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 are extremely happy, confident and settled. They reflect the childminder's enthusiasm, high expectations and determination. They demonstrate exceptionally positive attitudes and show immense perseverance and true involvement in all they do. The childminder has a comprehensive understanding of each child. She uses this knowledge to exactly tailor her support to children's individual needs and to consistently offer them stimulating play opportunities. These successfully aid them in swiftly developing the skills and knowledge they need in order to learn and flourish.

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The provision is outstanding

Children thrive and develop a mature, sensitive understanding. Young children show great kindness and consideration towards one another. They readily share the toys and eagerly help with tasks, such as tidying up in between their activities. Older children state that they feel safe and welcome and actively choose to spend time with the childminder. Children learn excellent skills in independence and the childminder balances this well with helping children to assess risks, make informed choices and keep themselves safe. For example, young children concentrate and persevere as they carefully slice grapes in preparation for snack time. They competently explain that these need to be sliced so that they can be eaten safely.

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need to do better?

n The childminder's excellent assessments of children support her in exactly understanding children's experiences and offering them a multitude of activities that support their ability to learn and develop. For example, they develop strong physical skills as they use soft-play areas, climb hills and work out how to travel up and along netting. n The childminder pays meticulous attention to monitoring children's progress and offering them exciting opportunities that reinforce and extend their knowledge. For instance, children competently recognise basic shapes. They relish the challenge of learning about three-dimensional shapes and eagerly build these using large slot-together mats. n Children develop excellent early reading skills. The childminder has researched this area and skilfully supports them. Young children capably name letters and sounds. They confidently combine letters and correctly state the new sounds.

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need to do better?

Children thoroughly enjoy books. They eagerly recall stories and talk proficiently about the beginning, middle and end of them. n The childminder makes exceptional use of children's interests to help extend their learning. Young children who are interested in drawing create marks and patterns as they paint with water and use cotton buds and sponge rolls as writing tools. n Children enjoy excellent daily opportunities that support them in developing

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need to do better?

22 January 2020 mathematical skills. For example, young children count money as they pretend to shop. Older children know that each coin or note has a value and carefully check this. They enjoy the challenge of estimating as they try to predict how many balls will be needed to fill a container. n The childminder shows great enthusiasm for her work and an untiring commitment to developing her practice. She completes a multitude of training opportunities and uses any new knowledge she gains. She offers highly practical support to other childminders, inspiring them to develop their practice. n Children show great respect for one another and demonstrate a mature understanding of how to interact. They use language exceptionally well to explain themselves. The childminder uses innovative methods to aid children's communication. For example, children thoroughly enjoy looking at a series of photographs of activities. The childminder encourages them to talk about these

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need to do better?

and they become engrossed as they describe what is happening. n The childminder works very well with parents and other professionals. She offers parents practical support to help them extend children's learning at home. For example, she lends resources to support individual children's development. Parents hold the childminder in high esteem and report that they greatly appreciate her excellent communication and feel their children thrive in her care. n Children gain a highly practical understanding of how to keep themselves healthy. For example, they talk about healthy hearts and bodies as they participate in exercise and note how this affects them.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The childminder maintains an excellent understanding of safeguarding. She frequently refreshes her training and uses her knowledge to aid her in reviewing her work to ensure that she promotes children's welfare at all times. The childminder has an excellent understanding of the risks posed to children by exposure to extreme activities and views. She takes highly effective action to protect children from risks posed by use of the internet. She talks sensitively with children about this and helps them understand how to keep themselves safe. She offers parents information to help them understand how to keep their children safe.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 123967 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10127017 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 to 14 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 6 Date of previous inspection 8 December 2014

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 1992 and lives in Hertford. She operates all year round from 7.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds an appropriate qualification at level 3. She provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. She carried out a tour of the home with the childminder to discuss and understand how the early years provision is organised. n The inspector talked with children and the childminder at appropriate times throughout the inspection. She reviewed an activity with the childminder. n The inspector looked at evidence of the suitability of household members. She discussed the childminder's self-evaluation and viewed a range of other documentation, including the safeguarding procedures. n Written feedback from parents was looked at and the inspector took account of these views.

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Inspection activities

22 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

22 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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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