Childminder in Swindon

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 11/06/2013 18/10/2010

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early years provision

This inspection: 4 Previous inspection: 2 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 does not have a secure knowledge of the safeguarding and welfare requirements, which compromises children's safety. In addition, the childminder has not sufficiently identified the risks to children for their use of the trampoline.  Resources to promote children's literacy skills are inadequate and lack sufficient challenge or interest. As a result, children's progress in this aspect of learning is poor.  The childminder does not have a robust system to keep required documents safe and available for inspection.  The childminder has not established effective systems for monitoring and evaluating the provision. As a result, she is unable to identify or implement appropriate changes.  Resources and equipment are not sufficient or accessible enough to promote active learning so that children can make progress in all areas of learning and development.  At times, the noise level of the television and radio impact on children's ability to

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It has the following strengths

 Children develop good self-esteem and confidence, responding well to the praise and encouragement they receive.  Children benefit from regular outings around their local community.

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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 held discussions with the childminder.  The inspector observed the care and activities provided.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector looked at the documents available, including first aid certificate, record of attendance and children's details.

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Information about the setting

The childminder registered in June 2000. She lives with her school age child in the north of Swindon, near to schools, shops and parks which are within walking distance. Children play downstairs. There is a garden available for outside play. The family has two cats and a rabbit. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She is currently minding one child on a full time basis in the early years age group and one older child. Care is provided all year round. The childminder collects children from the local school and visits local amenities, such as the library and parks.

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must:

 secure opportunities for continued professional development to gain an understanding of the safeguarding, welfare and learning and development requirements to support children's learning, development and well-being.

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must:

 improve the educational programme for literacy by encouraging children to read and link sounds and letters through the provision of a wide range of reading materials to ignite their interest and provide appropriate challenge

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must:

 assess all risks to children's safety and how the risk will be removed or minimised for example the use of the trampoline

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must:

 ensure that all records relating to childminding activities are readily accessible and available for inspection at all times

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must:

 foster a culture of continuous improvement by using self-evaluation and reflection to promote personal effectiveness

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must:

 the premises and equipment must be organised in a way that meets the needs of children, is easily accessible and promotes children's development and learning.

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

 encourage children to concentrate more by limiting noise from the television and radio.

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who attend

The childminder has an unclear knowledge of the learning and development requirements, and is not familiar with the 'Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage'. She generally knows what children can do and observes them at play during the day. She speaks to parents before the children attend so that she can support children as soon as they start attending. The childminder reflects on the children's stage of development and takes some steps to support their future learning. However, her practice is weak and there is insufficient depth and breadth of activities. This means that children's progress is uneven. In addition, the educational programmes do not adequately cover the seven areas of learning, particularly for literacy. This is because the childminder does not provide a range of books and printed materials for children to use freely or to look at with her. This means children are not given sufficient opportunities to make links between sounds and

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who attend

letters or develop their early reading skills. As a result, the childminder is not meeting the learning and developmental needs of children or preparing them adequately for their next stages of learning.

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who attend

The childminder is aware of the requirements for the progress check at age two years and is generally able to identify what children in her care are able to do. She shares some of the children's learning with their parents. For instance, she discusses how children are developing in terms of their confidence and how they manage their relationships with other people. The childminder also shares children's record of development with their parents and activities the children take part in. This helps to inform parents about their children's learning and development.

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who attend

The childminder encourages children to talk about past activities to support them to think about what they have recently done. They talk about taking the cat to visit the vet, and why this was necessary. The childminder suggests to the children that they find the blocks in the toy box and asks them to consider what colour these are. They reach to find some blocks, but show little interest. The childminder does not support them in extending this play, for example, by encouraging the children to sort the blocks further or building with them. This demonstrates the childminder's lack of understanding of how to support children's learning through play. Children do follow some of their own interests, for example, when they play with the dolls. They use blankets to wrap the 'babies' and show that they have an understanding of the need to be gentle. They confidently ask the childminder for additional toys which she fetches from the cupboard.

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who attend

The childminder fosters children's language development as she spends time listening carefully and speaking clearly to them. She understands the value of singing songs with children and they recognise familiar songs they hear playing. However, during the time they spend in the house, the television and radio are generally on, which is distracting to children during their play and prevents them from developing their concentration skills. The childminder has not understood the impact this has on children's development.

