Childminder in Hertfordshire

Overall effectiveness Outstanding

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

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The provision is outstanding

Children thrive in the calm, nurturing, home-from-home environment the highly experienced childminder provides. They are extremely happy, settled and demonstrate close bonds with both the childminder and their peers. Children are extremely independent and enjoy being given tasks to do, such as tidying up. The childminder has high expectations that children can do things for themselves. This results in children as young as two years, using the bathroom and putting on their shoes completely independently. Children are delighted when their perseverance pays off and this raises confidence in their abilities and promotes positive self- esteem.

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The provision is outstanding

Children engage incredibly well with the wonderful learning opportunities the childminder plans and self-chosen play. The childminder knows the children exceptionally well and is naturally intuitive to their needs. She implements a curriculum that provides children with a wealth of experiences to build on their prior skills. Children have uninterrupted time to explore their ideas, such as when they engage in collage activities. They feel different textures and work out where to place the different pieces. This enables children to learn how to be creative and develop their own ideas. Children behave exceptionally well. They readily share resources and cooperate with each other.

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need to do better?

n The childminder is highly experienced and uses her wealth of knowledge to support each individual child to learn in their own unique way. She continually observes and assesses children and has an exceptionally clear understanding of what she wants them to learn next. The childminder provides children with innovative resources and experiences, both inside and outdoors, to support their learning across all areas. All children are succeeding and making rapid progress. n Children's communication and language development is given high priority. This is especially evident with children who speak English as an additional language. The childminder teaches herself how to pronounce words in children's home language and uses these as she reads stories. All children's language skills are developing rapidly because of the high-quality interactions they receive. n Partnerships with parents are exceptional. Parents enthuse about the high-

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need to do better?

quality care and education their children receive from the childminder. They know their children are happy and thriving. The childminder obtains key information from parents to support children's starting points, and she keeps them fully informed about the progress children make. n The childminder puts children at the very heart of what she does. She knows each child superbly well and this results in children having the strongest sense of belonging in her home. The childminder provides a very high-quality

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need to do better?

24 November 2023 environment, in which children enthusiastically play and explore. Children know they can choose what they want to do. This results in them engaging in play and learning incredibly well. Children totally respect the environment, showing this as they carefully tidy up and put toys away. n Children are developing a positive attitude to healthy lifestyles. The childminder is an excellent role model to them. She provides daily opportunities for children to be outside for exercise and fresh air. Children are actively involved in preparing healthy meals. For example, they wash and help to prepare vegetables to make soup for lunch. They watch with interest how the vegetables change as they cook. The childminder talks about how nutrients such as vitamins and protein help children to grow and stay healthy. n The childminder works with other professionals whenever extra support for children is needed. She takes advice on board and implements the

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need to do better?

recommendations from other professionals, such as health visitors. This helps to ensure that there is a joined-up approach, to best support children to make excellent progress. n The dedicated childminder places a high focus on continued professional development and research. She constantly identifies ways to improve and further meet the needs of the children. The childminder uses her expertise to support other practitioners, such as mentoring childminders who are new to the role.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The childminder has completed a range of safeguarding training courses. She has extensive knowledge of child protection and wider safeguarding concerns. The childminder is aware of the procedures to follow if she has a concern about a child in her care. She also knows how to report any allegations made against herself or anyone in her household. The childminder has a clear safeguarding policy in place which she shares with parents and uses to underpin her good practice. She regularly risk assesses her home, garden and outings to make sure children are kept safe in all situations.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 129200 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10295268 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 6 Date of previous inspection 7 December 2017

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 1993 and lives in Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire. She operates all year round from 7.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, except during bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds a relevant qualification at level 3 and provides funded early years education for three- and four-year-olds.

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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 her and has taken that into account in her evaluations. n The inspector and the childminder looked at the areas of her home that she uses with children 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. n A sample of policies and procedures was looked at by the inspector. These included documents relating to safeguarding and complaints. n The inspector took into account the views of parents and discussed the childminder's reflections of her practice with her.

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Inspection activities

24 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

24 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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