Mrs Deborah Roberts

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 safe and welcoming home-from-home environment for children. Children demonstrate a positive attitude to their learning and learn to manage their feelings. They happily engage in a range of stimulating activities and have access to a wide range of resources to enhance their learning and enjoyment. The childminder supports children's growing independence and actively encourages them to take responsibility. Children help tidy away the toys and learn to independently put on their outdoor clothing before going outside to play in the childminder's garden.

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The provision is good

The childminder provides activities that support children to develop their hand-eye coordination and small muscle skills. For example, younger children learn to grip the pretend plastic petals and flowers. Older children carefully stack them on top of one another to form a tall tower. The childminder then successfully extends the activity, encouraging older children to compare the size of the tower to their own height, while introducing words such as 'tallest'. Children concentrate and persist, demonstrating pride in their achievements. The childminder regularly shares storybooks with the children, who snuggle into her as she reads to them. She asks children questions about the illustrations on each page. This sparks conversations, for example, about the life cycle of a ladybird and why animals hibernate.

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need to do better?

n The enthusiastic childminder thoroughly enjoys providing childcare and warmly welcomes children into her home. She puts children at the heart of everything she does and carries out regular risk assessments of her home to ensure that they remain safe. n The childminder reflects on her practice and keeps her knowledge and skills up to date. For example, she has refreshed her knowledge of how to support children who are reluctant to toilet train and has completed a training course specific to children aged three to four. This has supported the childminder to understand the importance of continuing to enhance children's language skills and broadening their knowledge, such as explaining to children that some trees are evergreen trees. n The childminder is nurturing and attentive to the children's needs, which helps her to support children's emotional well-being. Children consequently form close bonds with the childminder. They demonstrate that they are happy, safe and

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need to do better?

comfortable in her care. Children are confident to ask the childminder for help and naturally seek reassurance and a cuddle if needed. n The childminder is a positive role model. She supports children to manage their feelings and behaviour, play cooperatively with their friends, share and take their turn effectively. The childminder praises children for their efforts and

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need to do better?

1 April 2025 achievements, which develops their confidence and supports them to persist at their chosen activities. n The childminder knows the children well. She understands how to plan and implement sequenced learning opportunities to build on what children know and can already do. The childminder makes ongoing observations of the children to monitor their progress and well-being. This successfully supports her to understand each child's personality and learning needs. n The childminder offers opportunities for children to enjoy fresh air in her garden. She provides magnifying glasses to enhance the children's observation skills as they hunt for insects under rocks. Older children demonstrate awe as they find hidden creatures, such a woodlouse, a slug and a snail. The childminder then successfully uses these discoverers to develop children's understanding of living creatures. For example, she describes how some insects have antennas and how

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need to do better?

some creatures hide for protection in their shells. However, the childminder does not fully consider alternative play and learning opportunities, particularly for younger children who enjoy learning and being active outside. n The childminder provides a range of experiences that enhance children's knowledge of the local community and the world around them. For example, children socialise with other children during visits to local groups. They attend 'story time' sessions at the library, participate in singing and dance activities at a music group and visit the local memorial garden to view the frogspawn and frogs. Additionally, children have opportunities to learn about the role of others, such as the police and fire services. n The childminder spends time talking to parents and getting to know each child's care needs and stage of development before they attend. This helps to ease the transition from home to the childminder's care. The childminder shares her

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need to do better?

policies and procedures with parents and develops a good relationship with them. She regularly shares information about the children's care, development and progress. Parents comment very positively about the childminder.

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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 enhance the use of outdoor areas to offer younger children who prefer to learn outside further play and learning opportunities.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 129720 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10372544 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 7 Date of previous inspection 25 April 2019

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 1994 and lives in Tring, Hertfordshire. She operates all year round, from 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds a relevant qualification at level 3. She provides government funded places for childcare.

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Inspection activities

n The childminder showed the inspector the areas of her home that the children access. They discussed how the childminder organises her setting and plans the curriculum and experiences for the children. n The inspector viewed areas of the childminder's home used by the children and discussed the safety of the premises. n The inspector observed the children taking part in activities with the childminder and assessed the impact on the children's learning. n The children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector took account of the views of parents from written feedback provided at the inspection.

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Inspection activities

1 April 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

1 April 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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