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

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The provision is good

The kind and nurturing childminder welcomes children into her home-from-home environment. Children enter happily as they confidently say 'goodbye' to their parents. They demonstrate their strong bond with the childminder as they regularly seek her out for comfort and cuddles. This shows children feel safe and secure in her care. Children are curious and active learners. The childminder encourages children to make decisions about what they want to do and how they want to use resources. For example, as children explore a sensory tray of peas, they choose to use tongs to pick up small items and roll them down tubes. Other children choose to use the peas for role play in the home corner. As a result, children develop confidence, concentration and good levels of engagement. Children learn to recall their experiences for future problem solving.

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The provision is good

Children's behaviour is good. They are supported well by the childminder's gentle and understanding approach to learn about their feelings and actions. Children develop positive social skills as they meet with other childminders' children. This helps to widen their social experiences. Children benefit from regular outings to explore the local community. They visit local parks, playgroups and woods, where they enjoy forest-school activities together.

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need to do better?

n The childminder implements a curriculum where children learn a broad and balanced range of skills and knowledge. These include important life skills for children to become independent and prepared for future challenges. The childminder explains that children have regular real-life experiences to learn from, such as collecting chicken eggs. Children learn that eggs are delicate and that if they drop one, it will break. n Children make good progress across all areas of learning because they can embed learning through repeating activities. For example, children have daily opportunities to practise independence skills, such as pouring their own water to drink and chopping up strawberries for snack. The childminder keeps parents well informed of their progress and shares ideas on what parents can do at home to help continue their learning. n Children develop a keen interest in books. They enjoy immersive activities that

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need to do better?

allow them to explore stories with their senses. This helps to deepen children's understanding. As children play, the childminder recalls phrases from stories they have recently heard. Young children flick through the pages as they look at the different pictures. Children's pre-literacy skills are supported through mark- making activities, such as painting. n The childminder promotes a healthy lifestyle for children. Outdoors, children are physically active and develop their gross motor skills as they dig in the mud

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need to do better?

8 June 2023 kitchen. They develop their core strength and co-ordination as they balance on steppingstones and ride in vehicles. Children know to wash their hands before eating, which they do independently with support from the childminder. n The childminder is reflective and enjoys updating her knowledge through training. She has recently completed training on schemas, and from this, she implements positive changes to benefit the children who currently attend her setting. The childminder supports children in learning early mathematical skills. She finds opportunities to add mathematical vocabulary into each activity. n The childminder teaches children to keep themselves safe in the setting through discussions and risk assessments. However, she does not give enough consideration to providing children with opportunities to develop their awareness of the risks to their safety when using the internet at home.

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need to do better?

n When children are preparing to move on to pre-school, the childminder completes transition forms to share with their new teachers. However, the childminder does not regularly communicate with staff from other settings that children attend. As a result, some information about children's learning and development is not regularly shared to further support consistency in their learning. n Parents are extremely positive about the childminder. They thank her for her continued support and guidance with their children's separation anxiety. Parents say the childminder has 'built up their child's confidence' and 'showered her with love and kindness'. They appreciate the daily communication methods which helps them to feel reassured.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The childminder has a good knowledge of safeguarding and child protection issues, including wider safeguarding issues. This includes signs and symptoms of child exploitation. She is confident to follow procedures to report any concerns she may have for children's welfare. The childminder maintains a safe home for children to play and learn. She completes daily checks to ensure that the indoor and outdoor environments are clean and well maintained. The childminder keeps her core training up to date, such as first aid and safeguarding. There are clear processes for recording and monitoring children's attendance and injuries.

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should:

n provide children with more opportunities to develop their understanding of digital technology, the internet and risks when using it n develop partnerships with other settings that children also attend to provide the best possible support for children's learning and development.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY485040 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10276209 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 5 July 2017

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2015 and lives in Wheathampstead, St Albans. She operates all year round from 9am to 5.30pm, Wednesday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder provides funded early years education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. She holds an appropriate qualification at level 6.

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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 her and have taken that into account in their evaluation of the provision. n The childminder and the inspector completed a learning walk together to discuss the childminder's intentions for children's learning. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, both indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n A joint evaluation of a teaching activity was carried out by the inspector and the childminder. n Parents shared their views on the setting with the inspector. n The inspector looked at a sample of relevant records and documentation. This included evidence of suitability and training.

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Inspection activities

8 June 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

8 June 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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