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

The childminder's home is welcoming to children and kept tidy. However, toys are not stored so that children can easily access them on their own. This means that children's choices and decisions about their learning are limited. The childminder has an adequate range of resources for children overall, but no books or other resources to support children's understanding of print are available, restricting children's literacy development. This shows the childminder is not enabling children to progress adequately as the available resources are not used well enough to provide challenge for children or engage their interests. Children benefit from outdoor activities each day, sometimes using the childminder's garden and sometimes in local parks.

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

Children are appropriately secure and happy in the setting overall. They enjoy the time they spend with the childminder and develop a warm and trusting relationship with her. The childminder manages children's behaviour well, with positive strategies. This creates a supportive environment for children, where they can play and socialise freely. As a result, children are beginning to build their confidence and develop a sense of belonging. However, the weaknesses in safeguarding mean children's well-being cannot be fully assured.

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

There are suitable procedures to support children's hygiene and the childminder keeps her home clean. Children confidently use the toilet independently and develop a suitable understanding of why they need to wash their hands when they have used the bathroom. The childminder provides a suitable range and quantity of food for the children and they readily sit at the table to eat. Children start to learn about safety in the kitchen and transfer this knowledge to their play. For example, they demonstrate with the toy kitchen that they know an oven might be hot and to put on oven gloves when they are cooking. Children also know that some food is hot when it is served and they encourage others to blow on it to cool it down.

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

Children enjoy regular visits to shops and a soft play activity centre. These activities help children to develop relationships with others and to build their social confidence in preparation for when they attend other care settings, such as pre-schools or school.

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provision

The childminder has insufficient understanding of the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage. As a result, she is not meeting all the legal requirements to safeguard children's welfare and well-being. The childminder has not followed the correct procedure following a child becoming ill. Although she took some appropriate steps to protect the child by calling an ambulance and contacting the parent, the childminder did not inform Ofsted about this incident. This is a breach of the safeguarding and welfare requirements. The childminder did not notify Ofsted about a child in her care needing to attend an Accident and Emergency Department. In addition, the childminder has insufficient understanding of what needs to be recorded when a child becomes ill. Documents are not always kept so that the required details are available for inspection. The childminder keeps some records,

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provision

including the record of children's attendance on the computer, but she does not have an alternative system when this fails. This means is not fully safeguarding children's welfare. In addition, the childminder does not meet the requirements of the Childcare Register.

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provision

The childminder has an adequate understanding of child protection issues. She knows how to respond to possible concerns about a child. Although the childminder carries out risk assessments to minimise most hazards to children, she has not taken sufficient steps to protect children in all areas. Although the childminder has considered some risks to children using the trampoline, such as only allowing one child on at any time, she does not follow the manufacturers' guidance. This states the equipment should not be used by children under six years. The incorrect use of the trampoline means the childminder's insurance is not valid and this puts children's safety at risk. The childminder has insufficient understanding of the learning and development requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. She has not kept up with changes to requirements over time. The childminder's systems of self-evaluation and reflection are

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provision

not robust in identifying the strengths and key weaknesses of her practice. She takes some steps to keep children safe as she holds a current first aid qualification. This provides the childminder with appropriate knowledge to treat children's minor accidents.

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provision

The childminder recognises the value of building good channels of communication with the parents. She shares information before the children start to attend about the care and activities she will provide. The childminder regularly speaks with them about their children's welfare and development. For example, she agrees with them the arrangements for the collection of children from school and about which adult can collect their children. The childminder is aware of her responsibility to work in partnership with other settings children attend or professionals involved in their care. She talks regularly with the staff at the local school and pre-school to exchange information about the children's development.

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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:

 keep and implement a written statement of procedures to be followed for the protection of children, intended to safeguard the children being cared for from abuse or neglect (compulsory part of the Childcare Register)  provide parents with a written statement of procedures to be followed in relation to complaints which relate to the requirements of the Childcare Register and which a parent makes in writing or by email (compulsory part of the Childcare Register)  ensure Ofsted is informed of any serious accident or injury to, or the death of, any other person on the premises on which childcare is provided (compulsory part of the Childcare Register).  keep and implement a written statement of procedures to be followed for the protection of children, intended to safeguard the children being cared for from abuse or neglect (voluntary part of the Childcare Register)  provide parents with a written statement of procedures to be followed in relation to

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

complaints which relate to the requirements of the Childcare Register and which a parent makes in writing or by email (voluntary part of the Childcare Register)  ensure Ofsted is informed of any serious accident or injury to, or the death of, any other person on the premises on which childcare is provided (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 505964 Local authority Swindon Inspection number 919071 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 2

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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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