Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 31 October 2016 14 November 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 significant progress in improving the provision she offers since her previous inspection. She ensures that children are able to independently access a wide range of toys and activities that promotes all areas of learning. The childminder demonstrates a good understanding of how to work in partnership with other settings that children may attend in the future.  The friendly childminder establishes strong and warm relationships with children and helps new children to settle quickly. One way she does this is by ensuring that their favourite toys are readily available. Children enjoy the childminder's sensitive interaction in their play and show that they feel very content and settled.  Children enjoy regular nature walks in the local community, where they observe how the environment changes during the different seasons. They have fun walking and jumping through crispy fallen autumn leaves, enabling them to experience the sound

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This provision is good

and sensation of the leaves on their legs.  The childminder supports children's communication and language skills well. She consistently responds to what the children do and say, introduces new words and repeats words back to them. These are some of the ways in which she helps children to make good progress in this aspect of their learning.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Although the childminder obtains some useful information from parents when children first attend, her questions are not sharply focused to fully support her initial identification of children's precise learning needs.  On occasions, children are not provided with excellent opportunities to think of their own ideas and ways of solving problems, in order to develop their thinking skills.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the Childcare Register the provider must:

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Due Date

 ensure that a written statement of procedures to be followed for the protection of children, intended to safeguard children from abuse or neglect is in place 14/11/2016

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Due Date

 ensure that a written statement of procedures to be followed in relation to complaints which relate to the requirements of the Childcare Register and which a parent makes in writing or by email is in place. 14/11/2016

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Due Date

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

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Due Date

 extend the level of initial information obtained from parents to include further detail of children's development, in order to plan more precisely for their progress from an early stage  engage children in more opportunities to develop their own ideas and thinking, in order to solve problems.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during indoor and outdoor activities and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector spoke to the childminder and children at appropriate times.  The inspector observed a planned activity and jointly discussed this with the childminder.  The inspector looked at children's assessment records, a selection of policies, safety procedures and required documentation.  The inspector looked at evidence of the suitability of the childminder and persons aged 16 years and over who live at the premises.  The inspector took account of the written views of parents and reviewed the childminder's self-evaluation process.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

A range of policies and procedures are in place which the childminder shares with parents. She talks to them about how to make a complaint and the procedures she follows to safeguard children. However, there is no written safeguarding procedure or a written complaints procedure in place to meet the requirements of the Childcare Register. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The childminder has completed specialist training to make sure she knows how to support vulnerable families. This helps her to identify any children who may be at risk of harm from extreme behaviours and views. She knows how to take swift action in order to protect children's welfare in the event of a child protection concern. Parents appreciate the childminder's commitment to her role and describe her as exceptional. The childminder is reflective and regularly evaluates her practice with a view to developing the service she provides even further. She carefully

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

reviews children's development to ensure that any gaps in their learning are swiftly addressed.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The childminder provides a relaxed and interesting learning environment for children who are motivated and active learners. She introduces them to mathematical ideas in a fun and engaging way. Children use a selection of different-sized cubes to build towers and make good attempts at counting how many cubes they have used. They become engrossed as they experiment with different craft materials. For example, they create different patterns by drizzling glue onto paper and select coloured popcorn to stick on top of the glue. The childminder provides children with opportunities to develop good control and coordination of their hands. They persevere at catching toy fish floating in a paddling pool using a fishing net. They also scoop up water and pour it from one container to another.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

The childminder is a good role model. She calmly and consistently reinforces good manners and positive behaviour. The childminder's gentle reminders help children to understand how to keep themselves safe. Children enjoy a healthy lifestyle. The childminder provides children with nutritious, home-cooked meals and introduces them to a wide variety of foods. She raises children's awareness of similarities and differences between people. One way she does this is responding to children's inquisitive questions as they confidently talk about their family. Regular visits to the local park help children to develop good physical skills. They also enjoy bouncing on the trampoline in the childminder's inviting garden under her close supervision.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are making good progress in their learning given their starting points. They demonstrate a keen interest in the varied range of books available. Children enjoy sharing their favourite books with the childminder. They point out the characters that they see on the pages and talk about what is happening in the pictures. These are just some of the skills that help to prepare children well for their next stage of learning and their eventual move on to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 149234 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 1043396 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 0 - 13 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 5

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Name of registered person

Date of previous inspection 14 November 2013

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 2000 and lives in Stevenage. She operates all year round from 7am until 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

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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