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

Children develop close relationships with the childminder, who provides a warm and welcoming environment. This helps children feel safe and secure. The childminder knows and meets children's care needs promptly. For example, she identifies when children are hungry and recognises when they are tired and ready to sleep. Children snuggle up to her when they wake up from a nap and are comforted by her affectionate cuddles. This helps to support young children's emotional well- being. The childminder has a high expectation for children's behaviour. She encourages children to be kind and considerate of others. Children learn to share and take turns to play with the resources.

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The provision is good

The childminder provides children with resources that she knows support their interests. Young children show curiosity as they play with interactive toys. They persevere as they investigate how the toys work, concentrating as they push, spin and rotate shapes and beads. This helps to develop their small-muscle skills and hand-eye coordination. Children benefit from outings in the local community. For example, they visit the nearby Common, local park and indoor play area. This helps children to develop their social skills by mixing with a larger group of children, and to enhance their learning of the wider community.

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need to do better?

n The childminder interacts well with children as they play to support their learning. For example, as young children explore an interactive toy, she models how to push the buttons to open the flaps. She encourages children to try for themselves. As the flaps open, the childminder says the name of the animal on the picture and makes the animal sound. Young children copy the sounds and squeal with delight, clapping their hands as the childminder praises them. n The childminder provides good support for children's language development. She talks to children about what they are doing as they play and introduces new words. The childminder repeats new words slowly and clearly, encouraging children to copy her. This help children to build their vocabulary and develop their speaking skills. n The childminder teaches children to develop an understanding of good hygiene routines, such as washing their hands before eating. She encourages children

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need to do better?

from a young age to feed themselves at mealtimes and praises their efforts. This helps to support their growing independence. n The childminder has developed information gathering regarding children's starting points. She finds out what children know and can do, helping her to plan for their individual learning needs from the start. Overall, she uses assessment well to monitor children's progress and to identify any gaps in their development. However, on occasions, children's next steps do not precisely

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need to do better?

30 November 2023 identify what it is they need to know or do next in their sequence of development. As a result, children's learning is not always incisively targeted to help them make the most progress. n The childminder provides parents with information about their children's care, experiences and achievements through messages and informal discussions at collection and drop off times. However, she does not routinely provide parents with precise information about children's development to help them further support and extend children's learning at home. n Parents praise the childminder and the service she provides. They say children are happy to spend time at her home. Parents comment that the childminder provides a 'safe, nurturing and loving environment' and 'goes above and beyond to put them and their children at ease'. They value the settling in sessions she provides to support the needs of each individual child and say this helps children

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need to do better?

to settle well. Parents report that the childminder communicates well with them. n The childminder attends mandatory training, such as safeguarding and paediatric first aid, to help her refresh her knowledge of how to keep children safe. However, she does not fully engage with other professional development opportunities to help strengthen her teaching practice.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The childminder understands her role and responsibility to safeguard children. She knows how to recognise the possible signs that may indicate a child is at potential risk of harm. The childminder knows how to contact relevant agencies to seek advice or to make referrals. She knows the appropriate procedure to follow if an allegation is made against herself or a household member. The childminder undertakes regular safeguarding training to keep her knowledge up to date. Daily risk assessments are conducted by the childminder to help keep the premises safe and secure.

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should:

n strengthen assessment to ensure children's next steps precisely identify what it is they need to know or do next in their sequence of development, to help them make the most progress n extend the information shared with parents to help them support and extend children's learning at home n engage with professional development opportunities to enhance knowledge and develop teaching skills further.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 149616 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10301041 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 9 Date of previous inspection 23 January 2018

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2000. She lives in Hitchin, Hertfordshire. The childminder operates all year round from 7.30 am to 5pm, Monday to Thursday, except for 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 their evaluation of the setting. n The childminder and the inspector discussed how the childminder organises their early years provision, including the aims and rationale for their early years foundation stage curriculum. n The inspector observed interactions between the childminder and children in her care and assessed the impact on children's learning and development. n The inspector reviewed written feedback from parents and considered their views. n The inspector reviewed a sample of relevant documentation.

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Inspection activities

30 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

30 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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