in the colour and it goes from warm to cool. Children get very involved in role play. They use the dolls and small playhouses to act out everyday experiences.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children's behaviour is very good. The childminder's calm, reassuring and consistently delivered messages about behaviour help children to get along well with others in a variety of social situations. Children are busy outdoors. They enjoy nature walks, where they collect lots of natural materials that they then use at home. Children are happy comparing the sizes of conkers and looking for acorn cups that fit the loose acorns. They know about the wildlife in the woods and what the animals like to eat. Children follow robust hygiene procedures. They understand why they wash their hands and are very confident about making their care needs known. They manage many personal tasks for themselves, appropriate to their age and stage of development. The childminder is very encouraging and always prompts children to have a go at things for themselves. Children have a positive attitude to learning and what they can do without help.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are making good progress. They are independent and confident about their abilities. Children are well prepared for the next stage in their learning, such as school. Children have good mathematical skills. They are enthusiastic about counting and using numbers to sort and organise objects. They recognise and make their own patterns. Children readily label simple shapes and colours.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 149356 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 1044800 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 11 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 7

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Name of registered person

Date of previous inspection 15 January 2015

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 1995 and lives in Stevenage. She operates all year round from 7.30am 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

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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