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 Good

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The provision is good

Children show that they feel happy and safe in the care of the childminder and her assistant. They eagerly run out to the garden to water the vegetable seeds they have planted. Children concentrate and work out, through trial and error, how to complete complex jigsaw puzzles. The childminder introduces new words, such as 'manoeuvre', as children rotate the puzzle pieces to find how to make them fit. Children are kind and considerate. They praise each other for their efforts. Children develop very good memory skills. They recall the location of matching symbols on wooden disks that are turned upside down. Children show a love a books. They talk about the characters on the pages and make predictions of what might happen in the story. Children enjoy talking about the colour of their toothbrush at home and their experience of visiting a dentist.

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The provision is good

Children are creative. They independently choose and select their paint colours that they squirt onto a piece of paper, positioned at the bottom of a shallow box. Children carefully place different-size marbles into their box and gently move it from side to side, and backwards and forwards. They watch how the marbles begin to make trails as they roll through the paint, making new colours as the paint mixes.

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need to do better?

n Children benefit from a well-planned curriculum that is carefully designed to address any gaps in children's development due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The childminder gathers information from parents regarding their children's starting points. She uses this information well to plan activities around what children need to learn next to hep them make good progress. n The childminder continually strives to improve her own practice. She completes a wealth of training to build on her knowledge and skills. Recent training has enabled her to identify patterns in children's play. This has had a positive impact on children's sustained attention and engagement in their preferred play. She shares her knowledge with her assistant so that children benefit from a consistent approach. Regular monitoring and support of her assistant's practice enables him to raise the quality of his teaching to an even higher level.

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need to do better?

n The childminder provides a wide range of opportunities to enhance children's physical well-being. They run freely in her garden and jump to pop bubbles. Children benefit from regular trips that teach them about the local environment and wider community. They visit the nearby dyke to observe wildlife and compare the different types of fungi that grow. n The childminder supports children to become increasingly independent. They wash and dry their hands and confidently manage to take off their coats and shoes. The childminder encourages them to practise these skills at their own

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need to do better?

19 April 2022 pace. Children receive constant praise for their efforts. This motivates them to persevere at mastering new skills. n Children behave well. They consistently use good manners and know that they must respect living things, such as a snail that they find on a bug hunt. Children share a magnifying pot to take a closer look at the pattern on the snail's shell, before gently placing it back to where they found it. n Partnerships with parents are strong. The childminder keeps parents fully informed of their children's progress and provides ideas to extend their learning at home. Parents report that they are very pleased with the progress that their children are making and how they have come on 'leaps and bounds' since attending. They describe the childminder and her assistant as 'brilliant'. n The childminder is aware of the need to form positive working relationships with staff at other settings that children attend. She takes account of the topics and

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need to do better?

themes that children are learning and plans activities that complement these. However, the childminder does not always obtain precise information about children's next steps in learning in order to further support their continuity of learning. n The childminder provides children with opportunities to learn about similarities and differences between themselves and others. These reflect the cultural backgrounds of children attending. However, she does not fully support children who speak English as an additional language to use their home language during their play in order to enhance their speaking skills.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Children's safety is top priority for the childminder and her assistant. They know how to identify the signs and symptoms of abuse and understand that they have a duty to act on, respond to and report concerns immediately. They are aware of wider safeguarding issues, such as county lines and signs that may indicate a child is exposed to extreme views or ideas. The childminder maintains links with professional organisations and her local authority to regularly update her knowledge of legislation. She knows what to do if an allegation is made against herself, her assistant or household members.

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should:

n strengthen partnerships with other settings that children attend to support children's continuity of learning n enhance opportunities for children to hear and use their home language.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 149060 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10219420 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 8 Date of previous inspection 19 August 2016

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2001 and lives in Wheathampstead. She operates from 7.30am until 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, all year round, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds an appropriate childcare qualification at level 3 and works with an assistant. She provides funded early education for three-year-old children.

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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 inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector completed a joint evaluation of an activity with the childminder. n The inspector held a number of discussions with the childminder and assistant at appropriate times during the inspection. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of individuals living in the household. n The inspector spoke to children during the inspection and took account of the views of parents through written feedback provided.

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Inspection activities

19 April 2022 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

19 April 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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