Childminder, Out-of school day care in Leicestershire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY347487 Inspection date 27/10/2009 Inspector Alison Edwards

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Type of setting Childminder 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 Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It rates council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 08456 404040, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may copy all or parts of this document for non-commercial educational purposes, as long as you give details of the source and date of publication and do not alter the information in any way.

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Royal Exchange Buildings St Ann's Square Manchester M2 7LA

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T: 08456 404040 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk 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 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.

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Introduction

Please see our website for more information about each childcare provider. We publish inspection reports, conditions of registration and details of complaints we receive where we or the provider take action to meet the requirements of registration. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Description of the childminding

This childminder registered in 2007. She lives with her husband and daughter aged seven, in a house in a small town in the Blaby district of Leicestershire. Minded children use the ground floor of the house for play, with access to the first floor bathroom and bedrooms as needed. Children use local parks for outdoor play. A cat is kept as a family pet. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory part of the Childcare Register to care for a maximum of five children aged under eight years, including three in the early years age range. There are currently six children under the age of eight on roll, including three in the early years age range. The childminder is also registered on the voluntary part of the Childcare Register to care for older children.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is inadequate.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The childminder's current arrangements to evaluate the effectiveness of her provision have not effectively addressed a lack of awareness of the learning requirements specified in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Consequently, appropriate arrangements are not yet in place to ensure children make sufficient progress in all aspects of learning. The childminder is also unfamiliar with a specific aspect of her responsibilities relating to safeguarding, so compromising her ability to act appropriately to protect children from abuse. However, minded children are settled and confident with the childminder, who is caring and attentive in her dealings with them, and who provides a welcoming and comfortable environment for their play.

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The 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?

 establish a procedure to inform Ofsted in the event of any allegation of serious harm or abuse on the premises, or by any person living on the premises, as soon as reasonably practicable and within 14 days maximum (Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare; also applies to the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register) 24/11/2009

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further?

 ensure familiarity with what children need to learn in order to undertake sensitive observational assessment to plan and provide experiences to help children progress towards the early learning goals (Early 24/11/2009 This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 learning goals)  establish effective systems to meet children's individual needs by developing use of self evaluation procedures to ensure that all requirements are met. (Organisation) 24/11/2009

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further?

To improve the early years provision the registered person should:

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further?

 update the record or risk assessment to include assessments of risks for outings and trips  develop more confident awareness of ways to promote positive attitudes to diversity so that children learn from the earliest age to value diversity in others.

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the early years provision

Arrangements to safeguard children from harm are inadequate because the childminder has not considered the possibility of allegations of abuse against members of the household, and is unaware of the legally required procedures to be followed in any such event. Consequently, this compromises her ability to act appropriately should such an incident occur. However, she is aware of what child abuse and neglect mean, and of her responsibilities in the event of any concerns about a child. The childminder understands the need to ensure that Ofsted are promptly informed of any change to adults living in the household to enable the completion of appropriate suitability clearances. She undertakes and keeps concise records of risk assessments underpinning safety precautions within the home. However, risk assessment records are not yet fully effective in underpinning children's safety outside the home because they do not cover the childminder's

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the early years provision

informal risk assessments relating to each type of outing.

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the early years provision

Effective systems are not yet in place to identify weaknesses within the provision for children's learning, and to safeguard them from harm. This is because the childminder lacks familiarity with the learning requirements of the EYFS, and with a particular aspect of the welfare requirements. She makes little current use of self- evaluation processes, or local sources of advice or support, in order to assess her current practice or to identify priorities for further development. However, the childminder has taken generally sound steps to address recommendations raised at her previous inspection. For example, she now makes better use of required records to seek parental consent to obtain medical treatment for children in an emergency, and to keep more accurate records of the circumstances and treatment of any accidents. The childminder has attended relevant local training to maintain the required current paediatric first aid qualification.

