Orbell, Geraldine Marie

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 warm, nurturing, home-from-home environment. Children are happy, confident and well cared for in the company of the childminder. They show strong bonds with her and welcome her interaction in their play. Children are explorative and curious learners. They enjoy creating three- dimensional structures from magnetic shapes and use their imagination as they explain how they have built a house. The childminder places a strong emphasis on building on children's emerging language skills. She sensitively repeats words that they say to help them with the correct pronunciation and introduces them to new words, such as 'horizontal' and 'cube'.

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The provision is good

The childminder builds her curriculum around children's learning needs and prioritises broadening their experiences. Children's behaviour is good. They learn to take turns and the childminder helps them to identify their own and others' emotions using a poster that represents different feelings. Children quickly develop the small muscles in their hands in preparation for writing. They persevere to use tongs to pick up small toy dinosaurs and remove different sized beads from a grid. Children are beginning to learn to manage their personal care needs independently and follow a good hygiene routine. Regular visits to organised groups help children to build on their social skills as they play with larger groups of children. The childminder's honest and age-appropriate responses to children's questions increases their awareness of different cultures and how everyone is unique.

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need to do better?

n The childminder uses information from parents to help her to get to know children well when they first begin attending. This helps her to identify what they need to learn next. The childminder has a sound understanding of child development and plans a curriculum to support all children make progress. n The childminder has many years of childcare experience behind her, which she uses effectively to provide a stable and secure childminding provision. She is ambitious and committed to her professional development. The childminder keeps her knowledge up to date through relevant training courses and regularly meets with a network of local childminders to share ideas. Recent training about the early development of children's brains has increased her awareness of the importance of meeting children's emotional needs from an early age. n The childminder frequently praises children for their achievements. This helps to

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need to do better?

boost their self-esteem. However, during her interactions she does not always provide children with enough challenge and time to solve problems themselves before doing this for them. For example, the childminder swiftly gives children the correct piece of puzzle to fit in to each space, rather than enabling them to work out this out for themselves.

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need to do better?

20 November 2023 n Partnerships with parents are strong. The childminder keeps them fully informed about their child's achievements through regular discussions and sends them photographs via a secure app throughout the day. She supports children's continuity of learning. The childminder offers parents activities and books to borrow from her home, along with ideas about how to make the most of these to extend children's learning. Parents comment that they are very happy with the provision that the childminder offers. n The childminder provides children with a range of activities and toys that reflect their interests. She frequently encourages children to make independent choices about what they would like to play with. Eventually, play spaces become cluttered and children walk over toys. The childminder asks children to put the toys back. However, she does not follow through with these instructions, and

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need to do better?

does this herself. This does not help children to develop respect for their environment and understand what is expected of them. n Children develop good physical skills and have a clear awareness about the importance of a healthy lifestyle. The childminder provides children with a selection of nutritious snacks and meals. Regular visits to local parks and soft- play centres enable children to build strength and stamina. n The childminder prioritises broadening children's experiences to enhance their understanding of the wider world. She regularly takes children on outings to a local farm, where they carefully handle small animals, such as guinea pigs. Visits to museums and discovery centres help children to understand how cars have changed and advancements in how people work, such as farmers.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The childminder has strong safeguarding knowledge. She regularly undertakes training on specific areas of safeguarding and receives updates from the local safeguarding children partnership. She is aware of current safeguarding trends in the community and understands how to recognise signs that children may be at risk. She has a clear understanding of the procedures to follow in the event of any concern about a child and how to report any allegations made against herself or anyone in her household. She regularly carries out risk assessments of her home to make sure that all areas are safe for children to use.

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should:

n provide children with more challenge in their learning and allow them time to think and develop their problem-solving skills n develop practice to support children's understanding of the expectations in place to care for their play spaces.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 130034 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10300986 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 5 Date of previous inspection 9 January 2018

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 1994. She lives in Bricket Wood, near St Albans. She operates all year round, from 7.30am until 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, except bank holidays and family holidays.

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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 her evaluation of the setting. n The inspector discussed the intent of the curriculum and observed its implementation during activities indoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector completed a joint evaluation of an activity with the childminder. n The inspector held a number of discussions with the childminder and children at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector took account of the views of parents through written feedback provided and discussed with the childminder how she reflects on the service she provides.

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Inspection activities

20 November 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

20 November 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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