Gillon, Mrs Lauren

Overall effectiveness Outstanding

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

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The provision is outstanding

Children thrive in this exceptionally welcoming and well-organised environment. They are highly valued and their welfare is at the centre of everything the childminder does. The childminder is passionate and extremely dedicated to offering outstanding provision. Children are treated with kindness and respect. The childminder's remarkably confident and relaxed manner helps them to develop a real sense of belonging. Children show they feel extremely welcome and comfortable in her home. Their behaviour and manners are impeccable. Children play harmoniously together and demonstrate that they feel incredibly safe and secure. Children develop excellent social skills and happily share and take turns. For example, they kindly remind each other when it is their turn to play with the doll's pram. Children develop exceptionally close bonds with the childminder and each other. This successfully promotes their confidence, resilience and

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The provision is outstanding

All children make outstanding progress. This is because of the highly effective teaching and the stimulating activities and experiences offered to them. The superb interactions between the childminder and the children contribute enormously to their learning. The childminder skilfully arouses their curiosity, encouraging them to try new things. For example, toddlers excitedly explore the colourful autumn leaves they have collected from the woods. This helps children to learn to appreciate the awe and wonder of the world in which they live. Children have the best possible start to their education and are exceptionally well prepared for their future learning at school.

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need to do better?

n The childminder sets extremely high standards for her childminding provision. She demonstrates a genuine enthusiasm for her work and thoroughly enjoys her time with the children. The dedicated childminder uses her wealth of knowledge and experience to create a rich and inspiring environment for the children. She expertly turns all activities into exciting opportunities for children to extend and enhance their learning. For example, the childminder challenges young children to name the animals at the farm, who confidently recreate the animal noises. n Children receive excellent encouragement and support to develop their love of books. The childminder cleverly reinforces stories through the use of superb story props and puppets. She reads to the children using lots of expression and different voices. Children become totally absorbed as they listen attentively to their favourite stories. n The childminder works extremely closely with parents to ensure children's

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need to do better?

mental health and well-being are appropriately supported. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the childminder continued to offer fantastic support to the

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need to do better?

4 November 2021 children and their families. She kept in touch by making regular video calls. The childminder suggested a wealth of ideas to parents to help them with their children's learning at home. Consequently, children continued to enjoy their learning and happily settled again in her care. n Children love to make marks and to be creative. For example, they have enormous fun making firework pictures using chalks. Young children concentrate extremely well for their age and stage of development. The childminder gives children lots of praise and encouragement, saying 'you are very clever'. This significantly promotes their confidence and self-esteem. n The childminder skilfully supports young children's early communication by modelling words and singing songs. For example, children delight in taking turns to choose an item in the wonderfully inspiring song basket. All children join in enthusiastically with the songs and actions.

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need to do better?

n Young children are extremely familiar with the daily routines. For example, they promptly wash their hands before meals, without having to be asked. They demonstrate high levels of perseverance as they master new tasks, such as putting on their coats and boots. After lunch, children confidently clean their teeth. The childminder offers excellent support and encouragement to children as they start their toilet training. n The childminder builds exceptional relationships with the children and their families. She has highly effective systems in place for sharing information with them. For example, she completes daily activity sheets, shares photographs and sends messages about their children's day. Parents speak extremely fondly of the childminder and say they 'cannot thank her enough for all her support during the pandemic'. They describe her home as being 'filled with love' and express their confidence that their children are 'in perfect hands'.

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need to do better?

n The childminder meticulously evaluates the quality of her setting. She regularly seeks the views of parents to ensure she meets their children's needs. She recently attended training to support her in creating an enabling environment. She is making excellent use of the training to create a wonderful new playroom for the children. As part of her evaluation, the childminder has identified exciting ideas to build on the superb opportunities she offers outside. She demonstrates an excellent capacity to sustain an outstanding quality of care for children.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The childminder has a thorough understanding of her role in protecting the children in her care. She is vigilant in recognising any concerns, such as a change in children's behaviour. She has an excellent understanding of how to monitor and report any concerns. The childminder has undertaken a considerable amount of safeguarding training to develop her knowledge. She has a detailed safeguarding policy which she regularly updates to ensure all information is current and relevant. The childminder has been particularly vigilant in providing a safe environment for the children and their families during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY559348 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10190288 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 5 Number of children on roll 9 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2018 and lives in Watford, Hertfordshire. She operates all year round from 7am to 6pm, Monday to Thursday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds an appropriate childcare qualification at level 4. 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 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the childminder and has taken that into account in their 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. n The inspector took account of the views of parents from written feedback

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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

4 November 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

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