Childminder in Croydon

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 30/07/2013 14/12/2010

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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

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This provision is inadequate

 The childminder has employed an assistant without informing Ofsted, as required. This compromises children's safety, well-being and welfare when they are left in the sole care of this unvetted adult. Furthermore, the childminder does not record each child's presence or their hours of attendance, as required.  The childminder lacks sufficient knowledge and understanding of the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage and therefore is unable to plan and deliver an appropriate educational programme to support children's individual progress.  Children are not always challenged enough in their play because the childminder does not interact with children sufficiently or ask open-ended questions to develop or extend children's critical thinking.  The childminder does not ensure that parental consent is obtained before administering children's medication, or that the assistant holds a first aid certificate, as required.The

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This provision is inadequate

childminder does not take opportunities to help children promote their social skills or fully promote children's knowledge and understanding of diversity and difference.

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It has the following strengths

 Children play with a suitable range of resources to support their independence.

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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 to the childminder, his co-childminder, their assistant and the children at appropriate times during the inspection.  The childminder observed the children during snack and lunch time.  The childminder looked at children's records and the settings self-evaluation form.  The inspector took account of the views of parents.

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Information about the setting

The childminder registered in 2010. He lives with his wife and three children in South Wimbledon, in the London Borough of Merton. Children have access to the whole of the ground floor and the bathroom on the upper floor. There is an enclosed garden at the rear of the house for outdoor play. The childminder works with his wife who is also a registered childminder and they both work with an assistant. The childminder is registered on the Early Year's Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder and his co-childminder currently have ten children on roll.

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must:

 ensure that people whose suitability has not been checked do not have unsupervised contact with children being cared for

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must:

 ensure that written permission for medication administered to children has been obtained from the child's parent and/or carer

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must:

 provide Ofsted with details of all persons working on the premises in order for their suitability to be checked

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must:

 keep an accurate record of the names of all the children being cared for on the premises and their hours of attendance

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must:

 develop a secure knowledge and understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage in order to provide children with the best possible start in life and enable them to reach their full potential, as they learn and develop well, keep healthy and safe

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must:

 improve the quality of interactions with children through planning and implementing high quality teaching and challenging learning experiences that will help them make the most of their abilities and talents and achieve their full potential, with particular regard to asking open-ended questions to promote children's critical thinking.

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must:

 improve the educational programmes to ensure they cover all seven areas of learning by implementing planned and purposeful play thorough a mix of adult-led and child-initiated activities to promote children's individual learning needs

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must:

 ensure any assistant who might be in sole charge of the children for any period of time holds a current first aid certificate

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

 develop children's understanding of diversity and difference through an appropriate range of resources, experiences and activities

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

 enable children to develop their social skills during everyday activities, such as at snack and mealtimes.

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who attend

The childminder has some understanding of children's individual needs and interests because he observes what they do and seeks information from their parents. However, his role in this childminding partnership is very much a supportive one. His co-worker takes main responsibility for the planning of activities, based on both childminder's observations. Nonetheless, he makes some contributions to children's learning journals and demonstrates a basic understanding of the 'progress check at age two'. There are sufficient toys and resources on offer to support children's developing needs. However, the childminder's lack of knowledge and understanding of the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage means he is not providing a suitable educational programme across the seven areas of learning. In addition, the childminder has very limited interactions with the children, which means he does not support their learning or promote

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who attend

their critical thinking during activities. For example, by asking open-ended questions to extend their learning. Therefore, children are not being challenged enough to reach their maximum potential.

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who attend

Children are able to choose from a selection of resources to support their individual preferences and initiate their own play. They are generally able to move confidently between rooms on the ground floor and select toys from low level storage containers. Young children learn about cause and effect as they press buttons on programmable toys to activate sounds, delighting in their achievements. Children become inquisitive learners as they explore their environment. They grow in independence as they develop some of the necessary skills in readiness for attendance at pre-school and school, when the time comes.

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who attend

Parents are valued as active contributors to their child's learning and development. The childminder and his co-worker successfully obtain 'All about me' information about children's favourite activities and stage of development at the start of the placement. They subsequently use this information to aid the children's individual settling-in periods and the initial assessment process.

