Childminder EY547216

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 confident individuals in this caring, nurturing and home- from-home environment. The childminder forms strong bonds with children, which supports their well-being to flourish. Children proudly share photo books, created by the childminder, with the inspector. These books support children to sensitively navigate changes in their lives. The childminder has a secure understanding of how children learn. She gathers meaningful information from parents and uses her own ongoing observations to assess children's development accurately. This enables her to identify areas where children may need additional support and plan targeted activities to help them achieve. All children make good progress from their starting points.

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The provision is good

The childminder is a positive role model. She consistently uses good manners when speaking to children. This motivates children to say 'please' and 'thank you'. Children quickly learn how to take turns as they intently follow the childminder's instructions. They patiently wait to choose and identify the colour of each stick, then work out the corresponding coloured hole before posting it through. The childminder introduces children to mathematical concepts, such as simple subtraction, shapes and numbers. Children persevere to use small tools to scoop up dried chickpeas and transfer them to different sized containers. This helps to develop the small muscles in their hands in readiness for writing.

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need to do better?

n The childminder is dedicated to her professional development. She completes training that is relevant and best supports children in her care. The childminder has recently completed a recognised government funded programme. As a result, she has thoughtfully evaluated the children's play environment and made significant improvements that encourages children to independently access a wide range of meaningful play resources. n The childminder plans a varied and rich curriculum that precisely identifies children's next steps in learning and nurtures each child's distinct interests. For instance, she extends on children's interests in vehicles by taking children to observe work on a local building site. Children learn about the role of different construction vehicles, such as a bulldozer and grapple truck. However, the childminder does not consistently identify opportunities in children's play to implement what they need to learn next, to support their learning and

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need to do better?

development to the highest level. Nevertheless, she places a high priority on broadening children's experiences and deepening their knowledge of other cultures that are less familiar to them. Children visit a Buddhist temple, they learn what a pagoda is typically used for and contribute their creative artwork to a memory tree.

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need to do better?

22 July 2025 n The childminder promotes children's good health. They enjoy visiting a farm to pick strawberries. On return to the childminder's home they help to prepare the fruit and make smoothies to drink. The childminder ensures that children are physically active. They eagerly participate in lively action songs where they jump like a kangaroo and fly like a bee. The childminder ensures that children have daily opportunities for fresh air and outdoor activities. They visit local parks where they crawl through large tunnels and learn to assess risks under the close supervision of the childminder. n Children's communication and language skills are good. The childminder models language well. She provides clear explanations to the meaning of new words, such as 'dawn' to support children's understanding of time. The childminder effectively supports children who speak English as an additional language to use

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need to do better?

and develop an understanding of English. Children express a strong love of books. The childminder reads to them with immense enthusiasm and intonation. She poses interesting questions to children as she reads to them and during her interactions in their play. At times, she does not always give children enough thinking time to process these questions and respond to them, to enable them to practise their language skills and extend their learning and understanding further. n The childminder supports children to develop good social skills and promotes positive behaviour. She regularly takes children to organised groups and meets with other childminders. This supports children to build friendships in larger groups. The childminder has high expectations of children. She encourages them to have respect for their environment and each other. The childminder makes tidying up fun and provides children with lots of praise for participating. This

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need to do better?

motivates children to finish this task and they are proud of their achievements. n Partnership with parents is strong. The childminder keeps parents fully informed of their child's time with her. She provides parents with guidance and ideas to aid children's learning at home. Parents describe the childminder as 'professional' and regard her as an 'extension of their family'.

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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 strengthen teaching further to consistently implement children's individual next steps in learning n provide children with adequate time to process and respond to questions.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY547216 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10398084 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 2 October 2019

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2017 and lives in Hemel Hempsted. She operates from 8am until 6pm, Tuesday to Friday, all year round, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds an appropriate childcare qualification at level 3. She provides government funded early years education for all eligible 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 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 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

22 July 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

22 July 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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