Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 23 February 2018 11 June 2014

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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 build strong bonds with the childminder who has a warm and nurturing personality. They show that they feel happy and content in her care. Children snuggle up to the childminder as she reads them stories.  The experienced childminder focuses well on her role. She regularly completes training to continue to enhance her knowledge and skills to help children make good progress. Recent training has increased her understanding of how to promote children's understanding of communities in the wider world.  The childminder takes children on a wide range of outings, such as visits to a local farm. Children learn how to keep themselves safe as they enjoy rides in a cart, pulled by a tractor. They observe animals and learn about their habitats. Children frequently help the childminder to deliver shopping to elderly residents within the community.  Children develop good social skills. The childminder provides them with many

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This provision is good

opportunities to mix with larger groups of children during organised playdates with other children. This helps them to build friendships and develop their understanding of similarities and differences.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 On occasions, the childminder does not adapt activities in response to children's individual interests to further extend their concentration and imagination.  The childminder does not always gather detailed enough information from parents about their child's prior learning, to sharply focus on children's precise learning needs from the outset.

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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

 adapt activities in response to children's individual interests  gain more detailed information from parents about what their child knows and can already do when they first start.

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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 and discussed with the childminder how she reflects on the service she provides.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The childminder has a secure understanding of the possible signs that may indicate children are at risk of harm. She knows how to take swift action, to protect children's welfare in the event of a child protection concern. The childminder carries out regular risk assessments of her home and any outings she takes children on. She regularly reflects on the service she provides, seeking the views of parents and children. This ensures she acts effectively to address any areas for improvement. The childminder carefully reviews children's progress to swiftly address any gaps in their learning. Parents are delighted with the professional attitude that the childminder adopts.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Children demonstrate that they are keen to learn and persevere at challenging tasks. For instance, they connect various shaped building blocks together to create a tall tower. Children express an interest in books. They point to the characters on the pages and respond to the childminder's enthusiastic questioning. This motivates children to talk about previous experiences, such as visits to a park with their family. The childminder places a strong emphasis on promoting children's language skills. She consistently engages in conversation with children and introduces them to new words, such as helter-skelter. Children use small tools to create shapes in dough and mould balls between the palms of their hands. This helps to develop the small muscles in their hands in preparation for writing.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

The childminder is a positive role model. Children behave well and use good manners without being reminded to do so. They demonstrate that they are aware of the clear boundaries to help them keep safe. Children show a good sense of responsibility for their environment. They eagerly tidy away the toys they have finished playing with. Children develop good physical skills. They help the childminder to sweep up leaves in her garden. Visits to various parks with the childminder help to increase children's confidence in their abilities. They learn how to use large apparatus, such as slides and balancing beams.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are independent individuals. They are beginning to manage their outer clothing and feed themselves. Children use mathematical words during their play, such as front and back as they line up toy cars. They count and recognise some complex shapes, such as a diamond and a star. They gain the necessary skills needed to help prepare them for their future learning at school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY445216 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 1087413 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 1 - 9 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 4

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Name of registered person

Date of previous inspection 11 June 2014

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Telephone number

The childminder registered in 2012 and lives in the village of Welham Green, Hatfield. She operates all year round from 8am until 5.45pm, Monday to Friday, except 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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