Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date 12 February 2019 Previous inspection date 14 October 2015

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Previous inspection: Good 2 Effectiveness of leadership and management Outstanding 1 Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding 1 Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1 Outcomes for children Outstanding 1

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This provision is outstanding

n The childminder and her assistants are highly qualified and have extensive experience. They strive for excellence and accurately evaluate the quality of their service. They have high ambitions and are continually looking for ways to further improve their already outstanding practice. n The childminder's deep passion for outdoor learning is at the heart of her superb setting. Children spend the majority of their time in the inspirational outdoor environment. The childminder provides wonderful opportunities for children to experiment and be physically active. Children engage extremely well in exploring natural resources using all their senses. n The childminder builds excellent links with other early years settings that children attend. She is highly proactive in sharing information about children's learning. The childminder also works closely with the reception teacher at the local school. The teacher reports that children are extremely independent and very well prepared for

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This provision is outstanding

learning at school. n Partnership working with parents is exceptional. Parents state their children are superbly cared for by the childminder and her assistants. Some parents' initial concerns about the amount of time children would spend outside, have quickly diminished. This is because they see the significant impact it has on children's learning, health and well- being. n The childminder monitors children's progress precisely to inform insightful evaluations of their learning. She is able to swiftly identify where children need additional help, support or challenge. Through planning and teaching, she helps children to quickly reach their next steps in learning. Children make rapid progress in their learning and 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

n continue to precisely identify ongoing professional development opportunities, in order to gain even more knowledge on how to support children with special educational needs.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

Inspection activities n The inspector observed the childminder and one of her assistants joining in activities with children and discussed the learning that was taking place with them. n The inspector looked at the areas of the premises used for childminding. n The inspector observed the childminder teaching children through an activity and discussed the learning that was taking place with her. She also discussed the progress children are making with the childminder. n The inspector saw evidence of the suitability of household members and assistants and sampled a range of other documents, including the safeguarding policy. n The inspector took into account the written views of parents and the childminder's extensive reflections of her practice.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is outstanding

Safeguarding is effective. The childminder and her assistants demonstrate an expert knowledge of child protection issues and know exactly what to do should they have any concerns about children's welfare. The childminder supports her assistants exceptionally well and monitors the quality of teaching meticulously to ensure consistently high standards. She maintains her own and her assistants' professional development through a diverse range of methods, including supervision, training, and research. The childminder is currently working towards an early years degree. Despite the excellent knowledge she is gaining through this, she recognises her need to undertake even more training on supporting children which specific special educational needs.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

The childminder and her assistants use their exceptional skills to motivate children and encourage their learning. They provide a superb range of high-quality activities and learning experiences that are expertly tailored to children's interests and individual level of development. The childminder uses extremely skillful questioning to extend children's learning and encourage problem solving and critical thinking. For example, as children explore coloured sand, they are keen to add water. The childminder asks them what they think might happen to the sand. When children say they do not know, she explains how experimenting will allow them to find out. This results in children talking about how the texture is changing and they use magnifying glasses to look at it closer.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

The childminder's bold move to becoming a mainly outdoors setting has had a significant impact on children's health and well-being. The childminder's constant evaluations of practice show children's attendance has improved, illness has reduced and accidents rarely occur. Children form exceptionally close bonds with the childminder and her assistants. They are very happy, settled and emotionally secure in their care. The childminder supports children to understand the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle extremely well. They grow vegetables in the garden so that children can learn how healthy food grows and be involved in the whole process from sowing seeds to eating fresh food. Mealtimes are wonderful social occasions where children ask questions about the food they are eating. The childminder and her assistants explain the benefits of eating vegetables, explaining what impact vitamins and iron have on their bodies.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

All children make excellent progress; this includes children in receipt of additional funding. They all show high levels of focus, excitement and engagement as they play. Children develop excellent early literacy skills as they expertly join in with familiar stories, using props from the wonderful story sacks. Children learn to make marks to represent writing. For example, when playing at shopping, they write the lists on a notepad and are able to explain what food each mark represents. Children are exceptionally well prepared for the next stage in their learning and their move on to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY409371 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10063623 Type of provision Childminder

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Childminder Age range of children 1 - 8 Total number of places 12 Number of children on roll 16 Date of previous inspection 14 October 2015

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Registers

The childminder registered in 2010 and lives in Letchworth Garden City. She operates all year round from 7.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. She holds an appropriate qualification at level 5. The childminder employs two assistants who both hold appropriate qualifications at level 3.

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Registers

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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Registers

procedures set out in the guidance Complaints procedure: raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.ofsted.gov.uk . 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 and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, 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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Registers

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Registers

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Registers

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Registers

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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