Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 17 January 2017 1 February 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 evaluates her practice. She gathers the views of parents and children and incorporates their ideas into her plans for improvement.  Children are happy and confident in the childminder's care. She provides a gradual settling-in process which supports children in building close relationships with her and with the other children that attend.  Children are provided with daily opportunities to develop their physical skills, such as playing games in the local parks or riding on push-along bicycles.  The childminder supports children who speak English as an additional language effectively. She talks to children about what they are doing and uses a variety of objects and toys to support children's understanding of what different words mean.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 On occasion, the childminder does not consistently provide the most able children with enough challenging learning opportunities to help them make excellent progress.  The childminder does not always build effective enough partnerships with settings that children move on to, in order to maintain the highest level of continuity in their learning.

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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 a higher level of challenge in activities to inspire the most able children to excel in their learning  enhance the partnerships with other settings that children move on to, in order to promote a more effective exchange of information about children's learning and development, to improve and maintain the highest level of continuity in their learning.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector completed a joint evaluation of an activity with the childminder.  The inspector held a number of discussions with the childminder. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of persons living in the household. The inspector spoke to children during the inspection.  The inspector took account of the views of parents through reading written feedback provided.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The childminder has a good understanding of the signs and symptoms of abuse. She knows the procedures to follow and who to report any such concerns to in the local authority. The childminder regularly evaluates the assessments of children's progress and identifies any gaps in learning. She provides support to enable children to make continued good progress. The childminder undertakes professional development and training to build on and strengthen her skills and understanding. She works closely in partnership with parents. The childminder talks to them about how their children are developing and learning. She regularly shares ideas and information that parents can use to support their children's learning at home.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The well-qualified childminder has a good understanding of how children learn and develop. She provides a wealth of activities that captures the children's interest. The childminder establishes children's starting points for learning using information gathered from parents during settling-in sessions. This enables her to accurately plan children's next steps in learning. Children have opportunities to develop their thinking skills. For example, the childminder asks them questions about what may happen next as they read books together. The childminder supports children's developing mathematical skills. For example, she talks about shapes with children as they draw snowmen with chalk and she supports children in counting backwards from five to one with the toy rocket ship. The children are provided with a range of materials to use to develop their early writing skills, such as chalk, crayons, and colouring pens. Children receive praise and encouragement for their

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children learn about the importance of living a healthy lifestyle. They have daily opportunities for fresh air and exercise. The childminder talks to them about what food is good for them and she shares books from the library about healthy eating. They discover some of the ways in which they can keep themselves healthy. Children learn to respect each other's differences and similarities, such as when they take part in a range of activities about different festivals. They behave well and are developing the skills of sharing and taking turns. The childminder regularly takes children to playgroups so she can help them learn skills to support them in being kind to one another. They practise their independence skills, such as putting on their Wellington boots and coats.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are eager to learn and enjoy participating in a wide range of activities. They make good progress from their starting points. They learn the skills needed to be ready for their move on to nursery or school. Children develop their imaginative skills as they swing on the bars and pretend they are monkeys, just like the ones they saw on a visit to the zoo. They pretend they are going on a visit to space in the toy rocket and enjoy extending the story when an animal goes to space with them.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY403437 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 1065467 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 1 - 2 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 4

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Name of registered person

Date of previous inspection 1 February 2013

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 2009 and lives in Berkhamsted. She operates her provision all year round from 7.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds an appropriate 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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