Childminder in Hertfordshire

Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

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The provision is good

Children settle quickly into the childminder's care. They enjoy choosing things to do, such as picking a favourite book to look at. Children learn to count and recognise numbers. For example, they eagerly count the number of bugs they can see in the pictures in the book. The children share things that they have learned from the books, which they read confidently with adults and each other. They name the bugs they see as they point to them. Children are learning to be independent. They confidently feed themselves and manage their own personal care needs, such as washing their hands before snack. This helps children to develop skills to support the next stage in their learning, such as going to school.

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The provision is good

Children like to explore and the childminder helps them to notice things around them. They examine minibeasts in the garden with the childminder. Children help the childminder to move these creatures to a safe place so that they do not get hurt. The childminder takes the children on outings, such as to the farm and on walks in the woods. This helps them understand about the environment and the wider world around them.

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need to do better?

n The childminder provides children with a warm and welcoming environment where they feel safe. Children form strong relationships and show they care for one another. For example, they talk about their best friend at the setting and give each other hugs. Children enjoy exploring and playing together. They learn to share and take turns. Children are kind and help each other. For instance, they help their friends to push the toy car around the garden when they become stuck. n Children develop good language skills. The childminder introduces relevant new language as the children play. For instance, she talks to children about how they can 'squish' the dough they play with to create different shapes. The childminder instinctively provides children with opportunities to link their learning experiences together. She talks about the patterns children make in the green dough being similar to patterns they saw in their story earlier. As a result,

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need to do better?

children build on their existing knowledge. n The childminder engages with other childminders, which helps her to develop her professional knowledge. Where the childminder notices that children are falling behind, she plans suitable learning opportunities to help them to catch up. She uses children's interests to provide them with engaging activities which excite them. For example, children pretend to feed leaves to a toy dinosaur in the garden. The childminder builds on children's imaginative play experiences as they pretend that the dinosaur is sleeping. They laugh with delight as they run to hide from the dinosaur in the garden.

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need to do better?

18 May 2021 n The childminder provides children with activities to help them to develop their physical skills. She encourages the less confident children to climb down from the climbing frame themselves when they are at the top. The childminder provides them with reassurance, encouragement and praises them when they have a go. She involves children in tasks such as using a screwdriver to change batteries on a toy. The childminder explains to them how to safely use the tool and gives them clear instructions, which they confidently follow. Children concentrate and keep trying even when they find it tricky. This helps children to learn to persevere. They develop a strong sense of pride in their achievements. n Overall, parents are happy with the care that the childminder provides. The childminder obtains valuable information from parents when children start about what they already know and can do. She knows the children well. The

p.2

need to do better?

childminder shares information with parents about children's daily routines and activities. However, she does not always make sufficient information available to parents to help them to extend their children's learning at home.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The childminder has a strong understanding of how to keep children safe in her care. She carefully considers the learning environment to help children play safely. The childminder is aware of the signs and symptoms that may indicate a child is at risk of harm. She is confident about when and how to raise any concerns to the relevant statutory authorities. The childminder ensures that her knowledge of safeguarding is kept up to date and has relevant policies to follow in the event of a concern about a child.

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should:

n develop further the information made available to parents to enable them to extend their children's learning at home.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY551435 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10173992 Type of provision Childminder

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Childminder

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inspection

Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 2 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in September 2017 and lives in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire. She operates all year round from 7am to 7pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds a relevant qualification. She provides funded education for three-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the childminder received since the COVID- 19 (coronavirus) pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the childminder and has taken that into account in her evaluation of the setting. n The childminder and the inspector held discussions throughout the inspection, including about how the provision is organised. The inspector observed interactions between the childminder and the children at appropriate points during the inspection. n The inspector viewed feedback letters from parents and took account of their views. n The inspector held discussions with the children at various points throughout the inspection. n A sample of relevant documentation was viewed by the inspector, including suitability documents and policies.

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Inspection activities

18 May 2021 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

18 May 2021 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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