Loader, Nicola Anne

Overall effectiveness Good

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

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The provision is good

Children appear confident, settled and happy in the childminder's care. They are reassured by her presence and any initial shyness quickly disappears. Children smile and are happy to show toys and play simple games, passing toys and taking them back. Children have good opportunities to develop their physical skills. They thoroughly enjoy pushing the dolls in the buggy around the room. They benefit from time in the local community. The sand park is very popular and gives children further opportunities to develop their physical skills. Children also enjoy local groups for carers and young children, where they join in with crafts, singing and rhyme time. Children are involved in their local community and are getting to meet a wider variety of people.

p.2

The provision is good

Children are becoming more independent with age. The childminder makes sure children can choose what they would like to play with, and this helps them to feel that they can do things for themselves and make their own decisions. Children are learning good hygiene routines, as they wash their hands before eating and wipe their faces after eating messy foods, such as yoghurt. They follow their own routines for sleep and rest and this helps children to remain healthy and able to regulate some of their behaviour.

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need to do better?

n The childminder has worked with Ofsted to ensure that the necessary suitability checks for household members have been completed. She took prompt action to ensure that requirements were met and Ofsted was provided with the information needed to assess suitability. n The childminder understands the learning needs of the children she cares for. In planning the curriculum, she considers what children can already do and what is likely to benefit them next. The childminder provides children with plenty of suitable experiences that interest them and that they want to be involved in. This helps children to build on what they know and can do. n The childminder focuses on the prime areas of learning for young children. She is supporting them to gain confidence in their physical skills, such as standing, walking and handling small items. The childminder places toys on the sofa, where children can pull themselves up to standing to play. This helps to

p.2

need to do better?

encourage them to stand and builds their core stability. n The childminder promotes children's communication skills through talking and stories. She listens carefully to their utterances and watches their expressions to help her understand what they are trying to say. The childminder makes good use of books to introduce words and build children's vocabulary and understanding. She supports and encourages children's participation when they look at books together. However, the childminder does not always consider

p.2

need to do better?

11 July 2023 different teaching methods to support children's speaking and communication. n The childminder demonstrates how to use new and unfamiliar resources. She shows children how to separate hook-and-eye pom-poms from a storage, box so that they can make their own pattern or picture on a board. This helps children to learn how to use resources and provides children with the chance to uses their fingers to grip and place the pom-poms. This helps to develop children's fine motor skills ready for early writing. n The childminder has strong relationships with parents and has cared for some of the older children from an early age. She regularly seeks information about the children from the parents. This enables them to work together to support children to make progress. Parents praise the childminder's friendly and professional approach to caring for their children. Parents say the childminder communicates with them about their children's daily experiences.

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need to do better?

n The childminder is comfortable with the service she provides. She relies on her experience as a parent and uses her many years of childminding to help her provide the care and learning children need. However, the childminder does not build on her knowledge of the curriculum further to enhance her teaching and support children to make the very best progress.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The childminder keeps up to date with safeguarding practice by completing regular online training. This helps her to make sure she recognises the possible signs that children may be suffering harm. She has the details for her local safeguarding children board so she can make contact with people who can help her in the event of any concerns about children's well-being or the behaviour of adults looking after children.

p.3

should:

n consider further ways to aid children's communication to support early speech n explore ways to extend knowledge of the early years curriculum to help improve teaching.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 127894 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10284348 Type of provision Childminder

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Childminder

p.4

inspection

Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 9 Date of previous inspection 28 February 2023

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2000. She lives in Ware, Hertfordshire. The childminder operates her service all year round, from 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

p.4

Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic with the childminder and has taken that into account in their evaluation. n The inspector and the childminder discussed how the early years curriculum is organised to support children's learning. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector held a number of discussions with the childminder. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of persons living in the household. n The inspector spoke to children at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n The inspector took account of the views of parents through feedback provided by the childminder. n The inspector observed interaction between the childminder and children during an activity and evaluated this with the childminder.

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Inspection activities

11 July 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

11 July 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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