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the early years provision

There are sound arrangements to work in partnership with parents. The childminder maintains a useful folder of information about her childminding provision which she shares with prospective parents. She establishes written agreements covering aspects of business and care arrangements. Parents and childminder are thus helped to develop a clear shared understanding of This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 arrangements for children's care. The childminder obtains written information from parents about each child's personal, health and dietary needs, and seeks some relevant details about their specific interests and abilities. This contributes to her ability to recognise and value each child's individuality. In addition to informal daily discussion on arrival and collection, the childminder provides parents with frequent written diary updates of children's experiences and activities, including some

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the early years provision

observations of their changing abilities. The childminder has established some links with other early years providers which individual children attend, such as pre- schools, to help her take account of children's experiences elsewhere. She recognises the value of working with other professionals, such as therapists, to support the inclusion of any children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. The childminder has a concise and positive equal opportunities policy. She incorporates some experiences helping children learn about different lifestyles, such as activities linked to festivals such as Diwali, or the inclusion of foods linked to different cultures, such as pitta or naan breads. However, the childminder is not yet fully confident of how to fully extend children's recognition and respect of diversity from the earliest age.

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and outcomes for children

The quality of the current provision for children's learning and development is poor because the childminder lacks awareness of the six areas of learning identified within the EYFS, and of what children need to learn in order to help them achieve the early learning goals. Consequently, this limits her ability to accurately assess children's current abilities and to plan sufficiently challenging activities to help them make progress. They are therefore not establishing a consistently sound basis to develop their future skills. Despite this, children are often busy and occupied using a fair variety of good quality play materials which are generally suited to their levels of maturity. For example, toddlers and pre-school children enjoy fitting chunky plastic bricks together, beginning to make tall towers or 'aeroplanes'. Children often enjoy sharing books with the childminder, showing familiarity with favourite stories. They sometimes participate in practical activities

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and outcomes for children

within the home, such as simple cake mixing, and enjoy frequent outings within the local neighbourhood.

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and outcomes for children

Children's safety is potentially compromised by the childminder's lack of awareness of what to do should there be an allegation of abuse against herself or a household member. However, children are cared for in a comfortable, secure and suitably- maintained family home where the childminder provides consistent levels of supervision. This enables them to safely enjoy using a fair selection of suitable play materials. They begin to learn about how to behave safely because the childminder explains the potential danger of climbing on furniture, and introduces them to simple aspects of road safety when they are out.

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and outcomes for children

There are sound arrangements to help children develop a healthy lifestyle. Children enjoy balanced meals and snacks which contribute to a healthy diet, such as mid- morning cheese and grapes, with lunches such as tuna sandwiches, cucumber sticks and yoghurt. The childminder encourages children to follow sound hygiene This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 procedures in their daily routines, such as washing their hands after using the toilet and before meals. Children are confident and competent when fitting plastic bricks together, and have some opportunities to develop their dexterity by rolling playdough or using creative items such as crayons and collage materials. They have regular opportunities for energetic play in the fresh air, for example as they run through autumn leaves, or use fixed play equipment in local parks.

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and outcomes for children

Children are usually relaxed and settled in the childminder's care, whether beginning to cooperate with each other in sharing play materials or whether engaged in periods of solitary play. The childminder is calm and affectionate in her dealings with them. She shows an awareness of their individual routines and preferences, for example, when settling a tired child to sleep. 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

Grade 1 is Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Grade 2 is Good: this aspect of the provision is strong Grade 3 is Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is sound Grade 4 is Inadequate: this aspect of the provision is not good enough

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children in the Early Years Foundation Stage?

The capacity of the provision to maintain continuous improvement

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and managed?

The effectiveness of leadership and management in embedding ambition and driving improvement The effectiveness with which the setting deploys resources 3 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 4 The effectiveness of the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement The effectiveness of partnerships 3 The effectiveness of the setting’s engagement with parents and carers

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Stage

The quality of the provision in the Early Years Foundation Stage 4

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 4 The extent to which children feel safe 4 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 3 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 3 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 4

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Stage

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 Register section of the report. (Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare; also applies to the voluntary part of the Childcare Register) 24/11/2009

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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 Register section of the report. (Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare; also applies to the compulsory part of the Childcare Register) 24/11/2009

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