Childminder in Hertfordshire

Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

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

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The provision requires improvement

The childminder and her assistant discuss with parents how to support the medical needs of children. However, the childminder and assistant do not always follow effective procedures to meet children's healthcare needs, such as ensuring the procedures for administering medication are followed.

p.2

The provision requires improvement

Children show they are happy and secure in this home-from-home environment. The childminder and assistant build good attachments with the children. They act as positive role models to the children, modelling good behaviour. Children learn to use polite manners, such as saying 'please' and 'thank you', and are supported to share resources with their peers. The childminder and assistant provide plenty of positive reinforcement as they praise the children for their achievements. This helps to raise children's self-esteem and encourages them to behave well.

p.2

The provision requires improvement

The childminder and assistant provide a sequenced curriculum based on children's interests. Children show positive attitudes to learning as they build on their knowledge and experiences. For example, children enjoy creating a 'Gruffalo collage' using paints and leaves they have collected. They talk about the colours of the leaves they saw in the 'Gruffalo woods' as they use similar colours to paint.

p.2

need to do better?

n The childminder and her assistant know the children well. They use effective monitoring and assessment to track and monitor children's progress. They plan appropriate next steps for children, which supports them to make good progress in their learning and development. For instance, children who require support with their speech are given bespoke one-to-one sessions to promote new language. New words are written down in a communication book and shared with parents to continue their child's learning at home. n The childminder and assistant work well together as a team, ensuring that the needs of the children are met. However, the childminder does not have fully effective systems in place to support her assistant and ensure that her practice continually evolves in order to further raise the quality of care provided. n Parents speak positively about the childminder and her assistant. They report that their children are happy and settled at the setting and enjoy the range of

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need to do better?

activities provided. The childminder provides parents with a copy of policies and procedures when they first start. She keeps parents up to date with their children's learning and development through daily handovers, as well as pictures. n Children make good progress in their communication and language. The childminder and assistant use effective questioning to broaden the scope of children's language. For example, they ask children what fruits they can see as

p.2

need to do better?

3 October 2023 they look at pictures in a book, and children learn the word 'pineapple'. The incorporation of songs into daily routines is purposeful, providing support for children's understanding and helping them to feel safe and secure. n The childminder and her assistant provide plenty of opportunities for children to develop their independence. For instance, children learn to cut up their own fruit at snack time using plastic knives and are encouraged to wipe their own faces. On occasion, however, the childminder is sometimes too quick to provide help to the children with these tasks, which hinders children's ability to fully develop and practise these skills. n The childminder and her assistant provide a range of experiences to support children to build on their understanding of the world around them. Trips out include visits to the local woods to collect leaves, as well as visits to playgroups

p.2

need to do better?

and a soft-play area. This helps children to develop their social skills as they play alongside their peers, and it builds their confidence and supports development of their physical skills. n The childminder and assistant have kept up to date with their statutory training requirements, such as first aid and safeguarding. However, they have not taken professional development opportunities to strengthen their knowledge and enhance their skills. This limits their ability to stay up to date with current best practices.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The childminder and her assistant keep their knowledge up to date with regular training. They understand their responsibility to keep children safe. The childminder and her assistant can identify the potential signs and indicators of abuse and/or neglect and have adequate knowledge of how to share these concerns to protect the welfare of a child. There is a safeguarding policy used to underpin this practice. The childminder and her assistant keep children safe on trips out and about and talk to children about road safety. Daily risk assessments ensure the setting remains free from hazards.

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Due date

establish effective systems to meet the healthcare needs of children, including procedures for administering medication. 14/11/2023

p.3

should:

n build on professional development opportunities to improve knowledge and further raise the quality of teaching n provide effective monitoring for assistants working in the setting to support and evolve their practice n increase opportunities for children to build on their independence, in particular completing tasks for themselves.

p.4

Setting details

Unique reference number EY248200 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10295344 Type of provision Childminder

p.5

Registers

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

p.5

inspection

Total number of places 12 Number of children on roll 4 Date of previous inspection 15 December 2017

p.5

Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2003 and lives in Bushey. She works alongside an assistant. The childminder holds an appropriate early years qualifications at level 3, and the assistant holds a qualification at level 2. The childminder operates Monday to Friday from 7am to 7pm, all year round, except for bank holidays and family holidays. She provides funded education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

p.5

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 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, policies and procedures, and safeguarding documents. n The inspector took account of written feedback provided by parents.

p.5

Inspection activities

3 October 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

3 October 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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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