Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 29 November 2016 22 April 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

 Children are happy and demonstrate that they feel secure and confident in the care of the friendly childminder. She offers a caring, nurturing and fun-filled environment for them. Children enjoy her sensitive interaction in their play and her cuddles as they become sleepy.  The childminder has a very good knowledge of how children learn and develop. She completes regular training to improve her teaching. Recent training has helped her to identify and include further opportunities to support children to assess their own risks.  Children engage in a wide range of interesting learning experiences, which the childminder plans effectively to reflect their interests. They develop good mathematical skills. For example, they identify numbers and learn subtraction as they enthusiastically take part in number songs. The childminder teaches children to count in both English and Greek.  The childminder shows a strong commitment to continually developing her practice to

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This provision is good

improve outcomes for all children. Her thorough and accurate self-evaluation process ensures that strengths and areas for improvement are effectively identified.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Occasionally, children are not given enough time to think about and respond to the childminder's enthusiastic questioning.  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.

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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 for children to enhance their thinking and speaking skills as they formulate answers and respond to questions posed  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 continued progress from an early stage.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during indoor 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 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 persons aged 16 years and over who live at the premises.  The inspector took account of the written views of parents and discussed the childminder's self-evaluation process.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The childminder has an extensive understanding of possible signs that could indicate that children are at risk of harm. She knows how to take swift action in order to protect children's welfare in the event of a child protection concern. The childminder conducts thorough daily risk assessments of her home and takes effective measures to protect children during outings. She carefully reviews children's progress to ensure that any gaps in learning are swiftly addressed. Parents welcome the ideas the childminder provides them, to help support their children's learning at home. They comment on how they appreciate the childminder's very professional service. The childminder forms secure partnerships with staff at other settings that children attend to effectively support children's continuity in learning.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The childminder's genuine praise for children's achievements helps to motivate them to complete challenging activities. Children learn to solve problems, through trial and error, they persevere in working out how to balance a selection of pencils in a plastic cup. They also work out how to operate the different cycles on an electronic toy washing machine. Children use their vivid imaginations to pretend to cook and prepare food in the toy microwave for the childminder and their favourite doll. They have good opportunities to learn about similarities and differences from first-hand experiences. For example, the childminder organises regular outings within the community, such as travelling on public transport and visits to a donkey sanctuary. She encourages children to use complex sentences to describe what they see and experience. These are some of the ways she helps to enhance children's understanding of the world.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

The childminder is a very good role model. She calmly and consistently reinforces good manners and supports children to take turns with toys. The childminder helps children to understand the importance of a healthy lifestyle. She provides them with a wide range of nutritious snacks. Daily visits to local parks help children to develop good physical skills. They learn to independently climb the steps on a slide and develop their balancing skills on large equipment. Regular visits to organised activity groups help children to develop their social skills as they meet and play with other children. The childminder's clear explanations support children to gain a good awareness of how to keep themselves and others safe.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are making good progress in their learning given their starting points. They express a keen interest in the wide range of books available. Children select their favourite ones and talk about what is happening on the pages. They develop the small muscles in their hands in preparation for early writing as they add details to their intricate drawings using pencils. These are just some of the skills they are learning to help prepare them well for their next stage of learning and their eventual move on to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY441932 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 1065848 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 8 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 6

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Name of registered person

Date of previous inspection 22 April 2013

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 2012 and lives in Sawbridgeworth. 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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