Childminder in Hertfordshire

Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Outstanding

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The provision is outstanding

Children feel extremely happy, safe and secure. They respond positively to the childminder's requests and are encouraged by her to display kind and gentle behaviour. The childminder excels at delivering age-appropriate, challenging activities. For example, children prepare their own lunch, which increases their independence and fine motor skills. Children are highly eager to engage in roles which create feelings of accomplishment. For instance, they ask the childminder for cleaning cloths to help to clean surfaces after lunch. Children show great satisfaction in undertaking responsibilities as they show off their handy work.

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The provision is outstanding

Children's vocabulary increases throughout the childminder's exceptional, high- quality activities. Toddlers continuously mimic the childminder's language and say new words. Older children are learning how to identify risks. They explain to toddlers that they cannot have knives because they are sharp. In turn, children are becoming increasingly assured speakers, which prepares them to eventually become fluent readers. The childminder provides ample opportunities to focus on promoting children's learning and development. She tactfully displays books so that they are open and accessible to encourage children's interest and early love of reading. The childminder consistently respects and responds to children's unique interests. For example, she provides a photograph book of all the resources that are stored out of sight. This enables children of all abilities to select what they would like to play with and express their wishes.

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need to do better?

n The childminder is meticulous in her self-evaluations to ensure her practice and provision are of the highest standard. She specifically completes training to build upon her professional knowledge and reflect on improving her practice. This means that children are in constant receipt of high-quality teaching methods. n The childminder networks with other childminders within the local community. Together, they attend toddler groups, library sessions, nature reserves, the museum and the Hare Krishna temple. These rich experiences help to develop children's respect for people and communities beyond their own and increase their confidence in social situations. n The childminder intelligently supports children to understand why certain rules are in place and how their behaviour can affect others. For instance, she encourages children to consider the impact of their loud noise on children who are asleep. Upon reflection of causing upset to others, children quickly lower

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need to do better?

their volume and engage in a quieter activity. n Children's mathematical skills are continuously being developed in age- appropriate ways. This is evident when the childminder counts and sorts bears into circles with younger children to establish their understanding of quantity

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need to do better?

21 January 2020 and shapes. With older children, she asks them to count and add up extra pieces of fruit. This exemplifies how she encourages and extends children's early calculation skills to prepare them for their next stage of their learning. n The childminder encourages children to safely walk and run around as much as possible to increase their cardiovascular health. She encourages children to pour water from jugs and squeeze paint bottles to strengthen their muscles and fine motor skills. n The childminder consolidates her own assessments of children's development with further information from their families and other settings. As a result, children benefit from coherent learning experiences that are designed to accelerate their knowledge towards future learning. Parents strongly believe their children have 'fantastic imaginations' due to the countless stories the childminder reads with them. n The childminder possesses a comprehensive knowledge of engaging children's

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need to do better?

interests and supporting them to keep trying when they encounter difficulties. For instance, she follows children's interests by incorporating toy cars and bricks into a paint exploration activity. Through this, children who are fearful of getting messy are supported to 'have a go' and overcome their reservations. When children are alarmed at paint landing on their face, the childminder takes swift action to wipe it off. As a result, children return to the activity to explore further and become happily absorbed in their play. n The childminder playfully 'tickles' the paint with the children and says 'wiggle, wiggle' to describe children's finger movements. She educates children about the directions their fingers move through the paint. For example, she says, 'Forwards, backwards, round and round.' These high-quality interactions enable children to enjoy sensory play, despite the difficulties they previously faced.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The childminder has robust policies and procedures in place to ensure children's safety and well-being. She reviews and updates her policies accordingly and handles personal information securely. The childminder is highly alert to the risks posed by cameras and mobile phones. She reduces these risks in her everyday practice and educates children about how to keep themselves safe in age- appropriate ways. The childminder undertakes regular safeguarding training. She is highly knowledgeable in recognising the different signs of abuse. She is competent to report and refer any concerns she has about a child's welfare, following the local authority's procedures.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 129873 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10127033 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 to 9 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 7 Date of previous inspection 10 December 2014

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 1993 and lives in Bushey, Hertfordshire. She operates all year round from 7.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds an early years qualification at level 3.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector observed the quality of the childminder's teaching and interactions with children throughout the inspection. These observations helped to assess the impact the childminder's curriculum and care practices have on children's learning. n The inspector engaged in discussions with the childminder to evaluate the effectiveness of her policies and procedures. She looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of all persons living on the premises. n The inspector and the childminder completed a joint evaluation of an activity to identify areas of strength and potential for improvement. n The inspector spoke to children throughout the inspection. Written feedback from parents and older children was read by the inspector to take further account of their views. n The inspector and the childminder completed a learning walk across the areas of her home where childcare is provided. This helped to establish how the

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Inspection activities

childminder delivers the early years curriculum through her everyday practice.

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Inspection activities

21 January 2020 We carried out this inspection 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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Inspection activities

21 January 2020 regulates and inspects to 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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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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