Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 22 June 2017 10 April 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

 Children are confident and happy with the childminder. They display caring behaviour to her and to each other. The childminder models good manners and reminds children of expected behaviour, such as to say 'please.' Children's behaviour is good.  The quality of teaching is strong. The well-qualified childminder uses her teaching skills effectively to provide challenging and varied activities that support children's learning well.  The childminder has strong partnerships with parents to support children's learning. She regularly shares information with parents about their children's progress and how they can support their development at home. Parents comment favourably on the level of communication and on the variety of activities and outings their children enjoy.  The childminder effectively keeps children safe. For example, she has set up a gazebo in the garden, to protect children from the sun when they play outside on hot days.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Although the childminder has resources to support diversity, at times, she misses opportunities to consistently develop children's positive attitudes towards gender and equality.  The childminder does not use the information from her assessment of children's progress as well as she could to support children's progress even further.  Although the childminder has developed effective partnerships with parents and schools, she does not work as closely with other professionals involved in supporting children's 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

 provide more opportunities to help children gain positive attitudes towards gender and equality  develop the use of information from assessment to extend and support children's learning even further  work more effectively with other professionals involved in supporting children's development, to provide a more consistent approach to meeting their needs.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector viewed areas of the childminder's home that she uses for childminding.  The inspector checked evidence of the childminder's qualifications and training and the suitability of all household members.  The inspector discussed the childminder's improvement plans and safeguarding procedures and looked at a range of documents, including children's records.  The inspector observed and discussed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector spoke to the childminder and children when it was appropriate. She took account of comments in written feedback given by a number of parents.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The childminder has completed training to update her safeguarding knowledge. As a result, she has renewed her policies to reflect recent changes to legislation. The childminder understands how to identify safeguarding issues and how to take prompt action to protect children. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The childminder has developed effective partnerships with parents and discusses improvement plans with them. For example, parents helped to introduce brightly coloured jackets for outings and colourful named water bottles to prevent children drinking from each other's cups. The childminder reflects on her practice well. She reviews activities, taking into account the children's views and abilities.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The childminder provides a welcoming environment indoors and outdoors with a choice of activities set up for children to explore. Children are keen to take part in activities. For example, the childminder introduces an activity by reading a book about a caterpillar. Children talk about the book and help to turn the pages. They receive good encouragement to learn and repeat key words from the story, to develop their vocabulary and literacy skills. The childminder encourages children to retell the main points of the story. They refer to the book and use picture cards to organise the foods into the correct order. The childminder offers choices of linked activities to children and follows their interest. Children colour in pictures of fruit, selecting the correct colours for the fruit and concentrating hard on colouring within the lines.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children enjoy caring relationships with the childminder. They feel safe with her and are happy to cuddle up to her when tired. The childminder provides good opportunities for children to develop their independent skills. For example, they wash their hands and cut up their own fruit for a healthy snack. The childminder teaches children well how to take care of themselves and others. For example, she reads a book about being responsible and discusses different scenarios with the children. Children talk about how to sit down and use the scissors safely during a craft activity. Children enjoy regular fresh air and outdoor play, where they are physically active.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children make good progress. They engage in their play and concentrate for long periods on activities. Children receive good support emotionally from the childminder which helps with their move on to school, for example, they look at books about starting school. Children learn the skills they will need for school and the next stage in their learning, such as how to use scissors with one hand. They learn to hold their pencils and trace the letters in their names, developing good physical and literacy skills in readiness for school. Children enjoy many opportunities to develop their counting skills, for example, during snack time and pretending to shop.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY264699 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 1091740 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 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 April 2015

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Telephone number

The childminder registered in 2003 and lives in Stevenage. She holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 3. The childminder operates all year round from 8am until 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. She provides funded early education for three- and four-year-old children.

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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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