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 feel safe and secure with the childminder who has a very caring and nurturing nature. She instantly provides children with the comfort and reassurance when needed. This means that children's emotional needs are consistently met and helps them to happily resume their play. The childminder finds out what children already know and can do as soon as they start with her. She uses this information well to create an ambitious curriculum that helps all children make good progress. The childminder introduces children to new resources that immediately captures their fascination. For example, they observe how coloured droplets of gel immersed in special clear liquid move and float to the bottom of a clear cylinder. This motivates children to experiment how they can make the droplets move quicker by rotating or holding the cylinder at different angles.

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The provision is good

The childminder has high expectations of children's behaviour. Children demonstrate 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 learn about mathematical concepts, such as full and empty. The childminder introduces children to unfamiliar shapes as they complete puzzles. Children have high levels of perseverance and develop good critical thinking skills. They work out how to operate a toy drill to secure a wheel onto a tractor. The childminder prioritises children's language skills. She speaks to children clearly and sensitively supports their clear pronunciation of words. Children enthusiastically respond to the childminder's questions as they welcome her interaction in their play.

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need to do better?

n The childminder implements a balanced curriculum that fully incorporates children's individual interests. She uses her frequent observations and assessments of children's development to inform a sequenced curriculum that precisely identifies what children need to learn next. However, the childminder does not consider how to build on children's experiences from home to further enhance her planning and help embed children's learning. n Children benefit from many experiences that give them the opportunity to build on their social skills. The childminder regularly takes children to a varied range of organised groups that enable them to mix with larger groups of children. She actively supports children to develop an awareness of their own and other's feelings through stories and shows a genuine interest when children express how they feel. This helps to prepare children to regulate their behaviour. n The childminder is highly reflective about her own practice and the quality of her

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need to do better?

provision. She has recently improved the book area, transforming it into a cosy

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need to do better?

11 November 2024 and welcoming space that is filled with a wide selection of age-appropriate books and story sacks. Regular visits to the local library further foster children's love for books and reading. n The childminder places a strong emphasis on continuing to develop her knowledge and skills. She regularly communicates with a network of local childminders. This enables her to share good practice and gain new ideas. The childminder has recently completed a government funded professional development programme. This has increased her knowledge of how to set and monitor children's next steps in learning. n Children benefit from a highly enabling environment. They make independent choices of what they would like to play with from a rich range of resources and confidently access these themselves. However, the childminder does not consistently challenge children to complete tasks that they are able to manage

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need to do better?

themselves, for example, managing their own clothing when toileting and helping to prepare their own healthy snack. This does not consistently support children to develop independent skills to the very highest level. n The childminder develops good relationships with parents. She keeps them well informed about their children's ongoing achievements during daily discussions and shares photos via a secure app. The childminder provides ideas how parents can continue to support their children's learning at home. Parents speak highly of the childminder. They describe her as 'caring' and 'very professional'. n The childminder promotes children's health. Children learn to wash their hands before eating and after going to the toilet. The childminder explains the importance of following good hygiene measures to reduce the risk of spreading infection. Children help the childminder to plant and nurture a selection of

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need to do better?

vegetables. The childminder encourages children to taste these. This helps to broaden their tastes. The childminder increases children's awareness of how to stay safe when walking in the community. Children eagerly help the childminder to assess when it is safe to cross the road.

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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 refine planning to build on children's experiences from home 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 EY330193 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10363990 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 8 Date of previous inspection 18 January 2019

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2006 and lives in Baldock. She operates from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, all year round, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds an appropriate childcare qualification at level 3. She provides funded early education for two- and three-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector held a number of discussions with the childminder and spoke to 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 inspector joined the childminder on a walk to collect children from school. n The childminder provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation on request. n The inspector took account of the views of parents through written feedback provided.

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Inspection activities

11 November 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

11 November 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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