Hopkins, Samantha Catherine

Overall effectiveness Outstanding

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

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The provision is outstanding

Children thoroughly enjoy being with the exceptionally warm, friendly and nurturing childminder. They demonstrate that they feel extremely happy and secure, and form special bonds with her. Children's behaviour is exemplary. The childminder actively encourages concepts of kindness, courtesy and respect for others. Younger children are eager to join in with activities and learn from the older children. Children readily share resources with each other and form strong friendships. They receive continual praise and encouragement from the childminder and, as a result, they have superb levels of confidence and self-esteem.

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The provision is outstanding

Children develop an exceptionally good understanding of the natural world. They visit the wildlife park and learn fascinating facts about animals. Their favourite is the red panda, with its long bushy tail. Children take part in a birdwatching survey, and can confidently identify magpies and blue tits. Children excitedly describe how the caterpillars will build cocoons before becoming beautiful butterflies. They develop resilience and take immense pride in their achievements. Children persevere to complete jigsaw puzzles. They use positional language, such as 'middle', 'top' and 'bottom', as they figure out where the pieces fit. When the childminder sees children struggling, she sensitively guides and encourages them to continue. Older children offer to help younger children when they have finished their own puzzles. Children develop superb skills that will support them in their future learning.

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need to do better?

n The childminder's home is exceptionally well organised to help children to become highly confident and independent learners. The childminder has gained her wealth of knowledge about how children learn through many years of working with children and accessing all available training opportunities. She has extremely high expectations of what children can achieve and uses every situation as a learning opportunity. Consequently, all children make outstanding progress. n Children are supported extremely well as they settle in the childminder's care. The childminder gathers information from parents when they start to ensure that children's learning builds on what children already understand, know and can do. She plans a vibrant and exciting range of activities that help children to flourish in all areas of the curriculum. n The childminder encourages all children to develop a love of books, and she often uses them when planning her curriculum. When reading the story of 'The

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need to do better?

Hungry Caterpillar', the childminder makes the story as interactive as possible so that all children are fully engaged. She asks questions to make them think, such as 'why does the caterpillar have a stomach ache?'. Children proudly answer

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need to do better?

15 May 2023 'because he ate too much food'. n Children benefit from an abundance of individual attention and high-quality interaction with the childminder. She places a significant focus on supporting children's speech and communication skills. Young children excitedly join in with the lively singing and story times. For example, when enjoying the story about a bear hunt, they enthusiastically repeat words such as 'oozing' and 'squelching'. The childminder ensures that all children participate so that they fully understand the stories. They have great fun as they re-enact the story by going on their own 'bear hunt'. n The childminder gets to know the individual children and their families exceptionally well. She skilfully uses stories and role-play resources to help children to understand their emotions. For example, to help children to understand what it is like to have a new baby in the family, she provides

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need to do better?

opportunities for children to meet and play with babies. Children learn to be kind and gentle as they care for their baby dolls. n Children develop excellent early mathematical skills. The childminder cleverly incorporates numbers, shapes and counting in their activities and everyday routines. Young children count the fruit that the hungry caterpillar eats and use their fingers to represent the numbers. They look for shapes in the patterns on the butterfly's wings, and confidently identify circles, rectangles and semi-circles. n The childminder has secured exceptionally strong partnerships with parents. Parents are fully involved in their children's learning. Parents comment on the excellent progress their children have made since being with the childminder. They particularly appreciate how the childminder teaches their children about different cultures and special events, such as the royal coronation. Parents say

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need to do better?

that she is incredibly accommodating, informative and kind. n The childminder continually seeks to improve her practice. She is keen to make full use of the training and development opportunities available to extend her outstanding practice even further. The childminder identifies training that will benefit the children, such as supporting children's speech and language. She is dedicated to providing children with the best possible start to their early education.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The childminder provides children with an extremely safe environment in which to play and learn. She has an excellent knowledge and understanding of her role and responsibility to safeguard children. The childminder has undertaken a considerable amount of training to develop her knowledge of keeping children safe. She is extremely confident in the procedures to follow if she is concerned about a child's welfare. The childminder regularly updates her detailed safeguarding policy to ensure that all information is current and relevant. Children learn about safety during regular evacuation drills so that they know what to do in an emergency.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY359105 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10280751 Type of provision Childminder

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Childminder

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inspection

Total number of places 12 Number of children on roll 3 Date of previous inspection 19 September 2017

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2007 and lives in Stevenage. She operates her childminding service from Monday to Friday, 8am until 5.30pm, all year round, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds an appropriate qualification at level 6. The childminder, at times, employs an assistant. She provides funded early years education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the childminder has received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the childminder and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the setting. n The childminder showed the inspector the areas of her home that children access. They discussed how the childminder organises her setting and plans the curriculum and experiences for children. n The childminder shared a sample of documents with the inspector. This included evidence about training and the suitability of those living on the premises. n The inspector observed children and the childminder taking part in activities and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. The inspector and the childminder reflected on a learning experience for children. n Children spoke to the inspector about what they enjoy doing at the childminder's house. n The inspector took account of the views of parents from written feedback

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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

15 May 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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