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 Good

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The provision is good

The childminder provides a welcoming, home-from-home environment. She is caring and attentive to children's individual needs. Children form strong bonds with the childminder, seeking her out for reassurance when needed. The childminder ensures that children's well-being is considered at all times. She has a patient, calm and nurturing approach, which contributes to the children feeling safe and secure. Young children show confidence and smile when visitors interact with them.

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The provision is good

The childminder plans a broad curriculum with a strong focus on developing children's social interactions. Children have daily opportunities to widen their social circle through visits to local toddler sessions, 'rhyme time' and musical groups. The childminder knows the children extremely well. She gathers detailed information from parents to help her meet children's needs successfully from the beginning. Children have access to a good range of age-appropriate resources linked to their interests. Very young children practice banging blocks together to make different noises. This develops their understanding of cause and effect. They smile in delight as the childminder praises their achievements. Children are keen to try things for themselves. For example, they watch intently as the childminder models how to manipulate the play dough. Young children copy her actions and develop their fine motor skills as they practise rolling, pulling and squeezing the play dough.

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need to do better?

n The childminder is passionate about her role. She plans a wide range of activities to engage children in play and learning. Through regular and detailed assessments, the childminder identifies next steps in children's learning. However, at times, she does not focus precisely enough on what it is she wants individual children to learn during planned activities. n The childminder promotes children's early literacy skills and encourages children to foster a love of reading. Children read books both with the childminder and independently in the cosy reading tent. They regularly visit the local library, where they choose books to take home and share with their families. n The childminder takes children on daily outings in the local community. She ensures that they have plenty of opportunity to develop their physical skills at the local park where they learn to walk, run and negotiate the climbing equipment. Children build their core strength and explore the world around

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need to do better?

them, with the childminder's support. n The childminder supports children's emerging communication and language skills well. She narrates children's play to help them develop their growing vocabulary. The childminder enthusiastically responds to young children's interactions and models the correct pronunciation of words as they attempt to communicate. However, she does not fully consider how background distractions, such as

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need to do better?

29 June 2023 nursery rhymes continually playing, can affect children's ability to listen, hear and concentrate. n The childminder weaves mathematical concepts into her daily teaching. As children explore different sized boxes, she encourages them to identify the largest and smallest. The childminder helps children to count bricks in the towers they build and talks about the number of eyes people have. They learn to identify colours as they match balls to coloured paper. Children delight in the praise for their achievements. This builds their self-esteem and confidence. n Partnerships with parents are strong. Parents report that the childminder is extremely attentive and ensures that their children's needs are fully met. They describe the childminder as 'wonderful, friendly and caring' and highly value the regular feedback she shares about their children's learning. n The childminder has good relationships with the local pre-school and

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need to do better?

understands what children need to learn before moving to their next stage in education. However, the childminder has not established fully effective partnerships with other settings that children attend. n The childminder is passionate about providing a high standard of care and education for all children. She attends mandatory training, such as paediatric first aid, as well as regularly attending online webinars to further her knowledge. The childminder is keen to continue her professional development and has recently enrolled onto an early years professional development course.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The childminder has a good understanding of signs and symptoms that may indicate a child is at risk of harm. She understands her responsibilities to keep children safe and knows the procedures to follow should she have concerns about a child's welfare. She demonstrates a good understanding of wider safeguarding issues, such as preventing radicalisation. The childminder teaches children how to keep themselves safe. For example, children learn about how to stay safe when taken on outings in the local community.

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should:

n strengthen partnerships with other agencies involved in children's care to improve information sharing and to create a shared approach to children's development and learning n focus more precisely on the aims and intentions for children's learning to ensure that they all make the best possible progress n consider reducing background noise so that children listen and focus on activities.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY491620 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10289240 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 6 Number of children on roll 7 Date of previous inspection 16 November 2017

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2015 and lives in Hertford. She operates all year round, from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds an 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 childminder and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provision. n The childminder and the inspector discussed how the childminder organises her early years provision, including the aims and rationale for her early years foundation stage curriculum. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector and childminder completed a joint observation of an activity to assess the quality of teaching. n The inspector took account of the views of parents. n The childminder provided the inspector with a sample of key documents on request.

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Inspection activities

29 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

29 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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