Childminder in Hertfordshire

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 are at the heart of the childminder's focus and they quickly build warm attachments, helping them to feel extremely safe and secure. The childminder's calm and nurturing approach ensures that children are consistently happy and settled. She knows the children exceptionally well and spends enormous energy investing time to get to know the children. Home visits and detailed discussions about the children help the childminder to provide a curriculum that is based around their needs and captures their interests.

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The provision is outstanding

Children have extremely positive attitudes to learning. They become deeply engaged in their play and show high levels of concentration. Children explore musical instruments and listen to the different sounds they create. They join in with action songs and learn how to use the instruments. Children have excellent opportunities to connect to their natural environment. The outdoor area is considered and designed to build on children's curiosity and wonder. Children learn to care for ducks as they feed them home-grown lettuce. They enjoy water and sand play, filling and emptying containers. The garden is rich with vibrant flowers that intrigue the children. They use their senses to explore them and learn the names of flowers. This supports children's understanding of the world around them.

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need to do better?

n The childminder has an inspiring curriculum, which is embedded securely in the setting. She demonstrates a firm understanding of the needs of children and how they learn, with a focus on providing an enabling environment. Teaching is of the highest quality, which fully supports children to make exceptional progress in their learning and development. n Books are beautifully woven throughout the environment to fully support and extend children's learning. Children show a keen interest as they explore a vast range of books. Toddlers babble back-and-forth with the childminder as they share books and learn to turn pages. They develop their fine motor skills and hand-to-eye coordination as they use their fingers to explore shapes in the books. n Children make outstanding progress in their communication and language. The childminder narrates children's play, repeating back key words and objects to encourage speech. Children quickly pick up new words such as 'tower' and

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need to do better?

'garden' as they interact with the childminder. The childminder uses singing regularly to build on children's language. They delight as they move their bodies to nursery rhymes she sings. n The childminder creates safe and manageable risks throughout the setting to promote children's confidence with their physical skills. Children develop an

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need to do better?

8 June 2023 understanding of risk and how to manage this as they navigate down steps and eagerly explore the garden, with a variety of surfaces to walk on. n Excellent hygiene routines support children to stay healthy. Children enjoy plenty of fruit, and fresh water is readily available. Mealtimes are highly effective at promoting children's independence. They learn to use cutlery to feed themselves. The childminder is skilled at picking up cues from children and adapting routines to suit their needs. She provides adequate space for children to rest and attentive care as they wake up, which fully supports their transition. n Parents speak extremely highly of the childminder. They value the high-quality care their children receive, stating that, 'She combines a nurturing home environment with an educational child-centred space that is really special.' Parents are kept up to date with their children's learning and development, with

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need to do better?

regular detailed reports. Parents receive information on oral health and safe screen times to help them support their children's well-being. They are invited to join community events, such as weaving workshops, to support their own well- being. n The childminder is passionate about her professional development and has undertaken a vast amount of training, which supports her to deliver an exceptional standard of teaching. Her thirst to build on her knowledge and learning further demonstrates her commitment to ensuring that children receive the best possible outcomes. The childminder is highly reflective. She amends routines and resources and identifies focused training to ensure that children have high levels of engagement and their needs are met effectively.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Safeguarding is a clear priority for the childminder. She keeps her knowledge up to date with regular training and demonstrates excellent knowledge of the potential signs and indicators of abuse and/or neglect. There are clear reporting procedures in place to report a concern about the welfare of a child. The childminder ensures that detailed risk assessments are carried out to ensure there are no hazards to children in the setting. She carries out risk assessments prior to any trips out to ensure that she can keep children safe. The childminder is vigilant in her supervision of children. All records are kept up to date.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY490732 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10286095 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 31 October 2017

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2015 and lives in Wheathampstead. She operates Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5.30pm, all year round, apart from personal holidays. The childminder holds an appropriate qualification at level 4 and 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 setting 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 joined the inspector on a learning walk. She talked to the inspector about the curriculum. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors. She discussed children's progress with the childminder. n The childminder and inspector carried out a joint observation. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation. This included evidence of the childminder's suitability, training record and safeguarding documents. n The inspector took account of written feedback provided by parents.

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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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