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 Outstanding

p.1

The provision is good

Children are settled and content. They enjoy their time in this welcoming home, chattering happily to themselves and each other as they play. Children have warm, secure relationships with the childminder, naturally including her in their play and returning to her for comfort and reassurance whenever needed. Children respond to the high expectations and positive environment, eagerly exploring the resources and participating in adult-led play. Children follow the childminder's good example and learn to recognise and respect differences. They understand that everyone has different needs, interests and ideas. Children are kind and caring towards one another and show they appreciate each other's company, often stopping their play to give spontaneous hugs.

p.2

The provision is good

The childminder has a sensitive understanding of the possible impact of the COVID-19 lockdowns. She now offers children additional support to help them socialise with others. Children gain a practical understanding of healthy practices. For example, they know it is important to wash their hands thoroughly after stroking the cat and before eating. Children enjoy physical activities, such as throwing bean bags and bouncing on the trampoline. The childminder helps them understand how to keep themselves safe. For instance, children understand why they use the trampoline one at a time.

p.2

need to do better?

n The childminder reviews her practice and implements improvements. She ensures that the play areas in the home are always set up to meet children's needs and help promote their development. For example, young children have plenty of space to play and many opportunities to explore different textures. n Children make good progress and are well prepared for moving on to nursery or school. The childminder carefully monitors their progress and makes sure that no child falls behind in their learning. She understands how each child is developing and is clear about what they need to learn next. She offers children a variety of play opportunities that support them in taking the next steps in their learning. n The childminder speaks clearly to children and helps them to join words and talk in longer sentences. Children demonstrate their good language skills, for example, as they explain how they made their own breakfast and what they ate.

p.2

need to do better?

n The childminder encourages children's interest in numbers and counting. For instance, they count how many toy telephones they have, correctly adjusting this figure when they add further telephones. n Children are developing a growing interest in books and reading. They choose favourite stories, eagerly joining in, predicting what will happen next and retelling the stories as they play.

p.2

need to do better?

15 September 2022 n The childminder makes good use of children's interests to help extend their learning. Children interested in cars learn the names of other types of vehicles, learn to use magnets to join vehicles and extend their creative skills as they run toy cars through paint, making marks and swirling patterns. n Parents think highly of the childminder and praise her very good communication. They appreciate the updates that the childminder gathers from them about their children's activities at home and how she uses this information to inform her daily planning. The childminder ensures parents are aware of their children's progress and how to support this further at home. n Children enjoy activities that help them start to solve problems. For example, they fit reels and small balls through holes during a shape-sorting activity and start to work out why some reels are too big to fit through certain holes.

p.2

need to do better?

However, on occasion, the childminder does not support children to build on their independent play and does not consistently encourage them to think critically and try to find solutions to problems as they encounter these. n Children enjoy using the garden. For example, they bounce on the trampoline and pretend to fill toy cars with petrol from the pump. However, the childminder does not always offer as many outdoor opportunities to fully build on the development of children who prefer to play and learn in an outdoor environment.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The childminder maintains a very thorough knowledge of safeguarding. She refreshes her training and keeps up to date with any changes in procedures, compiling her own notes and information to support her knowledge. The childminder understands how to recognise possible signs of abuse or neglect and report these in a timely manner to the correct professional. She is aware of the dangers associated with extreme practices and views and also of the potential risks associated with use of the internet. She takes effective action to promote children's welfare at all times.

p.3

should:

n develop further the opportunities that support children to build on their chosen, independent play and to find solutions to problems they encounter as they play n extend the use of outdoor areas, to offer children who prefer to learn outside further play and learning opportunities.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY482519 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10236517 Type of provision Childminder

p.4

Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Childminder

p.4

inspection

Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 5 Date of previous inspection 13 October 2016

p.4

Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2014 and lives in Stevenage. She operates all year round from 8am to 5pm, Monday to Thursday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder offers funded early education places for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

p.4

Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the provider received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The inspector observed activities indoors and outside and assessed the impact these have on children's learning. The childminder spoke to the inspector about their intentions for children's learning. n The childminder and inspector reviewed an activity together. n The inspector viewed relevant documentation, including the safeguarding procedures and the suitability of household members. n The inspector talked with children at appropriate times throughout the inspection and considered their views. She also took into account the written feedback from parents.

p.4

Inspection activities

15 September 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.

p.4

Inspection activities

15 September 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.

p.5

Inspection activities

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.6

Inspection activities

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.6

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspection activities

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

p.6