Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 8 May 2017 10 November 2016

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Outcomes for children Requires improvement

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This provision requires improvement. It is not yet good because:

 The childminder does not use precise assessments of children’s learning to plan suitably challenging activities.  The childminder does not consistently gain detailed initial information from parents about children’s capabilities and development in order to help her build on their initial skills more precisely.  The childminder has not fully developed partnership working with other early years settings that children also attend, in order to consistently support children to make good progress in all areas of learning.

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It has the following strengths

 With the support of her local authority development worker, the childminder has made some progress in improving the provision she offers since her previous inspection. She observes children and has introduced systems to monitor their progress in some areas of learning and development. She now holds a current paediatric first-aid certificate.  The childminder provides children with a suitable range of toys and resources that help to engage them in purposeful play. This helps them make some progress in their learning and development.  The childminder provides a welcoming environment where children’s personal and emotional development is suitably nurtured. Children feel secure and appear happy in her care.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage the provider must:

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Due Date

 make precise assessments of children's achievements and use these to accurately identify and plan suitably challenging activities across all areas of learning. 08/06/2017

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Due Date

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

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Due Date

 seek more detailed information from parents about children's learning and development on entry in order to plan more precisely for their immediate learning needs  strengthen the two-way flow of communication with all other early years settings that children attend, so that children fully benefit from a shared understanding and common approach to supporting their progress.

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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, including evidence of a current paediatric first-aid certificate.  The inspector spoke to children during the inspection.  The inspector took account of the views of parents through written feedback provided.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

Safeguarding arrangements are effective. The childminder has recently undertaken safeguarding training and has a secure understanding of how to protect the children in her care and who to contact should she have concerns. The childminder ensures that children are kept safe from hazards by implementing an effective risk assessment. The childminder understands the importance of evaluating her provision to implement ongoing improvements. She has addressed the actions from her previous inspection, although there are further weaknesses in her practice. The childminder has not fully established links with other early years settings that children attend. Consequently, all settings are not able to work together to provide consistency in the children's learning.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

Since the previous inspection, the childminder has introduced a system of observation and assessment of children's achievements. However, this is not consistently used to accurately identify and plan for the next steps in their learning. Children are taught some new skills, but a lack of purposeful adult-led activities results in children not being provided with sufficient challenge across all areas of learning. The childminder makes good use of opportunities to question children to enhance their understanding and solve problems. For example, as children practise their early writing skills, the childminder offers guidance in how to safely remove lids from marker pens. She invites their suggestions for what they might use to clean a whiteboard.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

Children form positive relationships with the childminder and her family and enjoy the attention they give. At the outset, the childminder ensures that she has all the necessary information to meet children's individual care needs, such as their favourite toys and their routine at home. As a result, children settle quickly and feel secure. However, the childminder does not consistently gain detailed initial information from parents about children's capabilities and development in order to help her build on their initial skills more precisely. Children behave well because the childminder offers gentle support and explains why unwanted behaviour is unacceptable. She teaches children to be kind, polite and respectful.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

The next steps in children's progress are not always identified because the childminder does not plan activities linked to individual children's development. Nonetheless, children do acquire some basic skills ready for the next stages in their learning, such as nursery or school. Children learn to become more independent. They are encouraged to manage their own personal needs according to their age and stage of development.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 124057 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 1078653 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 0 - 9 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 4

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Name of registered person

Date of previous inspection 10 November 2016

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Telephone number

The childminder registered in 1988 and lives in Cheshunt. She operates all year round from 7am to 5.30pm, 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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