Childminder in Southend on Sea

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD Telephone: 0300 123 1231 Fax: 0300 123 3159 Minicom: 0161 618 8524 Email: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk Web: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Outcome of monitoring visit for provision judged as inadequate

An Ofsted inspector, Elaine Nightingale, carried out a monitoring visit of your provision on 27/02/2013. This visit follows on from your inspection where the provision was judged to be inadequate.

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Outcome of the visit

As a result of our inspection on 23/01/2013, we sent you a welfare requirements notice.

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Outcome of the visit

On 23 January 2013, the provision received an inadequate judgement at inspection. Ofsted took enforcement action and issued the provider with a welfare requirements notice which required the provider to comply with the following actions:

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Outcome of the visit

* ensure that spaces, including outdoor play spaces, equipment and toys are safe for children to use and fit for purpose by implementing a health and safety policy and procedure which identifies and deals with all hazards. (The Early Years Foundation Stage Safeguarding and General Welfare Requirements – Safety)

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Outcome of the visit

* implement a clear policy for assessing any risks to children's safety which will identify aspects of the environment which need to be checked on a regular basis, and how hazards and risks are removed or minimised, and review it regularly. (The Early Years Foundation Stage Safeguarding and General Welfare Requirements – Risk assessment)

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Outcome of the visit

We also issued the provider with a notice to improve asking the provider to:

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Outcome of the visit

* make sure staffing arrangements meet the needs of all children and ensure their safety. Decide how to deploy staff, so that children's needs are met and they are adequately supervised

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Outcome of the visit

* develop knowledge and understanding of the learning and development requirements, so that children are provided with challenging and enjoyable experiences in all areas of learning, based on observation and assessment of their individual needs, for example, by using guidance, such as 'Development Matters in the Early Years Foundation Stage'

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Outcome of the visit

* keep documentation to meet requirements including an accurate daily record of the hours of attendance for all children cared for on the premises

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Outcome of the visit

* develop understanding of the characteristics of effective teaching and learning and provide opportunities for children to self-select from a wide range of resources so that they can be active learners and develop their creativity and critical thinking

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Outcome of the visit

* take steps to allow children who have English as an additional language to use their home language in play and development and support their language development at home

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Outcome of the visit

* foster a culture of improvement by developing a system for self-evaluation that identifies weaknesses and areas for development, including where necessary, training to ensure that the safeguarding and welfare requirements and the learning and development requirements are understood and fully met

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Outcome of the visit

* review organisation and use of available indoor space to ensure that space requirements are fully met for the number and ages of children attending

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Outcome of the visit

On 27 February 2013 we carried out a monitoring visit to the premises to check that the provider had met the actions detailed in the welfare requirement notice. The evidence indicated these actions have been met. The inspector also assessed the action taken towards meeting actions detailed in the notice to improve. Although the dates for completion had not been reached at the time of this visit, three of the actions had been met and one met in part. A further monitoring visit is required to assess progress towards meeting the remaining actions. Having considered all the evidence, the inspector is of the opinion that at this time the setting is making satisfactory improvement overall.

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Outcome of the visit

Having considered all the evidence, the inspector is of the opinion that at this time you are making satisfactory improvement overall.

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Overall effectiveness of the improvement and outcomes for children

At the monitoring visit on 27 February 2013, we found that the childminder has taken steps to address the actions raised in the welfare requirements notice and notice to improve.

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Overall effectiveness of the improvement and outcomes for children

Children were seen to be settled, engage well with the childminder and her co- minder and approached visitors confidently. The outdoor play area is now safe for children to use in all weathers and the childminder has a better understanding of the importance of assessing all risks to children and the impact of acting in a way that is unplanned.

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Overall effectiveness of the improvement and outcomes for children

Written risk assessments and routine assessments of each arising situation help minimise potential risks to children. Consideration is given to the age range of children cared for and specific situations where children need closer supervision. The childminders work together ensuring staffing arrangements meet the needs of all children. The childminder is more aware of the unpredictable behaviours of younger children and aware to take steps to ensure their safety.

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Overall effectiveness of the improvement and outcomes for children

Children self-select from a range of toys, equipment and activities. Activities are also adult led. Account is taken of children’s developmental stages. However, children’s progress is not effectively monitored across all areas of learning. As a result observational assessments do not inform planning for the next stages in their learning. Children benefit from the involvement of the childminders in their play. However, strategies for effective teaching and learning are not well understood by the childminder and as a result, children are not always presented with sufficient challenge to use their skills to solve problems for themselves.

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Overall effectiveness of the improvement and outcomes for children

Children whose first language is not English are supported to make good progress, particularly in language development. There are no opportunities for children, who have English as an additional language to use their home language in their play to support their language development at home.

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Overall effectiveness of the improvement and outcomes for children

Children have use of two downstairs rooms for play and sleeping. The organisation and use of space although not creatively used, is satisfactory and ensures the space requirements are met for the number and ages of children attending.

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Overall effectiveness of the improvement and outcomes for children

Overall the childminder has made satisfactory progress in addressing the points for improvement. The next visit will be a further monitoring visit to assess sustained improvement.

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Next steps

Having considered all the evidence the inspector is of the opinion that at this time:

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Next steps

 The childminder has made satisfactory progress in addressing the points for improvement. The next visit will be a further monitoring visit. I hope that you have found the visit helpful in promoting improvement in your childminding service. If you have any further queries please contact us on the number at the top of this letter.

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Next steps

Susan Gregory HMI National Director, Inspection Delivery

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