Childminder in Blackburn with Darwen

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY300166 Inspection date 24/02/2012 Inspector Alison Gash

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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 assesses 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 0300 123 1231, 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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T: 0300 123 1231 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

There were no children on roll when this inspection took place. The findings in this report are based on evidence gathered from discussions with those who care for the children and an inspection of the premises, equipment and relevant documentation. Where there are no children on roll, no judgement is made on the quality of the early years provision as there is no reliable evidence on which to assess its impact on children. The report states if the provider continues to meet the requirements of registration.

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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

The childminder has been registered since 2005. She lives with her two children aged six years and 14 years in a house in Shadworth, a suburb of Blackburn. The whole of the ground floor of the house, the rear garden and the upstairs toilet and bathroom are used for childminding purposes. She walks with children to local schools, shops and the park. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of three children at any one time. She is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary part of the Childcare Register. She has attended pre- registration training. At the time of this inspection there were no early years children on role.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The childminder's present knowledge and understanding of the learning and development requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage is insufficient to support children's progress. For example, she does not know the four underlying themes of the Early Years Foundation Stage or the six areas of learning and development. This has the potential to compromise how children's individual needs can be identified and assessed. Her knowledge of the individual development of young children and how to plan purposeful activities to take each child's learning forward towards achieving the early learning goals is weak. For example, in promoting children's problem solving, reasoning and numeracy the childminder lacks understanding of the necessity of providing practical experiences to enable young children to extend their skills in this area of learning.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

To support children's learning and development a limited range of resources and books are accessible, however, some of these are in a poor condition and some are not suitable to meet the development needs and interests of young children. At the last inspection it was recommended that the childminder extend resources and activities to reflect diversity in relation to gender, culture and ability. She has not met this recommendation, however states if she was to childmind young children she would acquire resources through the Sure Start toy library.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The childminder has a satisfactory knowledge of aspects of safeguarding because she is able to talk about the different types of abuse and what she would do and who to contact in the event of concerns over a child's welfare. The childminder has a valid first aid certificate and demonstrates through discussion that she has adequate knowledge of how to manage minor accidents and injuries. She has adequate documentation to record accidents and administering of medicines to children. A recommendation in her previous report was to improve emergency procedures with particular reference to fire. This recommendation has been met because she has put in place a procedure for emergency evacuation.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children's safety is at risk because the childminder does not have risk assessments to cover all that a child comes into contact with, in the setting. There is a tick list to record risks to children however this is not pertinent to an early years environment. For example, included on this list are items such as alcohol and sharp This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 knives but omitted is the risk caused by trailing wires from the computer. Children's safety is further compromised because there is no assessment of the significance of individual risks both indoors and outdoors. For example, the back garden fence has blown down and is badly damaged leaving the area insecure and unsafe. The childminder says she intends to get it fixed by the summer.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The quality of the learning environment both indoors and outdoors compromises children's safety and well-being. Records of when and by whom aspects of the environment have been checked are not kept and consequently risks to children's well-being are increased. For example, indoors in the resources baskets, which are accessible to children, there was a loose battery and stale biscuit pieces. Children's welfare is at risk because the childminder has not taken all reasonable steps to ensure that hazards to children both indoors and outdoors are kept to a minimum. For example, outdoors there is significant damage to a low garden wall and rubbish lying on the ground.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The childminder shows a willingness to work in partnership with parents. She has prepared a questionnaire for completion by parents prior to children starting at the setting. The childminder requests important information from parents about their child, for example, welfare, dietary requirements, medical history and parental responsibility. To meet statutory requirements the childminder has copies of procedures and policies prepared. However, she is unable to explain the content and the reasons for some of these policies and procedures and this would hinder how well parents can be kept informed of matters that may affect their child.

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Compliance with registration requirements

In order to continue to meet the requirements of registration, the registered person must take the following action by the specified date:

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Compliance with registration requirements

 gain knowledge and understanding of the learning and development requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage to provide an educational programme to enable children to make progress from birth towards the early learning goals (Early learning goals) 09/03/2012

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Compliance with registration requirements

 gain understanding of the individual development of children in the Early years Foundation Stage to ensure that the activities they undertake are suitable for the stage they have reached (Educational programmes) 09/03/2012

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Compliance with registration requirements

 ensure all areas of learning and development are delivered through planned, purposeful play, with a balance of adult-led and child-initiated activities (Educational programmes) 09/03/2012

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Compliance with registration requirements

 conduct a risk assessment that identifies aspects of the environment that need to be checked on a regular 09/03/2012 This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 basis and maintain a record of the risk assessment clearly stating when it was carried out, by whom, the regularity of checks according to the significance of individual risks, any action taken following an incident (Suitable premises, environment and equipment)  take all reasonable steps to ensure that hazards to children - both indoors and outdoors are kept to a minimum (Suitable premises, environment and equipment) 09/03/2012

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Compliance with registration requirements

 ensure outdoor and indoor spaces, furniture, equipment and toys, are safe and suitable for their purpose (Suitable premises, environment and equipment) 09/03/2012 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

 must ensure the premises and the equipment used for the purpose of the childcare are safe and suitable for that childcare (Suitability and safety of premises) 09/03/2012

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 undertake a risk assessment of the premises and equipment at least once in every calendar year to ensure that all necessary measures are taken to minimise identified risks (Suitability and safety of premises) 09/03/2012

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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 above (Suitability and safety of premises) 09/03/2012

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