Childminder in Hampshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 24/05/2013 21/02/2013

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early years provision

This inspection: 4 Previous inspection: 4 How well the early years provision meets the needs of the range of children who attend The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children 4 The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision 4

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This provision is inadequate

 The childminder has a lack of understanding of the maximum number of children that may be cared for at once when by herself. This poses risks to children's safety, including when on outings.  The childminder has failed to meet the condition of registration in relation to the restrictions upon her employment of an assistant. She has not ensured that the assistant understands how to undertake her role in regard to supporting children's learning and development through play.  Children's behaviour is not managed in relation to their individual requirements; therefore, the childminder does not support all children's personal, social and emotional development appropriately.  The childminder does not always check the identity of visitors, as required, to determine that they are who they say they are, in order to keep children safe.

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It has the following strengths

 Children take part in a wide range of activities and choose from a broad range of resources.  The childminder understands children's starting points and backgrounds. She makes regular observations and assessments on them, which she shares with parents.

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Information about this inspection

Inspections of registered early years provision are:  scheduled at least once in every inspection cycle – the current cycle ends on 31 July

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Information about this inspection

 scheduled more frequently where Ofsted identifies a need to do so, for example where provision was previously judged inadequate  brought forward in the inspection cycle where Ofsted has received information that suggests the provision may not be meeting the legal requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage or where assessment of the provision identifies a need for early inspection  prioritised where we have received information that the provision is not meeting the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage and which suggests children may not be safe  scheduled at the completion of an investigation into failure to comply with the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Information about this inspection

The provision is also registered on the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register. This report includes a judgment about compliance with the requirements of that register.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke with the childminder, her assistant and the children during the inspection.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector read the submitted self-evaluation form prior to inspection and the updated version during her visit. She took into account the previous report and monitoring visit documentation.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the childminder and her assistant interacting with the children, and the children's activities.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector sampled the childminder's documentation and children's learning records.  The inspector read and took into account the views of parents from letters.

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Information about the setting

The childminder registered in 2002. She is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder lives with her husband and adult children in Chineham, near Basingstoke, Hampshire. The ground floor of the home is mainly used for childminding purposes, with upstairs bedrooms used for children to sleep. There is a garden for outside play. The childminder currently has four children on roll in the early years age range. She has four named assistants but only uses one assistant to work with her.

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enforcement action:

We will issue a welfare requirements notice to:

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enforcement action:

- ensure that care is provided for a maximum of three young children at any one time

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must:

 ensure that the identity of visitors is always checked, in order to be certain that those entering the premises are who they say they are

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must:

 ensure that assistants are competent in areas of work they undertake with particular regard to understanding how to support children's play appropriately

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must:

 implement effective behaviour management procedures to promote children's well-being, making sure strategies used are appropriate for the developmental stages of individual children

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who attend

Although the childminder promotes the needs of children well in some ways, she does not understand the impact of her behaviour management strategies on children's personal, social and emotional development. Furthermore, she does not make sure that her assistant understands how to interact with children appropriately. Both these shortcomings have negative effects on children's progress. They are not prepared adequately for the next stage in their learning because they do not understand how they are expected to behave.

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who attend

In other required areas of learning, the childminder demonstrates she has an appropriate understanding of how to implement suitable programmes of learning. She provides children with a wide range of toys and resources, which sufficiently support their development. These are tailored to their ages and interests. She is confident to promote children's language and communication through her interactions as they play. For example, as children draw, they talk about their pictures and explain what their pictures are about.

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who attend

Children enjoy a broad range of activities and are confident to extend their own play through exploration. They play with cars and a toy garage, listening to the sounds of the siren that the fire engine makes. However, when it is time to tidy up, the assistant responds immediately to the childminder's statement and removes toys from children without explanation. This shows the assistant's lack of understanding of how to interact appropriately with children.

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who attend

Role play experiences help children to build their imaginations. Children settle their dolls down on small blankets and state 'I'm putting my baby to sleep now'. Children are happy to talk about their interests and what they like doing as well as naming their favourite character from television programmes.

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who attend

The childminder understands children's starting points through her discussions with parents. The childminder completes regular observations of children's learning. She emails these observations to parents on a regular basis, including annotated photographs, so parents know children's progress. The childminder reflects on what children have learnt in order to decide what they need to learn next, following quarterly assessments of their progress in all seven areas of learning.

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The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children

The childminder does not implement an effective behaviour management policy. She does not use appropriate methods to help children understand what is expected of them. When a child snatches a toy from another child, the childminder expects children to say 'sorry' but sometimes children are too young to understand. Children are made to sit on a chair as 'time out', again with no understanding of why, so they become upset. The childminder makes no attempt to use other suitable techniques appropriate to children's stage of development and level of understanding, such as distracting them with another toy. The approach used does not help children build relationships with one another when they play together. Sometimes the assistant's behaviour is inappropriate. She blows up a balloon and bursts it, without thought that this may frighten and upset children.

