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 childminder's exceptional care. Relationships between the childminder and the children are very strong. The interaction as they play games together, talk and make decisions shows unequivocally how well they all get along with one another. Children are happy, confident, excited and ready to learn. The childminder's excellent understanding of the knowledge and skills that children need contributes significantly to the rapid progress in their learning. The childminder uses this excellent understanding when planning and delivering the curriculum to ensure that information is communicated successfully. As a result, children remember a wealth of information and use this to support their further learning.

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The provision is outstanding

Children benefit from the childminder's calm manner. She listens attentively to what children say, showing them that she values their thoughts, ideas and opinions. The childminder is extremely perceptive. She is highly responsive to children's moods and knows exactly how to help children negotiate difficult feelings. She supports children to work through frustrations in a fair and just way. The childminder's superb support enables children to cope with challenges and difficult situations and allows them to develop resilience. Children's behaviour is impeccable. The childminder's well organised and ordered approach still allows for spontaneity. Children respect the boundaries that help them to feel safe and secure. The childminder introduces and welcomes fun. When children include soft toys in their mark making, the laughter increases. Children pretend the toys are drawing and end up with the pen on the head of a toy, which the childminder likens to a

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The provision is outstanding

unicorn, prompting a profusion of giggles.

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need to do better?

n The childminder designs a wide-ranging curriculum that meets children's specific individual needs. She expertly builds on what children know and can do. Her highly successful approach helps to ensure that children's knowledge and skills build over time. This contributes significantly to children's readiness for the next stage in their education. n Children have lots of opportunities to build their physical skills. The childminder incorporates these into daily routines and planned and spontaneous activities. This helps to ensure that children have strong, agile bodies and understand how to hold and skilfully control tools, utensils and small items. n The childminder provides the children with an extensive vocabulary. She includes lots of language through conversation and reading. Children recount their experiences in the local community, talking about the changes in the environment with the advent of Spring. They recognise birds, know what they

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need to do better?

eat and how they feed. Children show that they know the content of familiar

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need to do better?

28 February 2024 stories. They provide the words and phrases when the childminder asks what is happening in the story and what might happen next. This demonstrates that the children are embedding their learning as they join in the discussions. n The childminder uses her observations of children to identify gaps in their learning and to determine ways to help children learn new skills and gain knowledge. She expertly and seamlessly sequences children's learning, providing immediate opportunities for them to have a go at the next more challenging step. She provides a wealth of opportunities for children to practise skills and recall knowledge. Children thoroughly enjoy complicated mathematical games where they use their number recognition and counting skills with excellent effect. n The childminder builds highly effective relationships with parents that help to ensure that children get the care they need. Parents comment on the

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need to do better?

childminder's brilliance and the high level of trust. They value the communication that helps to keep them informed about children's daily experiences and their progress. n The childminder puts children at the heart of what she does. Her high regard for their comfort and well-being is evident in each interaction. She makes sure that she keeps up to date with current practice for the benefit of all children. The childminder and her assistant complete all essential training. She makes sure that she finds out about changes to legislation and the requirements that must be met as well as finding new ways to enhance her own highly effective practice.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 129276 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10307989 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 16 Date of previous inspection 12 March 2018

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 1997 and lives in Welwyn Garden City. She operates all year round, from 8am to 6pm, Wednesday and Thursday. The childminder provides wraparound care for school-aged children, Monday to Thursday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds an appropriate qualification at level 3. She occasionally works with an assistant. The childminder provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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 childminder. n The childminder and the inspector discussed how the early years provision and the curriculum are organised. n The inspector and the childminder observed children's play during planned activities and evaluated the quality of education. n The inspector spoke to children and the childminder at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n Parents shared their views about the childminder's provision with the inspector. These were considered as part of the overall evaluation. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of adults living and working in the childminder's home.

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Inspection activities

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

28 February 2024 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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