Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 3 July 2017 1 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

 The childminder effectively supports her professional development through a wide range of training opportunities and regular discussions with other local childminders.  Parents express high levels of satisfaction with the service that the childminder provides. They state that they like the home-from-home environment and are happy with the progress their children make.  Children are developing good communication and language skills. The childminder provides them with a descriptive running commentary about what they are doing. This helps younger children to begin to understand and learn new words in context.  Children learn how to stay healthy. Older children understand that they need to wash their hands to get rid of germs before they eat their lunch. Children can choose to play indoors or outside in the fresh air all year round. This helps to promote choice and their ongoing well-being.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The childminder does not always make the most effective use of assessments to focus precisely on what children need to learn next to help them to make even better progress.  The childminder does not make the best possible use of the initial information she gathers from parents to fully support children's precise learning needs from a very early stage.

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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

 refine the arrangements for tracking to ensure that children's ongoing progress is more precisely monitored to enable them to achieve the best possible progress  use the initial information obtained from parents to plan even more precisely for children's continued progress from a very early stage.

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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 or working in the household.  The inspector spoke to children during the inspection.  The inspector took account of the views of parents through discussion and written feedback provided.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The childminder undertakes relevant training, helping her to maintain a good understanding of the issues surrounding child protection. She regularly checks for any changes to national and local legislation and updates her policy accordingly. The childminder carries out effective risk assessments of her home and any trips. She ensures that she removes or minimises any potential hazards to children. Partnerships with parents are good. They report that the childminder keeps them updated about all aspects of their children's care. She also provides them with information about how they can support children's learning at home. The childminder seeks verbal and, on occasions, written feedback from parents about her service. She also uses ongoing reflective practice and feedback from children to inform future improvements.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Children develop a good understanding of the natural world around them. They learn how to plant and take care of a wide range of vegetables and flowers. This includes peppers, cucumbers and pumpkins which they proudly show adults. Parents are impressed with the wide variety of toys and equipment that the childminder provides for their children to play with. Children show good engagement and problem solve as they work out how to weave wool over and under a set of sticks to make a spider's web. Children show a sense of pride and achievement when they have completed their creation. They are delighted when the childminder hangs it up for display. Children eagerly take part in a good range of conversations with each other and the childminder.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children develop close bonds with the childminder and other children. They show great excitement and affection when their friends arrive at the childminder's home. Children are confident in the childminder's home and demonstrate a strong sense of belonging. They are very well behaved and relish the consistent praise offered in acknowledgement of their good manners and achievements. Children show that they are developing their large- muscle skills. They are encouraged to learn how to move and control their bodies in a variety of ways. For example, children lean, stretch and bend their bodies to enable them to reach plastic insects which are just out of reach. Children learn how to stay safe. They are aware that they must hold the childminder's hand and make sure there are no cars before crossing the road.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children make good progress in their learning. They are keen to participate in activities. Children use their imaginations and show that they are developing an understanding of the world. This is shown as they put a pretend thermometer to their ear and talk about going to the doctor. Children have fun as they take part in activities that support them to develop the small muscles needed for writing. Children effectively develop the skills needed to help them move on to the next stage of their learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 162284 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 1089836 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 6 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 3

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Name of registered person

Date of previous inspection 1 April 2015

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Telephone number

The childminder registered in 1994 and lives in Bishops Stortford. She operates all year round from 8am to 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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