Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 22 November 2016 17 January 2013

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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 regularly sources professional development opportunities. Since the last inspection, she has gained a level 3 qualification. This has helped to increase her skills and knowledge about how children learn. The childminder has plans to embark on further training to help her to understand how children's brains develop.  The childminder teaches children well so that they learn new skills. For example, when children are counting she shows them how to count more effectively by working across the picture from left to right.  The childminder helps children develop a healthy attitude to food. She talks to them about how eating fruit and vegetables benefits their overall health. She provides nutritious balanced meals and children are proud to show her they have eaten all their food from their plates.  Children learn about each other's families and cultures. The childminder encourages parents to share food they eat during the celebration of festivals. Children share

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This provision is good

photographs showing what special clothes they and their families wear during these times.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The childminder does not always give younger children opportunities to extend their creativity through exploring different objects and materials as they take part in adult- led activities.  The information the childminder exchanges with other settings children attend is not focused enough on children's learning. Therefore, the continuous support for children's progress is not always maximised.

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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

 extend opportunities for younger children to freely explore the different objects and materials available to them during adult-led activities  strengthen the partnerships with other settings children attend, in order to share more information about their abilities to gain a fuller picture of children's progress.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the childminder joining in activities with children and discussed the learning that was taking place with her.  The inspector saw the areas of the premises used for childminding.  The inspector looked at children's development and assessment records. Evidence of the suitability of household members and a range of other documents, including the safeguarding policy, were also seen.  The inspector spoke to and interacted with children at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector discussed self-evaluation with the childminder and took into account the written views of parents.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The childminder understands her responsibility to protect children in her care. She regularly refreshes her safeguarding knowledge. She attends training courses and has a safeguarding file where she keeps all important documents and telephone numbers. The childminder's home is safe and secure. Children play freely and safely. Resources are high quality and appropriate for children to independently access. The childminder evaluates her service by identifying what is working well and what she needs to improve. She seeks the views of parents through discussion and questionnaires and makes appropriate changes to her practice. For example, she introduces a wide range of ways to exchange information with them. This helps them to be well informed about their children's progress.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The well-qualified childminder regularly observes children's development and shares this information with parents. She receives updates from them regarding children's development and what they are learning at home. The childminder uses this information to complement her assessments of children's learning. Children enjoy choosing books at the library and show their good understanding of how stories are structured. The childminder plans activities based on stories and older children enjoy making characters out of sticks. They show a good understanding of measurements as they compare length using words, such as longer. Older children engage in building houses and talk about the different rooms they are making for their stick people to live in. Younger children are able to easily fit bricks together to build towers.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children are developing good independence. For example, when children return form nursery they easily change their clothes. The childminder helps children to develop good hygiene practices as she explains to them how germs gather and spread. Parents speak highly of the childminder. They appreciate the weekly plans and daily diaries she provides them with, as this helps them to understand what children have been doing and learning. The childminder ensures children have regular access to the outdoors and spaces to be active. They enjoy visits to parks and soft-play centres, where they take part in physical play. They also benefit from meeting with larger groups of children at toddler groups. This helps them to socialise with other children outside of the childminder's home.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are developing very good communication and language skills. They hold very effective conversations with the childminder and each other. Children use pencils to draw pictures with precise detail and easily use scissors to cut them out. Children understand their own capabilities. They are pleased to do things for themselves and readily ask for help when they need it. Children are making good progress and gaining the keys skills required for their next stage of learning at nursery and school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY449367 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 1066037 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 1 - 9 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 7

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Name of registered person

Date of previous inspection 17 January 2013

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 2012 and lives in Kings Langley. She operates all year round from 7.15am until 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds a relevant 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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