Robson, Helen

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 22/07/2013 13/05/2009

p.1

early years provision

This inspection: 4 Previous inspection: 3 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

p.1

This provision is inadequate

 The childminder does not have a current paediatric first aid certificate. This means children's safety and well-being are compromised should an accident occur.  The childminder has not obtained written permission from parents to administer medication and to take children on outings. She does not keep a daily record of children's attendance.  The systems for observation and assessment do not always ensure that starting points are established and next steps for learning clearly identified.  Self-evaluation is ineffective in identifying weaknesses and in setting clear targets to show how the childminder will continually improve the provision.  Arrangements are not fully in place to give parents and early years teachers opportunities to contribute information about what children are learning at home and school so the childminder can take this into account when planning her activities to extend children's learning.

p.1

It has the following strengths

 The childminder interacts warmly with the children, which makes them feel secure. They are settled in her care and are increasing in confidence.  Children are cared for in a clean, safe environment.

p.1

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

p.2

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.

p.2

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.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke with the childminder and the children at appropriate times throughout the inspection.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector looked at a selection of documentation, including children's records and the childminder's certificates.  The inspector viewed the premises, toys and equipment.

p.2

Information about the setting

The childminder was registered in 2004. She is on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She lives with her husband, her daughter aged 10 years and her son aged four years in Darlington. The family has a dog, a snake, two rabbits and a hamster as pets.

p.3

Information about the setting

The childminder takes children on outings and to activities in community settings. She takes and collects children from the local school.

p.3

Information about the setting

There are currently seven children on roll, of whom four are in the early years age group. Children attend for a variety of sessions. The childminder cares for children all year round, flexible hours, except for family holidays.

p.3

must:

 obtain a paediatric first aid qualification to fully safeguard children's health and well-being in case of an accident

p.4

must:

 obtain written permission from parents or carers to administer medication and to take children on outings

p.4

must:

 keep a daily record of the hours of children's attendance

p.4

must:

 strengthen the arrangements for observation and assessment to help identify all children's level of achievement, including their starting points, and use this information to plan the next steps for each child to help them make the optimum progress in their learning and development

p.4

must:

 introduce an effective self-evaluation process to identify areas for improvement and to show how these will be addressed to raise the overall quality of the childminding provision.

p.4

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

 strengthen the partnerships with parents and other providers of the Early Years Foundation Stage so that information about children's development is shared with others. Use this shared knowledge to plan together and think through ideas about how to move children forward in their learning.

p.4

who attend

The childminder has a satisfactory understanding of how children learn and provides a varied range of activities that cover all areas of learning. As a result, children are progressing steadily within expected levels for their age in preparation for starting nursery or school. She supplements the activities she provides in the home by taking children to local community groups. The childminder observes children's progress and makes some records of these. However, she does not routinely complete precise assessments of all children's development, including establishing their starting points and use her findings to help her when planning for the next steps in their learning. Therefore, she cannot be certain that children are making as much progress as possible.

p.4

who attend

The childminder demonstrates satisfactory teaching skills to help children learn. She interacts appropriately with children to extend their learning. She converses easily with them. asking questions and repeating words so younger children hear them correctly. She allows children the time and space to initiate and extend their own activities, but is on hand to support and join in when appropriate. For example, children happily lead their own role play making 'food' but when offered a 'cup of tea' by the children, the childminder joins in and extends their play. Children are encouraged to try things for themselves, such as putting on shoes and feeding themselves, to help to get them ready for school and nursery. She helps them to develop early writing skills by providing fun ways of making marks with different resources, such as chalks and water, so they can 'write' outdoors. She takes children to visit local parks, and other interesting places in the

p.4

who attend

community. This helps them to develop an understanding of the world and an appreciation of the area in which they live.

p.5

who attend

The childminder has some procedures in place to keep parents informed about their child's learning. This is, generally, by means of verbal feedback and parents, occasionally, looking at children's records. However, arrangements are not securely in place to encourage parents to share what their children do at home. This means the childminder cannot take this information into account to fully extend children's learning.

