Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 21 November 2016 11 October 2012

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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 evaluates her setting to promote continuous development. She identifies her strengths and particular areas for improvement and she focuses on parent and child feedback to further enhance her practice. This helps her to provide an environment that continually changes to meet the needs of all children.  Teaching is strong. Children's progress and achievements are good, given their starting points and capabilities. The childminder makes effective use of regular observations and assessments and she knows the children very well.  The childminder has a robust settling-in procedure. She offers a flexible approach according to individual family needs, and she find outs as much as she can about every child before they start. The childminder works with parents to help children to feel safe and secure.  The childminder's practice supports the personal care needs of babies and children. Her

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This provision is good

routines are adapted to suit the children present and activities reorganised to meet their differing needs. Babies develop curiosity and positive attitudes towards learning as they explore a good range of interesting toys and resources.  The childminder promotes children's well-being effectively. Children form close bonds and attachments with the childminder and other minded children.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Opportunities to engage parents in their children's learning, both in the setting and at home, are not consistently promoted.  On occasions, the childminder does not promote the use of mathematical language during activities and experiences, to develop children's learning further.

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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 more opportunities to support parents to extend their children's learning  extend opportunities for children to develop their understanding of mathematics.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector looked at a range of documentation, including the safeguarding and complaints procedures. She also viewed some children's observation and assessment records.  The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector observed a planned activity and jointly evaluated this with the childminder. She spoke with the childminder and children present at appropriate times throughout the inspection.  The inspector took account of the views of parents and children as provided in documentation.  The inspector discussed with the childminder how she evaluates her setting and she saw evidence of the suitability of adults living in the home.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The childminder has a good knowledge and understanding of the child protection procedures to follow if she has a concern about children in her care. She completes safeguarding training to keep up to date with changes in legislation. In addition to this, the childminder has completed specialist training to make sure she understands how to support vulnerable families. The childminder completes a regular risk assessment, including outings, to ensure that children in her care are safe. She uses outdoor opportunities to talk about safety. This supports children to understand the importance of personal safety. The childminder has a range of policies and procedures that she reviews, updates and shares with parents. She works with parents and other providers to promote consistency of care for all children.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The childminder regularly monitors the progress that all children are making. She refers to appropriate guidance to track their development, and their identified next steps in learning are planned into daily activities and experiences. Children are happy. They are motivated to join in and make regular choices of their own. For example, children use their imagination well as they explore a wide range of small-world characters and accessories. With the childminder's encouragement, they make up their own stories and, as she asks a good range of probing questions, children's thinking is extended further. Children's speech and language development is good. They copy and repeat much of what the childminder says and she uses this to continually introduce new vocabulary. Young babies are encouraged to explore. They show good levels of concentration as they discover toys and resources that make different sounds.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children are confident and independent. The childminder regularly praises children and she gently encourages them during activities. She promotes good opportunities for children to lead healthy lifestyles. For example, every day children take part in outdoor activities. This includes trips to the farm, outside play or a walk in the local community. Children eat well. The childminder encourages them to choose healthy snacks and she ensures that babies feeding routines are adhered to. This supports young children to feel settled and secure. Children behave well. The childminder speaks in a calm way when talking to the children. Children copy her positive behaviour and are good at sharing. Older children want to help with young babies' care needs. They gently hold the baby's bottle with the childminder and speak in a gentle way as the babies feed.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children, including those in receipt of government funding, are making good progress and gaining the necessary skills to be ready for school or the next stage of their learning. Planning focuses on the prime areas of learning and incorporates other areas to ensure that children make good progress. Older children enjoy exploring a wide range of stickers, helping to develop their creativity. They make their own pictures using their imagination and proudly show this to the childminder who praises them.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 149385 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 1036875 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 9

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Name of registered person

Date of previous inspection 11 October 2012

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 2000 and lives in Letchworth. She operates Monday to Friday, from 7.30am to 5.30pm, all year round, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder provides funded early education for 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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