Mills Suzanne

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 are happy and confident and demonstrate they feel settled and secure with the childminder. They are keen learners and are excited to explore the range of activities on offer. Babies enjoy exploring different materials, toys and resources. They listen to sounds as they shake rattles and press buttons on toy phones. Older children show their developing understanding of mathematics. They can recognise numbers and count out the corresponding number of small resources to match. Children are learning how to do things for themselves, for example they proudly show how they can put their puddle-suits on. Children are kind and caring towards babies, such as they help them to join in with action rhymes. Babies enjoy this positive interaction which they show through smiling and dancing.

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The provision is good

Children have many opportunities to be outside. They enjoy running around the garden in the rain and riding on scooters. Children show how they are learning about the natural world. They clearly explain how they are using magnifying glasses to look for slugs and snails, as these creatures like rainy days. Babies enjoy watching bubbles, they kick their legs and wave their arms to pop them. Children are learning how to cooperate with each other, share and take turns. They listen to the childminder and respond well to the rules and boundaries that she puts in place.

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need to do better?

n The childminder is aware of where children are in their development. She observes them closely and uses her observations and assessments to identify what children need to learn next. The childminder identifies where there are gaps in children's learning. She adapts her teaching methods to support each child to make good progress. n Children are developing a love for books and enjoy sharing stories with the childminder. Older children share books with babies. They show how they are learning the sequence of stories as they gain information from looking at pictures. The childminder's positive prompting enables children to finish their storytelling sessions. n Parents speak positively about the childminder. They say their children are very happy to attend and are making good progress. Parents value the many outings and experiences the childminder provides for their children. The childminder provides parents with daily feedback on the progress their children are making.

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need to do better?

n Children's communication and language skills are developing well. They hold in- depth conversations with each other and adults. Children discuss topics which are relevant to their activity. For example, as they eat snack, they talk about what food is a fruit and what is a vegetable. Children show their developing understanding of healthy eating as they discuss and debate with each other.

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need to do better?

28 March 2023 n Children have many opportunities to develop their physical skills. Babies pull themselves up to standing and cruise around the furniture with ease. Children practise using their hands as they pick up small objects with pincers, both inside and in the garden. n The childminder plans good activities for older children. This help them to gain early skills they need as the foundation for their future learning. Children engage well in activities based on mathematics and literacy. However, the childminder does not always consider how she can involve the younger children in a wide range of learning experiences. n The childminder works in close partnership with another childminder. They actively reflect on their practice and look for ways to continually develop and improve the services they offer. The childminder precisely identifies professional development opportunities, which help to raise her knowledge and skills. She

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need to do better?

talks about how she is undertaking training on working with young children. This is helping her to prepare for changes in her practice, when older children move on to school.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The childminder has a good understanding of how to keep children safe and promote their welfare. She knows how to recognise any signs that children may be at risk of harm or extremist behaviour. The childminder clearly explains the procedure she would follow to report any concerns to the relevant agencies. She has a clear safeguarding policy in place, which she shares with parents and uses to underpin her good practice. The childminder undertakes regular safeguarding training to keep her knowledge relevant and up to date. She look at ways to reduce risks to children such as by adding locks to gates, this enables children to stay safe in the garden.

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should:

n enhance the learning opportunities for the youngest children by exploring ways to engage them in a wider range of activities.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY256481 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10280115 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 10 August 2017

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2003 and lives in Letchworth. She operates from 8am until 4.30pm Monday to Thursday all year round, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder provides funded early education for 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 her and has taken that into account in her evaluations. n The inspector and the childminder looked at the areas of her home that she uses with children and discussed how she plans her curriculum and operates her practice. n The inspector observed the childminder joining in activities with children and discussed the learning that was taking place with her. n A sample of policies and procedures was looked at by the inspector. These included documents relating to the suitability of household members, safeguarding and complaints. n The inspector took into account the views of parents and discussed the childminder's reflections of her practice with her.

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Inspection activities

28 March 2023 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

28 March 2023 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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