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

The childminder and his co-worker implement an appropriate settling in process for families to support children's move from home to the childminder's setting. As a result, children play happily and are settled. The provider states they seek him out for cuddles and comfort as he is attentive to their needs. Children are learning good self-care skills and the childminder helps to implement stringent routines to help promote children's overall health. The childminder cooks healthy meals for the children, helping them develop an understanding about 'good' and 'bad' foods. However, the childminder does not use everyday opportunities, such as mealtimes to engage children in meaningful conversations and build their social skills. Children have access to outdoor play where they have access to fresh air and exercise.

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

Risk assessments are in place to help promote children's safety in the home and when on outings and trips. Children are aware of the procedure to follow in the event of a fire. However, the weaknesses in safeguarding mean children's overall well-being cannot be assured. Suitable resources are provided to support children's learning and development and promote their independence. Generally, children's behaviour is good and they demonstrate this as they share and take turns. This shows the children are developing an awareness of the needs of others, which supports their future learning. Although children attending this setting come from diverse backgrounds, the childminder is not promoting their understanding of diversity and difference through helping them to learn about their own backgrounds or those of their friends.

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provision

Children are not fully safeguarded because the childminder is not meeting all of the legal requirements to promote their welfare, safety and well-being. This inspection was brought forward following a visit by Ofsted to investigate concerns relating to the suitability of adults, ratios, behaviour and information about the provider. On the day of the inspection, there were no concerns observed regarding children's behaviour and there were appropriate numbers of adults caring for children. The childminder demonstrates a satisfactory understanding of his responsibility to report any concerns he has about children in his care; however, he has not informed Ofsted that he has employed an assistant and it is a requirement to do so. This means that suitable vetting procedures are not in place and children's safety and welfare are compromised as the assistant is sometimes left alone with the children. Furthermore, documentation examined during the

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provision

inspection identified that some children's presence and their attendance times are not recorded. This means the childminder is not keeping an accurate record of children's hours of attendance and is therefore unable to demonstrate that he is maintaining appropriate ratios at all times. These are all breaches of legal requirements. As a result of the inspection findings, the childminder is required to take further action as he is not meeting the legal requirements in relation to these aspects of the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage or for the Childcare Register.

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provision

The childminder and his co-worker complete risk assessments to help keep their home secure and conduct safety checks before taking children on outings. This enables children to play safely. There are also suitable fire safety arrangements. However, the childminder has not obtained written permission from parents for administering children's medicines, as required. In addition, the childminder has not ensured the assistant has obtained an appropriate first aid certificate, as she is left in sole charge of the children on occasions. These are breaches of legal requirements and compromise children's good health.

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provision

Although the responsibility for sharing information with parents mainly lies with his co- worker, the childminder understands the need to work closely with parents and is confident to approach parents when necessary. Parents' views of the setting are favourable. Children who attend other early years settings benefit from continuity of care due to the partnerships the childminder and his co-worker have established to share information about children's care, learning and development.

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provision

The childminder is heavily supported by his co-worker to help provide children with an educational programme across the areas of learning. However, his skills in teaching children to learn through play experiences and offer good quality interactions to support their learning are yet to develop. The childminder has a sound understanding of the need to reflect on his childminding practice in order to identify areas for further improvement. The childminder and his co-childminder work with the local authority who offer them support. He has shown a capacity to improve as he has successfully met recommendations set at his last inspection. This includes finding out about children's home language. For example, the childminder has learned key words from children's parents whose children have English as an additional language, which helps children to feel valued. The childminder has developed partnerships with parents by providing a communication book

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provision

which means parents are informed about their child's day. The childminder helps to make sure the assistant is aware of the settings' policies and procedures through shared implementation of a suitable induction programme.

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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 any person having unsupervised contact with children is suitable and an enhanced check has been obtained through Ofsted in respect of that person (compulsory part of the Childcare Register)  keep a daily record of the names of the children looked after on the premises and their hours of attendance and any medication administered to the child together with a record of the parent/guardian/carer's consent (compulsory part of the Childcare Register)  ensure that any person having unsupervised contact with children is suitable and an enhanced check has been obtained through Ofsted in respect of that person (voluntary part of the Childcare Register)  keep a daily record of the names of the children looked after on the premises and their hours of attendance and any medication administered to the child together with a record of the parent/guardian/carer's consent. (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 EY412891 Local authority Merton Inspection number 902221 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 8 Number of children on roll 10

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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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