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 are happy and relaxed in the experienced childminder's care. This is because the childminder places a high priority on providing a nurturing environment that supports children to feel safe and secure. Children jump with excitement as the childminder offers a strawberry-patterned sun hat for protection. The childminder has high expectations of children's behaviour. She serves as a positive role model alongside older children and her assistant. The childminder consistently uses good manners when speaking to children, this motivates them do the same. Children show friendly relationships as they take turns to work out how to use the handle on a toy tape measure to wind it back up.

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The provision is good

The childminder uses engaging storytelling techniques to promote children's communication and language. Children eagerly fill her pauses with familiar repeated refrains and learn the meaning of new words, such as 'enormous'. The childminder's use of questions encourages children to recall experiences and practice speaking. Children are inquisitive, they search for insects underneath logs and use a magnifying glass to look closely at a centipede. The childminder provides children with time to solve problems and develop their critical thinking. Children work out that if they position the foam building blocks at alternative angles to build a tower it becomes sturdy. The inviting outdoor area provides children with many opportunities to assess their own risks and build on their physical skills. Children run at speed and climb apparatus. They build the small muscles in their hands in readiness for writing as they persevere to use tweezers to pick up natural objects

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need to do better?

n The childminder has a clear intent for her curriculum which places a strong emphasis on supporting children to be resilient individuals. However, although she knows children well and provides stimulating learning opportunities, she does not always successfully adapt adult-led activities to keep younger children engaged. For example, when she introduces children to new sensory experiences, such as chia seeds mixed with water and food colouring, younger children are reluctant to explore this on a large scale. Nevertheless, all children, including those with SEND, make good progress to prepare them for the next stage of learning. n Partnerships with parents, external agencies and other providers that children attend are strong. The childminder keeps parents fully informed of their children's achievements and warmly invites them into her home to deliver workshops, such as how to promote children's language skills. This has a

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need to do better?

positive impact on supporting children's continuity of learning. Parents describe the childminder and assistant as 'incredible'. They comment that they feel part of

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need to do better?

24 July 2024 the childminder's extended family. n Children behave well. They understand exactly what is expected of them. For example, they know to remove their shoes and place them in the box when they enter the childminder's home. Children show they are proud of themselves. The childminder's praise helps them to develop high levels of self-esteem. n The childminder and assistant work very well together as a team. They consistently reflect on each other's practice and the provision they provide. The childminder is dedicated to supporting both her assistant's and her own professional development. She focuses on enhancing her knowledge and skills to meet the individual needs of children attending. Recent training has increased the childminder's understanding how to support children to develop a strong interest in mathematics. As a result, children spontaneously use mathematical language and identify complex shapes, such as a rhombus.

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need to do better?

n Children develop a good understanding of the importance of a healthy lifestyle. They nurture and taste a range of vegetables in the childminder's garden. This helps them to understand about where food comes from and broadens their tastes. Lunchtime is a social occasion where children thoroughly enjoy eating freshly prepared home-cooked nutritious meals. However, the childminder does not consistently implement opportunities through daily routines for children to be highly independent. For example, she does not support children to learn how to use a knife and fork to cut up food and pour their own water at mealtimes. n Children benefit from outings in the community with the childminder that broadens their experiences and helps develop their understanding of the world. They respect wildlife as they visit a local conservation area and learn about the role of a beekeeper. Children discover how the beekeeper needs to use smoke to

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need to do better?

calm the bees to conduct maintenance of their hives. The childminder embraces children's inquisitiveness in bees and continues to support children's knowledge of bees through engaging experiences. This helps children to learn how honey is made and how bees collect pollen from flowers.

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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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should:

n adapt adult-led activities more effectively to ensure all children remain engaged and benefit from the learning opportunities offered n offer children more opportunities that challenge them to do as much as possible for themselves to be highly independent individuals.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY292854 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10351607 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 12 Number of children on roll 16 Date of previous inspection 1 October 2018

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2004 and lives in Welwyn Garden City. She operates from 8.00am until 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, all year round, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder works with an assistant, both hold an appropriate childcare qualification at level 3. 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 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 observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector held a number of discussions with the childminder, assistant and children at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector carried out a joint evaluation of an activity with the childminder, and they discussed their findings. n The childminder provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation on request. n The inspector took account of the views of parents and older children through written feedback provided.

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Inspection activities

24 July 2024 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 July 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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