Childminder in Essex

Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated. Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY370754 Inspection date 23/10/2008 Inspector Anne Daly

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Type of setting Childminder This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Introduction

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under Sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of the registered early years provision. ‘Early years provision’ refers to provision regulated by Ofsted for children from birth to 31 August following their fifth birthday (the early years age group). The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children’s learning, development and welfare, known as the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Introduction

The report includes information on any complaints about the childcare provision which Ofsted has received since the last inspection or registration whichever is the later, which require Ofsted or the provider to take action in Annex C.

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Introduction

The provider must provide a copy of this report to all parents with children at the setting where reasonably practicable. The provider must provide a copy of the report to any other person who asks for one, but may charge a fee for this service (The Childcare (Inspection) Regulations 2008 regulations 9 and 10).

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Introduction

The setting also makes provision for children older than the early years age group which is registered on the voluntary and/or compulsory part(s) of the Childcare Register. This report does not include an evaluation of that provision, but a comment about compliance with the requirements of the Childcare Register is included in Annex B. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Description of the childminding

The childminder was registered in 2008. She lives with her husband, one adult child and two children, aged 15 and 12 years, in Chelmsford, Essex. She occasionally works with her registered assistant. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. Disabled access may be limited by a small step into the house.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for six children at any one time and is currently minding five children in the early years age group. She offers places for children on the Early Years Foundation Stage Register, the Childcare Register and the Voluntary Register. She drives or walks to the local school and pre-school to take and collect children. She takes children to toddler groups, library and parks. She can support children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The childminder does not effectively protect and promote children's welfare through having an inadequate understanding of the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. She offers children a range of activities, but her lack of knowledge of the early learning goals results in limited opportunities for them to make progress in their learning. She supports every child, but insufficient information is shared with other providers. Inadequate self-evaluation fails to identify areas for improvement, although she is committed to training to enhance her skills.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall, the early years provision requires significant improvement. The registered person is given a Notice to Improve that sets out actions to be carried out.

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further?

To comply with the requirements of the EYFS the registered person must take the following action by the specified date:

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further?

 develop a knowledge and understanding of the early learning goals 31/03/2009  develop the educational programme to ensure that children are working towards the early learning goals 31/03/2009  develop assessments in order to meet children's individual needs 31/03/2009  obtain written parental permission for seeking any necessary emergency medical advice or treatment 06/11/2008  ensure that parents are provided with information regarding procedures to be followed in the event of a parent failing to collect a child or a child going missing 27/11/2008  complete a local authority approved childminder's 19/12/2008 This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 training course (also applies to the compulsory part of the Childcare Register)  arrange and complete a paediatric first aid course (also applies to both parts of the Childcare Register) 28/11/2008  undertake risk assessments to identify aspects of the

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further?

environment that need to be checked on a regular basis: maintain a record of these particular aspects and when and by whom they have been checked (also applies to both parts of the Childcare Register). 06/11/2008 To improve the early years provision the registered person should:

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further?

 take the necessary steps to safeguard and promote the welfare of children; obtain written parental permission for children to take part in outings; devise a system to verify the identity of any visitors, record their names, the purpose of the visit and their arrival and departure times.  maintain a regular two-way flow of information with parents and between providers (for example, the childminder regularly collects the child from a pre-school).

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provision

The childminder's inadequate knowledge and understanding of the welfare requirements is potentially compromising children’s safety. She has just commenced training to develop her skills and knowledge as a childminder, but is in breach of legal requirements through not completing the course within six months of registration.

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provision

The childminder is in breach of registration by not holding a current paediatric first aid certificate to protect children's health and welfare. In addition, she has not requested written permission from all parents for seeking emergency medical treatment or advice to enable her to act in children’s best interests in emergency situations.

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provision

Children have a generally safe environment, although written risk assessments have not been undertaken to identify and reduce dangers, for example, hazardous garden equipment being accessible to children. Children are transported in an appropriately maintained and insured vehicle, but not all parents and carers have given their written permission for children to take part in outings.

