Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 13 April 2017 9 January 2015

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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 experienced childminder provides a warm, welcoming, homely environment. Children settle quickly in her care and freely play in her carefully planned, dedicated play areas, both inside and outdoors.  The childminder builds very effective relationships with parents. This results in children staying with the childminder for many years. Children benefit from her continuous care and state how much they enjoy being with her.  The childminder helps children to develop healthy eating habits. They grow a range of different vegetables in the garden. The children enjoying preparing the ground and tending the plants as they grow. The childminder talks to them to explain the benefits of eating fresh vegetables and fruit.  The childminder develops good relationship with other settings that children attend. She discusses children's development with key persons and this helps to promote consistency in children's learning.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The childminder does not always use the evaluations of her practice, to identify her ongoing professional needs to ensure she has the best possible understanding of new initiatives.  The childminder does not provide a wide range of opportunities for children to learn about people, families and communities beyond their immediate experience.

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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

 identify further professional development opportunities to improve skills, knowledge and practice to the highest levels  provide children with more opportunities to learn about the differences in people, families and communities.

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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 took into account the written views of parents and discussed with the childminder how she reflects on her practice.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The childminder is confident to follow appropriate child protection procedures, which helps her to protect children's welfare. She reviews risks in the environment and on outings, reflecting on the needs of each child. The childminder evaluates some aspects of her service by identifying what is working well and what she needs to improve. She seeks the views of parents through discussions and incorporates their ideas into her practice. The childminder also listens to children as they express their views and ideas about where and with what they want to play. This helps children to understand how to make their own decisions.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The childminder provides a wide range of toys and resources which children enjoy exploring. As babies explore shape sorters, the childminder gives verbal and physical prompts to help them to find where the shapes fit. Children also enjoy exploring space and shape as they successfully complete a range of puzzles. Children engage well and concentrate with these activities for sustained periods of time. The childminder has a good understanding of children's starting points, abilities and interests. She gains this information from her regular discussions with parents and her assessments of children's learning. The childminder uses this information to identify next steps in learning for each child which she incorporates into her planning and teaching.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

The childminder provides many opportunities for children to play and learn outdoors. Children benefit from spending time in the childminder's garden. They engage in a range of sport activities, showing great skill as they successfully hit balls over a tennis net. They regularly visit parks where children can use their large muscles for climbing and running. Children develop close relationships with the childminder and with each other. The childminder provides children with secure individual routines. She recognises when babies are becoming tired and provides their comforters, brought from home. They demonstrate how secure they feel, for example such as by settling to sleep very quickly. The childminder supports children to learn to deal with their own personal needs, such as using the bathroom independently and washing their hands at appropriate times.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are learning how to use technological toys and equipment,; they watch what happens when they press buttons on toy cash registers and mobile phones. Children are developing good counting skills. They jump on a number hop-scotch game outside and the childminder helps them to recognise numbers as she counts with them. Children are making good progress and are quickly gaining the key skills required for their next stage of learning at nursery and at school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 149225 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 1089759 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 0 - 11 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 6

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Name of registered person

Date of previous inspection 9 January 2015

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 1994 and lives in Stevenage. She operates all year round from 7.15am tountil 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

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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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