Childminder in Hertfordshire

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

The childminder provides children with an exceptionally loving and nurturing environment, which supports their learning superbly well. She is very calm, patient and kind, and an excellent role model. Children demonstrate that they feel incredibly safe with her. Their behaviour and early relationships are exemplary for their age. They learn excellent social skills and are extremely polite and well mannered. The childminder sensitively supports children to understand different emotions, such as when they have a new baby in the family. During the first national COVID-19 lockdown, the childminder kept in touch by making regular video calls. She suggested a wealth of ideas to parents to support them with their children's learning at home. This helped children to continue their learning and return happily with the same exceptionally high levels of confidence.

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The provision is outstanding

All children make outstanding progress from their starting points. They flourish in the vibrant and stimulating learning environment. The childminder provides children with interesting and exciting experiences, which promote their understanding of people beyond their own family and community. For example, they thoroughly enjoy tasting the delicious food in an Italian patisserie and Greek bakery. Children develop confidence, resilience and independence. These skills will positively support them in their future learning and when they start school.

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need to do better?

n The childminder plans rich, innovative and highly challenging activities and experiences. She carries out regular observations and assessments of children's achievements. She uses these to carefully plan children's next steps in learning, therefore successfully building on what they already know and can do. For example, during a sorting and matching activity, young children count two objects and know they must add another one to make three. n Children benefit from exceptional levels of individual attention and high-quality interaction with the childminder. She models language and supports them in their pronunciation of words. Children love to recall their previous activities and experiences. For example, they happily explain how they make play dough. They smile proudly when the childminder praises them for remembering ingredients, such as 'lemon grass' and 'cream of tartar'. n The childminder's home is rich in print, with an abundance of books that are

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need to do better?

easily accessible to children. Children's love of books is further enhanced through visits to the library. The childminder makes the most of all opportunities to extend children's thinking and understanding. For example, during a story, she asks them if they can visit the sun. They confidently explain that the sun is too hot. Children learn that they can gain information from books. They are fascinated when they discover that the blue whale has no teeth.

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need to do better?

24 February 2022 n Children become deeply engrossed as they explore and investigate a wealth of inspiring resources. They develop their creativity and imagination as they use the resources in a range of ways. Young children make elaborate, recognisable dragons and explain how they do this. They delight in using bricks as telephones to 'speak to mummy'. Children have great fun making up songs as they use the bricks as microphones. n Children thoroughly enjoy mark making with an exciting range of early writing resources. For example, they confidently make marks on a wooden writing board. They explore the different patterns in the wood using marker pens. Young children thoroughly enjoy this activity. They proudly demonstrate how they can draw circles and write some recognisable letters from their name. n The childminder has built exceptional partnerships with the children's families. She shares photographs and videos of children's daily activities. Parents are

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need to do better?

given excellent ideas of how they can extend their children's learning and love of reading at home. Parents state that they are 'very lucky to have her and would strongly recommend her'. They appreciate the childminder's 'incredible flexibility' and 'the highly nutritious home-cooked meals' she provides. n Children have excellent opportunities to learn about healthy lifestyles and be extremely active. They practise their physical skills in the childminder's garden, the woods and local playground. Young children are encouraged to carry out small tasks for themselves, such as cleaning their teeth after lunch. They quickly learn the skills they need to take care of their personal hygiene. n The childminder strives for excellence at all times. She continually reflects on what she can do to further improve her practice. For example, she is creating a 'resource library' with other childminders to enhance their provision. The

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need to do better?

childminder undertakes training that will benefit the children in her care. For example, recent training has further supported her knowledge and understanding of the reformed 'Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage'. This supports her to provide the highest quality care and learning experiences for every child.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Children's safety and well-being are of paramount importance to the childminder. She has extensive knowledge of the current procedures to follow should she have any concerns about children's welfare. The childminder completes regular training to refresh her safeguarding knowledge. This includes wider safeguarding issues, such as radicalisation. 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 EY551717 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10174066 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 4 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2017 and lives in Bishops Stortford. She operates all year round from 7am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. 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

24 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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