Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 7 February 2017 2 July 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 creates a relaxed environment where children demonstrate that they feel safe and very happy. Children develop secure relationships with each other. They frequently say that they love each other and enjoy sharing cuddles. The childminder displays a heart-warming respect and love for them which children eagerly reciprocate.  Children enjoy regular woodland walks in the local community, where they observe how the environment changes during the different seasons. They also seek out wildlife, such as squirrels and birds. Children travel on public transport to visit zoos and farms. They feed animals and learn about their habitats. This helps them to understand about living things and the wider world.  The childminder is committed to her role. She regularly attends training, reads professional publications and shares good practice with other childminders at the organised groups she attends with children. Recent training has enhanced her

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This provision is good

knowledge of providing children with a wider range of exciting activities to further promote their creative development.  The childminder is continually developing her practice to help children make good progress. Her self-evaluation ensures that strengths and areas for improvement are effectively identified and acted upon.

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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 specific learning needs.  The childminder does not share precise information about children's achievements with staff from other settings that children attend to fully support continuity in their learning and development.

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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 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  strengthen the partnership with other staff from settings that children attend so that more precise information about children's achievements is shared.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors 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 written feedback provided and reviewed the childminder's self-evaluation.

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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 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 completes daily risk assessments to help her to identify and effectively manage any potential risks. She carefully reviews children's progress to ensure that any gaps in their learning are swiftly addressed. Parents appreciate the ongoing updates they receive about their children's progress and ideas to support their children's learning at home. They describe the childminder as professional and attentive to children's needs.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The childminder responds well to children's individual interests as she incorporates them in to her flexible planning. For example, children express a keen interest in operating electronic toys. They work out which button to press to open the drawer of an electronic toy till and select their favourite song from a compact disc playing on the childminder's stereo. Children positively respond to the childminder's use of questioning to challenge their thinking and help develop their language skills. She introduces children to descriptive words in context to their play, such as scratchy and soft as they explore pretend vegetables that are attached by fabric that fastens them together. Children enjoy making marks with different-coloured paint that is frozen on to plastic handles. They discover that as the paint begins to melt they are able to slide it quicker across the paper. Children also enjoy creating loud sounds as they shake plastic bottles containing ice cubes. They learn

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

that as the ice cubes melt they are able to create different sounds.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

The childminder is a positive role model. She listens well to children and encourages them to use good manners. Her calm and consistent messages support children to understand how to express themselves in an appropriate way and take turns with toys. Children respond well to the childminder's genuine praise for their achievements. This motivates them to eagerly carry out age-appropriate responsibilities. The childminder uses gentle reminders to help raise children's awareness of how to keep themselves safe. Children develop strong physical skills as they enjoy taking part in music and movement sessions. Regular visits to local parks help them to increase their strength and stamina as they climb and balance on large equipment.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are making good progress in their learning given their starting points. They are very confident as they invite authorised visitors to join in with their play. Children are beginning to correctly count items. They express a keen interest in books and talk about what is happening in the pictures on the pages. 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 EY415551 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 1065583 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 1 - 10 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 5

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 2010 and lives in Stevenage. She operates all year round from 8am 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

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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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