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 Outstanding

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The provision is outstanding

Children flourish in the childminder's care. They form very close and caring relationships with her and the other children who attend her setting. Very young children demonstrate kindness and warmth towards each other. They gently guide their friends, with a hand on their back, to help them climb up on the step to wash their hands on arrival. Children show excellent levels of independence from an early age. They independently hang up their coats after being outside. When another child indicates that they wish to have the red peg for their coat, other children offer to move their coats to a different coloured peg, showing genuine compassion for their friends. This shows the strong relationships children have with each other and provides them with a firm foundation for making future relationships and for moving on to nursery and school.

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The provision is outstanding

Children enjoy the opportunities to be outdoors and be physically active. They experience a wealth of wonderful experiences to learn about nature and the wider world. The childminder is skilful at helping children to consolidate and deepen their knowledge as she frequently asks them to recall what they have seen on their recent visits. For example, when children role play with pretend eggs, she asks them to remember the eggs that they have seen the previous day at the farm. The childminder reminds them that the eggs were kept in a warm place so that they will hatch into chicks. This helps children to start to learn about different life cycles.

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need to do better?

n The experienced childminder demonstrates a genuine passion for her work with children. She has high expectations for all children and is an excellent role model. The childminder is sensitive to the possible effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on children. She swiftly identifies emerging gaps in their learning and readily adapts what she offers, particularly supporting children's personal and social skills. The childminder works closely with the local nursery that children attend. Together, they share information regarding children's targets to provide high levels of consistency in children's care and learning. n The childminder supports the children's communication and language skills extremely well. For example, children choose their favourite story about a zoo, and snuggle in her lap to listen and help to turn the pages. As the childminder reads, she uses these opportunities to extend the story by linking the words and

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need to do better?

pictures to a recent trip to the zoo. This successfully builds on children's prior learning and enhances their growing vocabularies. When the children hear a fire engine. the childminder makes excellent use of questions to extend their language, thoughts and understanding. n Children are extremely keen and motivated to learn. The childminder ensures that all children have an excellent range of activities and experiences to keep

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need to do better?

24 February 2022 them interested and motivated to learn. Very young children learn to problem- solve as the childminder gives them clear explanations about how magnets work in their toys. Children then experiment with other toys to see if they have the same effect. Older children investigate different types of pasta. The childminder introduces new words to them to further extend their knowledge. For example, when they tell her the dried spaghetti is bendy, she explains to them that this is known as 'flexible'. n The childminder has a secure understanding of how children learn. Her professional development is extensive. She consistently uses training opportunities to deepen her own knowledge and further enhance her teaching. For example, she attended training on supporting children's physical development and now makes sure children have more opportunities to develop their large muscle and fine motor skills. The childminder meticulously plans

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need to do better?

children's learning experiences to help provide the right level of challenge for each child. As a result, all children make excellent progress. n Parents are extremely positive about the care and education that their children receive. They praise the childminder's kind and gentle nature she has with their children. Older children report that the childminder is 'funny, kind and awesome'. This shows that she is highly regarded by both the children and their families. The childminder shares information with parents to ensure children continue to make rapid progress. As a result, parents report that their children make excellent progress.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The childminder is fully aware of her responsibilities to safeguard children and to protect their welfare. She confidently identifies the possible signs and symptoms that may indicate a child is at risk from abuse. She is confident about what to do should she have any concerns about a child's welfare. Children's welfare is paramount and central to the childminder's practice. She is vigilant as children play and explore, giving them timely prompts to ensure that they have regard for their own and other children's safety. She takes exceptional care to ensure her practice reflects changes in guidance and legislation.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 129126 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10127020 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 12 Date of previous inspection 21 October 2014

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 1986 and lives in Hatfield, Hertfordshire. She operates all year round, from 7.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds a relevant early years qualification at level 3. She provides funded early 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 inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n Children spoke to/communicated with the inspector during the inspection. n The childminder and the inspector discussed how the curriculum had been implemented and the impact that this had on children's learning. n Discussions were held between the childminder and the inspector, to help establish the childminder's understanding of how to safeguard the children in her care. n The inspector took account of the views of parents by reading written testimonials.

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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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