Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date 18 March 2019 Previous inspection date 27 July 2015

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This inspection: Good 2

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

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This provision is good

n The qualified childminder thoroughly enjoys her role and the time that she spends with children. She is keen to develop her good practice even further and has clear improvement plans, for example opportunities she has sourced for online training. n The childminder promotes children's communication and language development well. For example, she engages children in regular conversation and introduces them to new words such as 'difficult' and 'viaduct'. They listen carefully as she provides explanations to support their learning. n Children have plenty of opportunities to develop their social skills. For example, the childminder takes children to weekly playgroups and helps them to learn consideration for others and understand how relationships work. Children develop warm friendships with children of all ages, including the childminder's own children. n Children have immense fun as they play alongside others and take turns to choose

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This provision is good

their favourite action songs. For example, they dissolve into fits of laughter as the childminder shows them how sounds can be changed and introduces alternative rhyming words. Children show good physical control as they experiment with different ways of moving. n Parents highly recommend the childminder and swiftly returned their children to her care when she came back from maternity leave. They say the childminder is brilliant at what she does and feel their children have come on in leaps and bounds socially, physically and verbally. n The childminder does not work as well as she could with staff at the other settings children attend, to better promote consistency in their learning and development. n At times, the childminder does not make the best use of her planned activities or link these to her precise assessments of children's achievement, to challenge them to the very highest level.

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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 strengthen partnership working with staff at the other settings children attend, to support a more consistent approach to meeting children's needs n make more effective use of the planned activities and available information to provide every child with consistently high levels of challenge.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

Inspection activities n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector completed a joint evaluation of an activity with the childminder. n 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. n The inspector spoke to children during the inspection. n The inspector took account of the views of parents through written feedback provided.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The childminder regularly refreshes her knowledge of child protection issues and knows the correct action to take if she has any concerns about children's welfare. The childminder completes ongoing risk assessments of her home, garden and when on outings. This helps her to ensure children play in a safe and secure environment. The childminder welcomes the views of others to help reflect on her provision and support continuous improvement. For example, for a set period of time, she is trialling an online software system. The childminder uses this to assist her as she records and monitors children's learning. She is eager to hear the feedback and views of parents before she makes any final decisions.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The childminder regularly observes and assesses each child to identify their next steps in learning. She notes children's interests and chooses a weekly theme to provide them with a broad range of experiences. For example, children focus as they make decorative boxes as a gift for Mother's Day. They choose particular colours to use for a purpose and are confident to ask for help as they need. Children engage for long periods of time in their chosen games and enjoy the childminder's praise for their achievements. Children draw on their imagination as they build stories around toys. For example, they use small- world resources to set up a park scene, and choose where the figures and animals will go and the activities they will do. Children welcome the childminder's ideas to help enhance their play.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children are settled and secure in the childminder's care. They show they are familiar with the daily routines. For example, babies anticipate that milk follows a sleep and young children know it is time for lunch when they return from nursery. The childminder uses a consistent approach to help teach children about her expectations for behaviour. For example, children learn to say 'please' and 'thank you', that some toys can break if they sit on them and that they need to walk when indoors. The childminder promotes children's good health. Some of the ways she achieves this is through ensuring children have daily access to fresh air and exercise, such as time to play in the garden or on a trip to the nearby farm.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children make good progress from their starting point assessment. They are motivated to learn, follow instructions well and enjoy taking on the responsibility of small tasks. Children show an early interest in mathematics. For example, young children ably use numbers to count in sequence and begin to recognise square and three-dimensional shapes. Children develop some of the essential skills that they require in readiness for school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY348578 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10063587 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 2 - 6 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 5 Date of previous inspection 27 July 2015

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Registers

The childminder registered in 2007 and lives in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire. She operates all year round from 8am to 5.30pm on a Monday and Tuesday and from 8.30am to 4.15pm on a Wednesday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds an appropriate qualification at level 3 and provides funded early education for three- and four-year-old children.

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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

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