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 16/05/2013. 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, you received an inadequate judgement at inspection. We took enforcement action and issued you with a welfare requirements notice which required you 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 you with a notice to improve asking you 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 you had met the actions detailed in the welfare requirement notice. The evidence indicated these actions had 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.

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Outcome of the visit

On 16 May 2013 a further monitoring visit was made to assess progress towards meeting the remaining actions. Having considered all the evidence, the inspector is of the opinion that the improvements have been made and 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 16 May 2013, we found that you had 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 are able to play safely in the garden area and procedures are implemented ensure children are adequately supervised. 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

Action has been taken to ensure potential risks are minimised and written risk assessments demonstrate you have given risks sufficient consideration to safeguard children. Thought is given to children's ages and stages of development when organising routines such as nappy changing, meal and sleep times to ensure they are always within sight or hearing and safe when you leave the room.

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Overall effectiveness of the improvement and outcomes for children

You had developed an improved knowledge and understanding of the requirements of the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage, an understanding of how to organise and plan your practice to monitor children's progress effectively. Children benefit from your involvement in their play. Strategies for effective teaching and learning are better understood and as a result, children are being challenged to use their skills to solve problems for themselves.

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Overall effectiveness of the improvement and outcomes for children

Children are actively engaged with a variety of toys and observations and records kept indicate they are achieving in line with the age bands detailed in in the guidance document Development Matters in the early Years Foundation Sage (EYFS). Children benefit from use of an outdoor play area that is well resourced and safe for them to use in all weathers.

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Overall effectiveness of the improvement and outcomes for children

Children self-select from a variety of toys, equipment. Their progress is monitored across all areas of learning and the next stages in their learning are identified and used to inform the planning of activities. Children whose first language English progress in their language development and achieve at an age appropriate level.

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Overall effectiveness of the improvement and outcomes for children

You are taking steps to develop opportunities for children to use their home language in their play to support their language development at home. A recommendation has been made to further develop this aspect of practice. You had begun to consider your weaknesses and areas for development and had demonstrated her ability to improve.

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Overall effectiveness of the improvement and outcomes for children

At the time of the visit steps taken to promote the good health of children were inconsistent and a recommendation has been made to ensure additional hygiene measures are taken to protect the children, particularly at meal times.

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Overall effectiveness of the improvement and outcomes for children

Overall you have made satisfactory progress in addressing the points for 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 improvement. The next visit will be a full inspection. 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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