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 enjoy spending time with the childminder, who provides a warm and caring environment. Children are happy, safe, secure and ready to learn. They have easy access to a wide range of good-quality toys and resources, all stored at low level. Children develop friendships and are excited to play with their favourite resources. They develop strong relationships with the childminder, looking to her for comfort and support when needed. Children talk freely to the childminder about their families and what they do at home.

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The provision is good

Children enjoy trips and outings within the local community. For instance, they have fun on visits to local parks and childminder groups. This helps to provide further opportunities for them to socialise and develop a greater understanding of their local community and the wider world. Children are encouraged to count during activities. They confidently explain they have given out 'three bowls' at snacktime. They hold up their thumb and two fingers to show how many this is.

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The provision is good

Children show high levels of confidence during their interactions with the childminder, each other and visitors. They chat with each other and do not hesitate to let the childminder know that they would like to play with a newly purchased activity.

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need to do better?

n The childminder has developed a targeted curriculum, based on children's ongoing learning needs, after their initial settling in period. As a result, they make good progress in preparation for school. The childminder identifies where children need extra help in their learning and supports this well. For instance, she successfully uses books to help children begin to understand and manage their feelings. Children are very keen to contribute their ideas. For example, they say that if they felt like 'hitting' others they would ask an adult for help. n The childminder teaches children good self-help skills and how to stay safe. For example, they know they must wash their hands before eating, and explain that this is 'to get the play dough off'. When asked about what might happen if they get mud in their tummy, after playing in the garden, children quickly say it 'could make me sick'. n Children are familiar with daily routines and happily join in at tidy-up time. They

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need to do better?

enthusiastically put away craft activities in preparation for snacks. Children receive plenty of praise from the childminder, which they thoroughly enjoy. The childminder is an excellent role model who consistently supports children to use good manners. n Children show good physical skills as they manipulate and squash dough, helping to develop the small muscles in their hands. They enjoy the challenge of

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need to do better?

8 November 2022 handling and using scissors and other tools. Children remain engaged for extended periods of time. They explain they are 'cutting a circle to make a sun'. n The childminder regularly reflects on and reviews her practice. She seeks feedback from parents and uses this information to make improvements. The childminder also keeps her knowledge up to date by taking part in online training. She now works closely with another childminder to complete research on a variety of relevant subjects. n Parents are very positive about the childminder. They talk about how their child has 'developed a great bond' with her. Parents say that they would 'highly recommend' the childminder to others. n The childminder helps children to make consistently good progress, although at times she steps in too quickly during activities to redirect young children's learning. This does not enable them to persevere at their chosen tasks and work

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need to do better?

things out for themselves. n The childminder does not effectively assess children's learning needs as part of the settling in procedure. This means that planning does not focus on what they need to learn from the very start. However, she works closely with parents to ensure that each child's care needs are met.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The childminder's home is safe and secure. She uses a video doorbell that alerts her to visitors. The childminder knows how to recognise concerns about a child's welfare and what action she must take in response. The childminder regularly updates her knowledge and understanding of safeguarding and child protection. She has a robust procedure for recording and reporting any safeguarding concerns, including wider safeguarding issues, such as radicalisation and county lines. Children are supervised by the childminder at all times. The childminder regularly conducts risk assessments of her home and any outings, to ensure that children are kept safe.

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should:

n improve opportunities for children to fully explore activities and resources without interruption, so they can complete tasks to their satisfaction n ensure initial information gathered about children fully support plans for what they need to learn from the very start.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY393506 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10235310 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 6 Number of children on roll 6 Date of previous inspection 10 February 2017

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2009. She lives in Welwyn Garden City. The childminder operates all year round, from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank and family holidays. The childminder holds a relevant level 3 early years qualification. The childminder provides early years funded places 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 provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the setting. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of an activity with the childminder, and together they evaluated this. n Children spoke to the inspector about what they were doing during the inspection. n The inspector reviewed relevant documentation, including the suitability checks of all adults living and working in the household. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector.

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Inspection activities

8 November 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

8 November 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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