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The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children

The childminder ensures that children benefit from regular outside learning through play, such as taking part in activities in the garden or at soft play centres and parks. Consequently, children receive lots of fresh air and exercise, which promotes their health. The childminder supports children's awareness of their self-care routines and older children use the toilet independently. They learn about the importance of washing their hands after using the toilet and before eating. The childminder provides children with personal towels for drying their hands, which therefore minimises the threat of cross infection. Children mix and socialise together with other children away from the childminder's home, for example, at local community groups. The childminder understands children's home routines and follows these well.

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The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children

Children enjoy healthy snacks and meals and sit down at the table together with the childminder. They chat sociably as they eat. The childminder helps children learn how to keep themselves safe. She supervises them as they walk upstairs, reminding them to walk carefully. Children happily hold her hand as they go up and down steps. Children enjoy playing with an appropriate range of resources, which promotes their ability to play independently, a useful ability for the next stage in their learning.

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provision

This inspection was brought forward after a condition of registration was imposed on the childminder following a visit from Ofsted. During this inspection, the inspector found that the childminder has breached that condition of registration by leaving the assistant, named in a letter from Ofsted dated 1 May 2013, alone and unsupervised in the sole charge of a child, albeit for relatively short periods. This is an offence. Furthermore, the childminder was unwilling to appreciate the implications of leaving a young child alone without appropriate supervision, when eating apple. This places children's safety at risk

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provision

The childminder demonstrates a lack of understanding of several requirements of the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage that compromise children's safety. She does not check the identity of visitors, as required, so cannot be certain that such people are who they state they are. She does not implement a suitable behaviour management policy, which leaves children upset as they do not understand her treatment of them. She breaches requirements in relation to the numbers of children for whom she cares. She exceeds the required adult to child ratios on one morning weekly, when working without an assistant. This is owing to her lack of understanding of the stipulated requirements and has the potential to place children's safety at risk, particularly when on outings. The childminder has completed safeguarding awareness training, so understands her responsibilities in regard to child protection. She understands the procedures to take

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provision

should she have a concern about a child's welfare.

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provision

The childminder shares her policies with parents so they may understand the procedures that promote their children's health. She completes medication, accident and attendance records appropriately. The childminder holds a current relevant first aid certificate, which supports her understanding of dealing with minor accidents. The childminder has updated her self-evaluation form in respect of the targets for future improvement of her provision. These include developing additional storage systems so that children can have more choice about what they want to do. She has not identified her weaknesses, however, either in regard to her responsibilities when using an assistant or in meeting the welfare, safeguarding and learning requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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provision

There are currently no children attending that also share care provided by other agencies. The childminder does, however, have good links with other childcare organisations. There are positive relationships with parents, who are kept informed of children's progress.

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The Childcare Register

The requirements for the compulsory part of the Childcare Register are

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actions)

The requirements for the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are

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To meet the requirements of the Childcare Register the provider must:

 ensure that children's behaviour is managed in a suitable manner (compulsory part of the Childcare Register)  ensure that children's behaviour is managed in a suitable manner (voluntary part of the Childcare Register)

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Grade Judgement Description

Grade 1 Outstanding Outstanding provision is highly effective in meeting the needs of all children exceptionally well. This ensures that children are very well prepared for the next stage of their learning. Grade 2 Good Good provision is effective in delivering provision that meets the needs of all children well. This ensures children are ready for the next stage of their learning. Grade 3 Satisfactory Satisfactory provision is performing less well than expectations in one or more of the key areas. It requires improvement in order to be good. Grade 4 Inadequate Provision that is inadequate requires significant improvement and/or enforcement action. The provision is failing to give children an acceptable standard of early years education and/or is not meeting the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. It will be inspected again within 12 months of the date of this inspection.

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Grade Judgement Description

Met The provision has no children on roll. The inspection judgement is that the provider continues to meet the requirements for registration. Not met The provision has no children on roll. The inspection judgement is that the provider does not meet the requirements for registration.

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Inspection

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children’s learning, development and care, known as the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY246643 Local authority Hampshire Inspection number 918601 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 6

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Telephone number

set out in the guidance ‘Complaints procedure: raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk.

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Type of provision

For the purposes of this inspection the following definitions apply:

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Type of provision

Full-time provision is that which operates for more than three hours. These are usually known as nurseries, nursery schools and pre-schools and must deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage. They are registered on the Early Years Register and pay the higher fee for registration.

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Type of provision

Sessional provision operates for more than two hours but does not exceed three hours in any one day. These are usually known as pre-schools, kindergartens or nursery schools and must deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage. They are registered on the Early Years Register and pay the lower fee for registration.

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Type of provision

Childminders care for one or more children where individual children attend for a period of more than two hours in any one day. They operate from domestic premises, which are usually the childminder’s own home. They are registered on the Early Years Register and must deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Type of provision

Out of school provision may be sessional or full-time provision and is delivered before or after school and/or in the summer holidays. They are registered on the Early Years Register and must deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage. Where children receive their Early Years Foundation Stage in school these providers do not have to deliver the learning and development requirements in full but should complement the experiences children receive in school. 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,

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Type of provision

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, 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. To receive regular email alerts about new publications, including survey reports and school inspection reports, please visit our website and go to ‘Subscribe’.

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Type of provision

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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