Childminder in Cambridgeshire

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 immediately feel at home in this exceedingly welcoming environment. They choose confidently from easily accessible activities that captivate their interest. For example, very young children explore the mouths and teeth of toy animals. They imitate the sounds the toys' mouths make as they snap shut. They press paw-print cutters into softened dough and match the paw-prints to the animals on a chart. Children fill clear narrow-necked plastic containers with coloured crystals to make shakers. They compare sounds when they move the shakers quickly or slowly. They line up the shakers to match a rainbow picture.

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The provision is outstanding

Children learn to share and take turns. For example, each child uses the virtual assistant to choose their favourite song. Together they listen attentively to 'The Grand Old Duke of York'. They use space safely as they swing their arms and march energetically. Children learn to cooperate and work as a team. Behaviour is exemplary.

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The provision is outstanding

Very young children explore emotions, reactions and consequences as they listen to the story book 'The Owl Babies'. They gain word knowledge from repeated rhymes and sentences in well-loved stories. They act out stories using puppets. The childminder actively seeks children's views and listens to them carefully. She provides books that help children understand their feelings. The childminder constantly aims to help each child to develop as a well-rounded individual.

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need to do better?

n The childminder works in close partnership with all parents. From day one she seeks extensive information about each child. This helps her to establish rapport speedily with the child and creates a basis for continuous information sharing with parents. Parents appreciate the use of technology to communicate daily observations of their child's experiences and progress. n The childminder monitors children's development constantly and creates precisely targeted plans to ensure all children make significant progress from their starting points. This includes children who speak English as an additional language. n Children make exceptional progress in speech and language. The childminder provides a language-rich environment with a wealth of opportunities to extend vocabulary. For example, at snack time, very young children read clearly printed names of fruits and vegetables on a 'healthy foods' poster. They enjoy practising

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need to do better?

and repeating tricky words. The childminder models using the words in different contexts. n The childminder expertly incorporates number, shape, space and measurement into play. For example, at snack time, children count fruit, match numbers and

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need to do better?

27 February 2020 begin to recognise fractions. The childminder pays close attention to each child's understanding and adjusts her teaching to meet individual learning needs. n Children quickly gain control of utensils to use for eating. They watch closely as the childminder pours and spoons dry ingredients from different heights and positions, and copy her with considerable success. The childminder supervises and guides as children safely use cutting tools. Children handle different-shaped objects and develop hand muscles, which helps to support a good pencil grip. n The childminder supports children exceptionally well to develop self-care. For example, she uses a mirror to help children understand how to blow their nose on a tissue and then shows them how to dispose of it. She guides very young children to take off their outdoor footwear. Children rapidly begin to manage their personal needs independently.

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need to do better?

n The childminder skilfully prepares children for learning letters and sounds. For example, she encourages them to listen carefully for sounds of all kinds, however small. Children later use the same skills to pick out sounds that letters make, for example, in their own names. They are very well prepared for school. n Following evaluation, the childminder plans activities that children find deeply interesting and absorbing. She regularly takes them to the nearby RAF museum as they show a clear interest in aircraft. Children also enjoy visits to local farms. They take particular delight in reviewing photographs of their visit to a pumpkin farm. n The childminder has well-established links with professionals and networks. She seeks constantly to improve her practice through self-evaluation, advice and training. She has steadily increased the amount of play led by children. She has also introduced 'treasure baskets' of items made of different natural materials

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need to do better?

for children to handle and explore. n Parents are unanimous and unstinting in their praise for the service the childminder provides. They say the childminder is 'wonderful'.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The childminder is extremely well trained and knowledgeable about her role and responsibilities relating to child protection issues and keeping children safe. She knows and understands signs of possible child abuse, neglect or being drawn into extreme behaviours or ideas. She has a clear understanding of how to report concerns about a child's safety. She frequently attends training to update her knowledge to keep children safe and protected from harm. All activities and routines are risk assessed to ensure children are safe. For example, there are stringent risk assessments of visits to local parks and places of interest.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 130056 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10127038 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 8 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 4 Date of previous inspection 3 February 2016

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 1998 and lives in South Oxhey, Watford. She is open from 7.30am to 5pm Monday to Friday, for most of the year. The childminder provides funded early years education for three- and four-year-old children. She holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 3.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector viewed the areas in the childminder's home used by the children inside and outside. n At appropriate times throughout the inspection, the inspector spoke with the childminder and the children. n The inspector carried out an evaluation of an activity with the childminder. n The inspector checked a range of documentation, including policies and procedures, certificates and the suitability checks of the childminder, and those who live in the household. n During the inspection the inspector looked at parent responses to questionnaires and written reviews. She took account of their views.

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Inspection activities

27 February 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

27 February 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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