Masters Margaret

Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

The quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Good

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The provision requires improvement

Children are not consistently provided with activities that build on what they already know and can do. The childminder does not consistently consider the different ways in which children learn and does not offer appropriate challenge during activities for children of different ages. The childminder does not collect information that considers the children's starting points and does not have an accurate picture of any progress the children are making.

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The provision requires improvement

Nonetheless, children appear happy and settled in the childminder's care. They smile with her as they sing songs and nursery rhymes and complete the actions with her support. Older children enjoy choosing their own toys and enjoy looking at picture books alongside the childminder. They are developing their vocabulary by repeating words they hear the childminder say as she helps them to identify the animals and other pictures they can see. Younger children are making links and connections about how things work through playing with toys that light up, roll across the floor, and repeat numbers or colours back to them when pressed.

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The provision requires improvement

Children have the opportunity to create pictures and cards with the resources the childminder gets out for them as part of a planned activity. Older children spread glue and use cotton wool as snow. Younger children remove backing paper from coloured stickers with support, to make a picture. This helps with the development of their fine motor skills.

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need to do better?

n Older children are encouraged to be kind and caring towards the younger children and to share and take turns with toys. The childminder helps the children to manage their feelings through talking to them and reassuring them when they become upset. This helps children to develop close and trusting relationships with her and each other. n Feedback from parents is good. They are happy with the care their children receive and the range of activities that are offered. The childminder understands the importance of communication with parents. She provides parents with regular updates about children's daily experiences, routines and special moments during handovers. n The childminder takes time to get to know each child while they are settling in, through observations. She is flexible with their initial sessions and manages them on an individual basis, depending on the child and parent's needs or wishes. However, the childminder does not gather relevant information about

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need to do better?

the child before they start, such as their likes and interests or needs. She does not identify children's starting points or complete any initial assessments. The childminder is, therefore, unable to plan effectively to ensure that all children

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need to do better?

16 December 2022 make the best progress. n The children enjoy outings. The childminder promotes children's physical and social development by providing opportunities to go on woodland walks, visit local parks, go to the zoo, and attend playgroups. This helps develop children's gross motor skills and understanding of the wider world and offers the opportunity to build bonds and make friendships. n Children develop a general awareness and appreciation of diversity. This includes the celebration of different cultures and other significant events happening in the world. For example, children create crowns and dress up in royal clothing to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee. Older children also help make sandwiches for a tea party and use chopsticks to eat new foods for Chinese New Year. This provides most children with real-life and diverse experiences that they may not have had before. However, the childminder does not adapt activities

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need to do better?

consistently to involve and challenge children at different ages and stages of their development. She does not build on what children already know and can do effectively. n The childminder is supportive in developing children's independence and awareness of how to keep themselves safe. Children are encouraged to wipe their own noses, tidy away their own toys and put on their coats and shoes. The childminder teaches them about road safety and how to keep themselves safe through regular discussions and reminders. n The childminder ensures that her mandatory training is up to date and that she seeks advice from other professionals, when her knowledge may need renewing. However, she has not continued to refresh or update her knowledge in other key areas of practice and is not able to identify further training ideas to continue her professional development to a higher level.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The childminder demonstrates a good understanding of how to keep children safe and who to report any concerns to. She shows a good awareness of her safeguarding responsibilities to the children and is aware of the possible signs that may indicate that children are being abused or neglected and the procedures to follow to protect them in an appropriate and timely manner. The childminder attends mandatory training to keep her knowledge of safeguarding up to date and she is vigilant to possible indicators that a child or family may be at risk of being drawn into extremist behaviours or radicalisation. The childminder is aware of how to manage complaints and allegations and has the relevant contact information in case she needs to make a referral or seek professional advice.

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Due date

develop assessment and planning to ensure it clearly identifies children's starting points, what it is that all children need to learn, and helps to support children to build on what they already know and can do through challenging and age-appropriate activities 10/02/2023

p.4

Due date

undertake further training to ensure continued professional development in all areas of practice. 10/02/2023

p.4

Setting details

Unique reference number 129488 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10263811 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 4 Date of previous inspection 12 May 2017

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 1993 and lives in Hemel Hempstead. She operates her provision all year round from 7.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds an appropriate 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 provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The inspector had a learning discussion with the childminder. This enabled the childminder to discuss how her setting is organised for children's learning. n The inspector viewed the premises and areas used for childminding. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. Written feedback was also sampled by the inspector. n The inspector interacted with the children at appropriate times during the inspection and observed their interactions with the childminder. n The inspector observed children at play and assessed the impact of the curriculum on their learning. n The inspector completed a joint evaluation of an activity with the childminder.

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Inspection activities

16 December 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

16 December 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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