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 Inadequate

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The provision is good

Children are settled. They explore their surroundings with interest and engage happily with the childminder and assistant. Children spend long periods of time at their chosen activity. The childminder and assistant support children to develop their knowledge across all areas of learning. For example, they help children to develop their early mathematical skills as they count sticks in the sand. Children have opportunities to develop their physical skills. They transport water, fill tubes and jugs and learn about size and quantities as they enjoy water play. They share and take turns with the resources, which demonstrates an understanding of appropriate ways to behave.

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The provision is good

Children demonstrate their interest in books and stories. They listen intently as the childminder reads to them. As she reads stories, she often leaves gaps for children to fill. This provides children with good opportunities to join in with the stories they know. Children hear new words spoken by the childminder. She models and recasts words spoken by the children to ensure they hear the right words. This helps to promote children's communication and language development.

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need to do better?

n The childminder has taken effective steps to meet the actions issued at her last inspection. She has implemented appropriate induction training, which includes emergency evacuation procedures. The childminder ensures that her assistants know their roles and responsibilities, such as promoting children's well-being and keeping them safe. The childminder and assistant both hold valid paediatric first- aid certificates. This helps to promote children's safety and well-being. n The childminder and assistant praise children's achievements, which helps to raise children's self-esteem and confidence. For example, adults say 'you did it, well done' as children confidently try for themselves and succeed. However, interaction is not always at the children's level and therefore, meaningful engagement particularly through eye contact, is not consistently promoted. n The childminder and assistant promote children's communication and language

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need to do better?

development. They consistently introduce new words and vocabulary. For example, spontaneous opportunities, such as identifying creatures in the garden, initiates conversation. Children show great interest as they look at and learn about, the differences between earwigs and ants. This also helps to extend children's learning about the natural world around them. n The childminder and assistant provide activities that children are interested in, are based on their observations and support children's next steps in learning. However, adults do not consistently adjust their teaching to provide appropriate challenge for the most-able children. For example, all children learn to take safe risks and develop their confidence and coordination skills as they take part in an

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need to do better?

13 June 2022 obstacle course. They enjoy climbing, jumping and balance carefully as they make their way around the course. Adults encourage and support children, but do not adapt their teaching to ensure it provides the most-able children with sufficient challenge. n The childminder promotes effective health and hygiene procedures. Children understand the need to use a tissue and wash their hands at particular times, such as before they eat. The childminder meets children's care needs. She respects children's need for privacy and balances this well with ensuring that their welfare is promoted. n Children make good progress in their overall development. The childminder knows the children well and has a good understanding of their backgrounds and families. She completes regular observations and assessments of children's learning, identifying children's next steps and incorporating these into future learning. The childminder regularly updates parents with what their children are

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need to do better?

interested in and asks parents to share children's interests from home. However, the childminder does not give parents enough specific information about their children's next steps in learning, so that they can extend this learning at home. n Children form close relationships with the childminder and each other. They show empathy towards each other, and they demonstrate positive behaviour and attitudes to learning. This highlights children's good personal, social and emotional development.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The childminder demonstrates a good knowledge and understanding of the signs that may indicate a child is at risk of harm. She is able to identify particular changes to children's behaviour and where to seek advice from the appropriate professionals. The childminder has amended her safeguarding procedures, in relation to the recruitment of assistants. She has implemented more opportunities to talk to assistants about safeguarding children and supports them through additional methods to recognise and refer where concerns are raised. This helps to promote children's safety.

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should:

n adjust teaching methods to provide appropriate challenge for the most-able children n support staff's professional development and confidence to help promote highly effective and meaningful engagement with children at their level n build on the methods used to share information with parents, to help them support their children's learning and development at home.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY347591 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10221256 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 9 Date of previous inspection 17 January 2022

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2007 and lives in Ware, Hertfordshire. She operates from Monday to Thursday, all year round, except for bank holidays and family holidays. On Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, she opens from 8am to 5.30pm, and on Wednesdays from 8am to 6pm. She works on a daily basis with a full-time assistant. The childminder holds a childcare qualification at level 3. She provides funded early education for three-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with the childminder and has taken that into account in their evaluation. n The childminder and the inspector held a learning discussion together to understand how the curriculum is organised. n Children spoke with the inspector throughout the inspection. They told the inspector about the activities they enjoy taking part in. n The inspector observed the assistant's interaction with children during an adult- led activity and reviewed this with the childminder. n The inspector spoke to a number of parents during the inspection and took into account their views and feedback. n The inspector reviewed a sample of the childminder's documentation, including staff suitability, and paediatric first-aid certificates.

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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

13 June 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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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