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 arrive happy and settled in this nurturing environment. They form strong attachments with the childminder and staff, fostering a sense of safety, security, and overall well-being. The childminder provides a curriculum that is well considered to meet the different ages and stages of children. They show excitement to explore the toys offered. Younger children benefit from sensory play that helps them build on their fine motor skills as they explore pom-poms and squeeze them in their hands. Older children build on their counting skills. They make predictions about how many bricks they can stack in a tower before it falls and begin to understand cause and effect as they use scales to load pom-poms onto, exploring the concept of weight. This helps children to make good progress in their understanding of early mathematical skills.

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The provision is good

Children demonstrate a positive attitude to learning. They show good levels of concentration and determination as staff provide challenging obstacle courses for children to navigate over. Children build strength in their muscles as they climb, jump and balance over large soft blocks. They persist to reach the end and celebrate their achievements with their peers. Children are content to play independently and alongside their peers. The childminder supports children to respect each other's choices and promotes turn taking and sharing well.

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need to do better?

n The childminder has a good knowledge of how children learn. She gathers accurate information when children first start about their prior learning, as well as her own observations. This information is used to plan what children need to learn next to support their development. These goals are reviewed on a termly basis and routinely shared with parents. n The childminder provides children with a wide range of experiences within the local area. Exciting activities, such as puddle jumping, den building and woodland exploration, support children to learn about the natural world around them. Litter picking activities help children to learn how to look after their environment. The childminder supports children to learn about others who live in the community. They create Christmas cards and deliver them to the local residential care home. n Parents speak highly of the childminder. They comment on the progress their

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need to do better?

children make in their vocabulary, and value the daily updates they receive on their child's development. The childminder actively encourages parents to continue their children's learning at home, suggesting activities to build on their learning and development, supporting a holistic experience for children. n Children are familiar with routines for lunch. They wash their hands at the sink and learn to dry them with flannels, promoting their independence. Children

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need to do better?

13 January 2025 behave well and wait patiently for their food. Staff sit alongside children while they eat. However, they do not always use these opportunities to talk to children about healthy choices of food and drinks, and the impact this has on their bodies. n The childminder has a good understanding of the needs of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). She works closely with the parents, obtaining information and updates from external professional assessments. The childminder signposts parents to access further help for children. Teaching and support is tailored to meet the unique needs of children with SEND, helping them to make good progress from their starting points. n Children's communication and language is well supported. Staff read stories to children with animation and ask questions to promote further conversation and help build on their speaking skills. Nursery rhymes and songs further promote

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need to do better?

communication and children pick their favourite songs, such as 'The Gingerbread Man'. They listen for their names to be called out, jumping up in excitement when they hear their name in the song. n The childminder and staff show a genuine passion for their work. They work collaboratively together to ensure the setting runs smoothly, and children's needs are met effectively. Although mandatory training, such as first aid and safeguarding, is completed, the childminder has not established a focused programme of professional development to drive staff knowledge and skills to the very highest standard.

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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 support children to understand the benefits of healthy eating on their bodies n make further use of focused professional development opportunities to build on knowledge and skills to the very highest standard.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY256425 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10368112 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 20 Date of previous inspection 8 March 2019

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2003 and lives in Stevenage. She operates all year round from 7am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds an appropriate qualification at level 3. She works with an assistant. The childminder provides funded early years education for all eligible children.

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Inspection activities

n The childminder and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the setting and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of an activity that staff carried out with the children. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The children communicated with the inspector during the inspection. The took account of written views from parents. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation, such as evidence of the suitability of the staff working in the setting, and a selection of other records.

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Inspection activities

13 January 2025 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

13 January 2025 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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