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provision

The childminder obtains some necessary information in advance of children being admitted into her care to enable her to meet children’s dietary and health requirements. Some required policies and records are maintained, but no system is devised or implemented to ensure children receive quality care and education. She has a sound knowledge of the possible signs of abuse and is confident to follow procedures if she has concerns about a child’s welfare. She ensures that her assistant is suitable to work with children, but does not maintain a record of visitors while children are in her care. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 The childminder values her meetings with parents and carers before placements commence, but she provides them with insufficient information to meet all the specific legal requirements. They are not advised of procedures to be followed in

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provision

the event of a parent failing to collect their child or if a child goes missing. Daily discussions ensure that important information about children’s care is shared with parents or carers, but there is a limited two-way flow of information with parents and the pre-school to promote integration of children’s education.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder demonstrates an inadequate understanding of the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Activities are not planned to ensure that children make progress towards the early learning goals. However, she has a sound understanding of play and appropriately supports children by allowing them to choose from the freely accessible toys. She provides age and stage appropriate play provision, but does not provide younger children with suitable equipment to encourage them to feed themselves.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder talks to children and listens to their responses to encourage opportunities for language development. She provides them with some creative activities to enable them to express themselves. She takes children to toddler groups to give them opportunities to make friends and to respect other children’s diverse needs and backgrounds, but she provides limited opportunities for them to learn about different cultures. There is insufficient involvement with other settings providing children’s care to promote their learning and development.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are developing an awareness of appropriate hygiene routines through accessing adequate hand washing facilities, but the childminder does not consistently remind them to wash their hands before eating food and after having their nappy changed, potentially compromising their well-being through cross- infection.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children learn how to keep themselves safe from harm. From a young age, they begin to understand the ‘house rules’, such as not jumping on furniture. They develop an understanding of dangers and how to keep themselves safe, for example, through the childminder teaching them to ‘stop, look and listen’ before crossing roads. The childminder organises her day to help children to be inquisitive and independent learners through play.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The lack of awareness and knowledge of the Statutory Framework of the Early Years Foundation Stage has resulted in some of the specific welfare legal requirements not being met. The childminder is inadequately trained, resulting in parents and carers not being fully informed of all the policies and procedures for the effective management of the setting to meet all children’s needs. However, she has the commitment and capacity for training to enhance her skills for the future benefit of children. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Annex A: record of inspection judgements

The key inspection judgements and what they mean

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Annex A: record of inspection judgements

Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Good: this aspect of the provision is strong Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is sound Inadequate: this aspect of the provision is not good enough

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of children in the Early Years Foundation Stage?

How well does the provision promote inclusive practice? Inadequate The capacity of the provision to maintain continuous improvement. Inadequate

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Foundation Stage led and managed?

How effective is the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement? Inadequate

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Foundation Stage led and managed?

How well does the setting work in partnership with parents and others? Inadequate

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Foundation Stage led and managed?

How well are children safeguarded? Inadequate

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Years Foundation Stage promoted?

How well are children helped to stay safe? Satisfactory How well are children helped to be healthy? Inadequate How well are children helped to enjoy and achieve? Inadequate How well are children helped to make a positive contribution? Inadequate

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Years Foundation Stage promoted?

How well are children helped develop skills that will contribute to their future economic well-being? Inadequate

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Years Foundation Stage promoted?

procedures set out in the guidance available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register are: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The registered provider does not meet the requirements of the compulsory and or voluntary part/s of the Childcare Register.

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 take action as specified in the early years section of the report 19/12/2008  implement a written statement of procedures to be followed for the safeguarding of children (applies to both parts of the Childcare Register) 27/11/2008  implement a written statement of procedures to be followed in relation to complaints (applies to both parts of the Childcare Register). 27/11/2008

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 take action as specified in the early years section of the report 28/11/2008  complete a level 2 qualification or provide evidence of how the core skills requirements are to be met. 23/07/2009 This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Annex C: complaint/s made to Ofsted

This section of the report includes details of any complaint/s made to Ofsted when:  we took action for the provider to meet the requirements of the Early Years Register; or  we asked the provider to take action in order to meet the requirements of the Early Years Register; or  the provider had already taken any necessary action to meet the requirements of the Early Years Register.

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Annex C: complaint/s made to Ofsted

We will not report on any complaint where the provider met the requirements of the Early Years Register or did not require any action by Ofsted or the registered provider.

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Detail of the complaint/s

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted since registration.

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Detail of the complaint/s

The provider is required to keep a record of complaints made by parents, which they can see on request. The complaints record may contain complaints other than those made to Ofsted.

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