p.5

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

Children are settled in the care of the childminder. A welcoming environment is provided where children feel at home and they confidently help themselves to toys and equipment. The childminder is flexible in her arrangements for settling new children in so that individual needs are met. She works closely with parents to ensure she has all the relevant information to care for children. As a result, children make the move between home and the childminder's care with ease. The childminder interacts positively with children and they form close relationships. She supports them in learning to share and take turns to lead and to be kind to each other. She gives them lots of praise for their efforts. This helps build children's self-esteem and confidence. The childminder takes children to local toddler and play groups where they can play and interact with other children. This helps to build their social skills in readiness for their move to nursery and school.

p.5

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

The childminding areas, toys and resources are all kept clean to help reduce the risk of cross-infection. Children are encouraged to play outdoors whenever possible and they are frequently taken to parks and nature areas so they can benefit from being in in the fresh air. Meals and snacks are varied and nutritious and served in appropriate portion sizes. Children learn about fire safety and regularly practise the fire evacuation procedures. This ensures that they are aware of what to do in the event of an emergency. The childminder teaches them about road safety and as they get older they know how to do this safely. However, overall, children's health and well-being is compromised because the childminder fails to meet some of the safeguarding and welfare requirements.

p.5

provision

The childminder's management of her service is inadequate. The childminder does not have a current paediatric first aid certificate. The certificate expired several months ago and she has not arranged further training. Records are not kept of the hours of children's attendance and of parents' consent for medication to be administered to a child. These are also requirements of the Childcare Register. In addition, the childminder does not obtain written parental permission for children to take part in outings. There are breaches of the safeguarding and welfare requirements that have an impact on the safety and well-being of children.

p.6

provision

The childminder has a sound understanding of the child protection procedures she must follow should she have concerns about any of the children in her care. Risk assessments are completed and steps taken to make sure most hazards to children are minimised. The childminder demonstrates a satisfactory understanding of the learning and development requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. She monitors the activities to ensure all areas of learning are covered. However, she does not rigorously monitor the assessments and next steps process to ensure she is helping children make optimum progress.

p.6

provision

The childminder does not have a rigorous and effective system in place to monitor the service. Consequently, she has not identified that she is not fulfilling her responsibilities in meeting the safeguarding and welfare requirements and does not have plans in place to bring about improvement to the provision. Not all of the recommendations made at the last inspection have been addressed fully. Some steps are taken to evaluate the activities and care she provides. For example, she talks to children and parents and takes their views into account and also, occasionally, uses questionnaires to gather their views.

p.6

provision

Satisfactory partnerships are in place with parents. The childminder verbally shares information about the children's welfare and care on a daily basis. The childminder is fully aware of the benefits of sharing information with other providers of the Early Years Foundation Stage and exchanges some general information about children's care. However, she does not have secure arrangements in place to liaise with the nurseries and schools which children attend, which was a recommendation made at her last inspection. This does not help to consistently support children's ongoing learning and development.

p.6

The Childcare Register

The requirements for the compulsory part of the Childcare Register are

p.6

actions)

The requirements for the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are

p.6

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

 obtain an appropriate first aid qualification (compulsory part of the Childcare Register)  keep a record of the hours of children's attendance and of parents and carers consent to administer medication to a child (compulsory part of the Childcare Register)  obtain an appropriate first aid qualification (voluntary part of the Childcare Register)  keep a record of the hours of children's attendance and of parents and carers consent to administer medication to a child (voluntary part of the Childcare Register).

p.7

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.

p.8

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.

p.8

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.

p.9

Setting details

Unique reference number EY239857 Local authority Darlington Inspection number 925555 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 5 Number of children on roll 7

p.9

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.

p.9

Type of provision

For the purposes of this inspection the following definitions apply:

p.9

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.

p.9

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.

p.9

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.

p.10

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,

p.10

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’.

p.11

Type of provision

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

p.11