Paddon, Helen Claire

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 welcoming and safe environment for children in her care. She visits children and parents in their own home to help build early bonds. Children settle in quickly when they first start and show secure relationships with the childminder. They are confident and happy individuals who invite authorised visitors to join them in their play. Children are incredibly independent and manage their own self-care from a young age. They help to prepare their own snack, put on their own shoes and know to place them in the box when they take them off. The childminder takes children on various outings that helps broaden their experience of the wider world and contributes to her ambitious curriculum. Children visit farms where they learn about the characteristics of animals, such as alpacas. They learn about where food comes from as they dig up potatoes which they bring back to the childminder's home to make soup.

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The provision is good

The childminder expresses a genuine interest in what children have to say. This motivates them to use complex sentences to recall previous experiences and express their thoughts and ideas. Children develop an early awareness of mathematics. They childminder encourages children to count with her and complete complex puzzles, introducing children to the name of shapes, such as oblong and triangle. The childminder has high expectations of children's behaviour. Children show a strong sense of responsibility. They swiftly respond to the childminder's gentle reminders and praise to help tidy away what they have finished playing with. This also helps to increase their awareness of keeping their environment safe. Children develop a very good awareness of how others are feeling. They look at photos of children expressing different emotions, copy them in the mirror and the childminder encourages children to express how they feel.

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need to do better?

n The childminder uses her frequent observations of children's development and works in partnership with parents to find out what children know and can do. She uses this information to inform a sequenced curriculum that precisely identifies children's next steps in learning. This supports children to make good progress from the outset. n The childminder plans inviting activities that support children to understand about changes in their lives and help prepare them for toilet training through imaginative play. Children have a wonderful time bathing dollies in water. They dry them in towels and sit them on toy potties. This stimulates children to talk about how they are also practicing to use the toilet. The childminder increases children's awareness of good oral hygiene as she introduces toothbrushes and toothpaste for children to brush the dollies teeth. However, when children find tasks more challenging, such as opening the toothpaste, the childminder does

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need to do better?

2 September 2024 not always give children enough time to solve problems for themselves before doing it for them. n The childminder is a positive role model. She consistently advocates a positive culture of respect for all. She calmly encourages children to share resources and provides clear explanations why this is important. This helps children to understand what is right and wrong. n Children develop good physical skills and have a clear awareness about the importance of a healthy lifestyle. The childminder provides children with healthy foods and talks to them about the positive impact these have on their body. n The childminder offers children an extensive variety of resources that enables children to make independent choices of what they would like to play with. Children confidently help themselves to many of the resources, such as boxes containing stones that represent various birds and flowers. However, children

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need to do better?

sometimes find it difficult to engage in meaningful play indoors. The childminder does not always maximise the use of the outdoor environment, where children show higher levels of engagement. n The childminder develops strong relationships with parents. She communicates with them daily and keeps them well informed about their children's ongoing achievements. Parents speak highly of the childminder and assistant. They comment how they 'deeply care for children' and 'how their children learn so many new skills'. Partnerships with other providers that children attend are fully in place. There is a professional two-way flow of information that is shared to fully support children's continuity of learning. n The childminder regularly communicates with a network of local childminders. This enables her to share good practice and gain new ideas. She participates in webinars and has memberships with childcare organisations where she uses

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need to do better?

their training materials to continue to build on her own and assistant's knowledge. The childminder and assistant work very well together. They regularly reflect on their practice to provide a consistent approach.

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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 provide children with time to solve problems for themselves n enhance opportunities for children to choose where they prefer to play when accessing learning so they remain engaged in meaningful play.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY355478 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10351843 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 12 Date of previous inspection 23 October 2018

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2007 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 who holds an appropriate childcare qualification at level 3. The childminder provides funded early education for two-, and three-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 childminder carried out a joint evaluation of an activity with the inspector, and they discussed their findings. n The childminder showed the inspector the premises and discussed how she ensures they are safe and suitable. The inspector took account of the views of parents through written feedback provided. n The childminder provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation on request.

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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

2 September 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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