Childminder in Hertfordshire

Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Good

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The provision requires improvement

A breach to the statutory safeguarding and welfare requirements means that children's health and safety are not fully assured. Despite this, the quality of education is good. Children are confident in this welcoming, home-from-home environment. They have caring, secure attachments with the childminder and her assistants. Children readily go to the childminder and her assistants for comfort and invite them into their play. Children use their imaginations to develop their own storylines about underwater characters in a castle. The childminder provides dressing-up clothes for children to explore their own experiences.

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The provision requires improvement

The childminder and assistants help children to develop their social skills. They are good role models for the children. They play with the children to demonstrate turn taking, and listen to what the children have to say. This helps children to feel valued and learn what is socially acceptable behaviour. Children demonstrate their deep knowledge of stories. The childminder and her assistant skilfully help children to recall their learning. For example, while eating snack, children discuss with each other the different items a caterpillar ate. Holding up their fingers, they accurately count and name a variety of foods from the story.

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need to do better?

n The childminder and her assistants do not hold current and valid paediatric first- aid qualifications. However, the childminder has sufficient knowledge of what action to take in an emergency. This minimises the impact on children's health and safety. The childminder does risk assess regularly to help ensure that children are kept physically safe on the premises. For example, children waited until the wind was less gusty to play football in the garden. n The childminder obtains useful information about children before they start attending her provision. She uses this to help them settle in and provide activities that interest them. This helps to build children's confidence. n The childminder and her assistants know the children well and provide experiences that help them to make good progress in their learning. For example, the childminder identified that there was a need to focus sharply on developing children's social skills.

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need to do better?

n Children benefit from the childminder's play-based approach. She and her assistants weave learning into everyday activities, making them fun for the children. For example, when eating tangerines, assistants skilfully help children to recall the names of other types of citrus fruits and compare the similarities and differences. However, the childminder and assistants do not always fully challenge the more-able children. For example, they ask questions that children already know the answer to. n The childminder helps children to be independent. Babies eat their lunch with

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need to do better?

21 February 2022 spoons. Young children put hats on themselves. Older children attempt to put on dressing-up clothes before the childminder helps them to complete the task. This helps them in readiness for the next stage of their education, such as starting school. n The childminder supports children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and their families. She and her assistants include them in activities and work with parents and other professionals to help them have a positive early years experience. n Parents speak very highly of the childminder and assistants. They value the 'home-from-home' setting that is provided for their children. They notice their children have gained speaking and number skills since attending. Parents speak passionately about how the childminder provides a service that they cannot do without and their children love attending. n The childminder seeks out ideas to develop her and her assistants' practice. For

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need to do better?

example, she attends early years conferences. She and the assistants meet regularly to discuss what went well and what they can do to improve the experience for children in their care. n Children have opportunities to be physically active. Babies crawl through tunnels and look for their siblings. Older children play football in the garden. This helps to support their whole-body coordination.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The childminder and her assistants have good safeguarding knowledge. They can identify the signs that a child may be at risk of harm, including when families may be vulnerable. They know the relevant agencies to contact and report to should an allegation be made about the childminder or anyone living in the household. The childminder and her assistants regularly update their knowledge and training to ensure they understand the current and changing issues in their area, such as the grooming of older children for criminal exploitation.

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Due date

ensure that you and any assistant left alone with children hold a valid paediatric first-aid qualification that meets the criteria set out in Annex A of the 'Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage'. 31/03/2022

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should:

n help all staff to extend and challenge the more-able children even further in their learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY413918 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10226511 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 12 Number of children on roll 60 Date of previous inspection 14 October 2019

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2010 and lives in Bushey, Watford. She operates all year round from 6.30am to 6.45pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. She works with three assistants at various times. One of the assistants holds an appropriate qualification at level 3.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the setting 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 talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want children to learn. n The inspector talked to the childminder and assistants at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The childminder and the inspector carried out a joint observation of a spontaneous activity. n The inspector spoke to parents over the telephone and took account of their views. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of household members.

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Inspection activities

n Children talked with the inspector during the inspection.

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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

21 February 2022 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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