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 Requires improvement

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The provision is good

Children demonstrate they feel happy and safe in the childminder's care. They move around the house with confidence, showing a strong sense of belonging. Children engage well in independent play and during activities the childminder plans for them. Older children draw detailed pictures, giving in-depth information on what the different aspects of their pictures are. Young children enjoy making marks with pens. They spend time taking off and replacing pen tops, showing strong hand-eye coordination.

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The provision is good

Children are developing good independence skills, they readily tidy away toys when the childminder asks them to. They are keen to help with daily tasks, such as wiping the table. The childminder makes sure the spray cleaning solution is safe for children to use. Children enjoy being outdoors, where they spend time exploring with water and sand. The childminder adapts her teaching methods to each child's needs. For example, she supports children to understand number as they talk about quantity. At the same activity, young children explore space and shape as they find out what toys fit through a small hole. Interactions between children are positive and their behaviour is good.

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need to do better?

n The childminder gets to know children well when they start with her. She adapts her settling-in procedures to meet each child's needs. The childminder makes sure children are feeling secure with her before introducing them to activities outside her home, such as toddler groups. She tracks the progress children are making and clearly identifies what they need to learn next. Children are making good progress. n Children display strong communication and language skills. The childminder uses clear, simple language when interacting with young children. This enables them to understand instructions and they learn how to use words in the correct context. The childminder asks older children enquiring questions. This results in children using detailed, descriptive language, such as to give the story behind pictures they draw. n Parents speak positively about the childminder. They state their children settle well with her and are very happy to attend. Parents say their children really

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need to do better?

benefit from the many different activities and outings they go on. Parents feel the childminder is very good at keeping them up to date with how children are learning. n The childminder is keen for children to gain skills they need for their future education. Her teaching of mathematics is good. She counts with children as they play and encourages children to solve their own problems. Children are beginning to show an interest in letters and words. However, at times, the

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need to do better?

15 September 2023 childminder places too much emphasis on the names of letters rather than the sounds. Consequently, children are not prepared as well as they could be for reading and writing at school. n Since the last inspection, the childminder has made highly effective changes to her learning environments. This results in children knowing where the toys they want are stored and they can access them independently. Children respect the organised environment by putting toys they have finished with back where they found them. n The childminder understands the importance of working closely with parents to help them to support children's learning at home. She gains some information from them on what children are doing at other settings they attend. However, the childminder does not readily share her knowledge of children's learning with other key people, to promote further continuity in their learning. n The childminder undertakes training and watches webinars on areas of practice

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need to do better?

she wants to further develop. This has a positive impact on her knowledge, practice and teaching skills. The childminder talks about her ongoing plans for her setting. This includes adding a mud kitchen and growing areas to her garden. This will further enhance the good outdoor learning opportunities already in place.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The childminder has a good understanding of how to recognise signs that children may be at risk of harm or extremist behaviour. She knows how to contact relevant agencies in her local area, to seek advice or to make referrals. The childminder has a clear safeguarding policy in place, which she bases her strong practice on. She shares her policies with parents to help them to understand how she keeps children safe. The childminder talks about other ways she keeps children safe, such as by regularly assessing risk in her home and having secure procedures in place for administering medicines.

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should:

n enhance the opportunities for children to hear letter sounds to support their early literacy skills n develop closer partnership working with other settings children attend to promote continuity in their learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2617268 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10262166 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 18 October 2022

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2021 and lives in Letchworth Garden City. She operates all year round, from 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with the childminder and has taken that into account in her evaluations. n The inspector and childminder took a tour of the premises and discussed how she plans her curriculum and operates her practice. n The inspector observed the childminder joining in activities with children and discussed the learning that was taking place with her. They also discussed the needs of individual children and talked about the progress they are making. n A sample of policies and procedures was looked at by the inspector, which included documents relating to the suitability of household members, safeguarding and complaints. n The inspector took into account the written views of parents and discussed the childminder's reflections of her practice with her.

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Inspection activities

15 September 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

15 September 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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