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 have interesting, enjoyable days with the childminder. She provides an exceptionally warm and nurturing environment. Children's well-being is given high priority. This helps them to feel valued and welcome in the childminder's home. Children show that they feel safe with her. They are happy, settled and keen to learn.

p.2

The provision is good

The childminder is a very good role model. She sensitively helps children to learn how to share toys and resources. Children understand what is expected of them. They respond well to the childminder's continual encouragement and praise. Older children support younger children very well. They play happily together and become good friends. For example, older children make a menu and help to serve the food in the play café. Children enjoy their play and benefit from the childminder's enthusiastic involvement in this.

p.2

The provision is good

Children are confident and sociable. They warmly welcome visitors and demonstrate their very good communication skills. Children are eager to talk to adults and each other. They develop a love of books and enjoy listening to stories. All children have extensive opportunities for practising their mark-making skills. The childminder supports children to develop the key skills required for their next stage in learning.

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need to do better?

n Children enjoy a stimulating environment, both indoors and outdoors. The childminder plays alongside the children and follows their interests. For example, she recognises young children's fascination with dinosaurs. Children have great fun hunting for dinosaurs in the sand. n Children's communication and language are supported well. The childminder continually talks to children and models words to extend their vocabulary. She uses a variety of stories, poems and songs to help support children's listening, understanding and speaking skills. n All children develop a love of books and enjoy listening to their favourite stories. The childminder points to the words as she reads. This helps children to understand that print carries meaning. She asks children questions and introduces them to new words, such as 'cocoon'. n The childminder supports children's understanding of the natural world. For example, she takes them to a farm where they enjoy seeing the baby animals.

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need to do better?

Children are fascinated by the life cycle of the caterpillar. They excitedly watch the beautiful butterflies break out of their cocoons and fly around the garden. n Children have many opportunities to learn about numbers and shapes. For example, the childminder encourages them to count their pieces of fruit as they

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need to do better?

12 August 2021 cut them. She uses their interests to develop their learning further. For example, children choose the circular shaped sponge to create a picture of a hungry caterpillar. n The childminder makes contact with other settings and schools that children attend. This helps to ensure continuity of care and learning for children. She regularly meets up with other childminders to share good practice. n Parents are extremely happy with the care the childminder provides. They appreciate her flexibility, and the regular information she shares with them. The childminder sends daily messages and photographs of their children. She works closely with parents to ensure children's care and learning needs are effectively supported. She offers parents good suggestions of how they can support their children's learning at home. n Children develop a good understanding of healthy eating. They enjoy selecting their fruit at snack time. Children are given time to eat comfortably. The

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need to do better?

childminder encourages them to develop their independence skills. For example, younger children show great perseverance as they use a knife to cut up their banana. n The childminder completes the required progress check for two-year-old children. She uses it to help identify any gaps in children's development. She provides a written summary of the children's learning and development for parents. This includes suggestions for the next steps in their learning. n The childminder gathers information from parents about children's individual needs before they start attending. However, she does not consistently find out about what children already know and can do, to enable her to build more effectively on their learning right from the start.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The childminder has a very good knowledge of her role in keeping children safe. She has robust policies and procedures that are in line with current guidelines, to support her practice. She is confident of the procedures to follow should she have any child protection concerns. The childminder understands wider safeguarding issues, such as radicalisation and the possible dangers associated with use of the internet. She teaches children how to keep themselves safe when using information and communication technology equipment.

p.3

should:

n gather more detailed information from parents about what children know and can do when they begin attending, to help clearly establish starting points and plan for each child's next steps in learning.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY556926 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10190105 Type of provision Childminder

p.4

Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Childminder

p.4

inspection

Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 7 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

p.4

Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2018 and lives in Watford. She operates Monday to Thursday, all year round except for bank holidays and family holidays. Sessions are from 7.30am to 5pm. The childminder holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 3. She provides funded early years education for two-, three- and four- 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 showed the inspector the areas of her home that children access. They discussed how the childminder organises her setting and plans the curriculum and experiences for children. n The childminder shared a sample of documents with the inspector. This included evidence about training and the suitability of those living on the premises. n The inspector observed children and the childminder taking part in activities and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. The inspector and the childminder reflected on a learning experience for children. n Children spoke to the inspector about what they enjoy doing at the childminder's house.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector took account of the views of parents from written feedback provided.

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Inspection activities

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

12 August 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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