Childminder in Oxfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 26/09/2013 16/04/2009

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early years provision

This inspection: 4 Previous inspection: 1 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 is working with too many adults, but is not registered to do so.  The childminder has failed to notify Ofsted of all adults working on the premises and has not supplied Ofsted with information, in order to complete suitability checks, which is an offence.  Unchecked assistants are left unsupervised with children. This compromises children's safety.  The childminder has not ensured that assistants have a clear understanding of the safeguarding policy. Consequently, children's safety and well-being is not fully promoted.  The childminder failed to ensure that unchecked adults cannot enter the premises. This puts children at risk.  Self-evaluation has not identified the breaches of safeguarding requirements.

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It has the following strengths

 The childminder provides offers a suitable play environment for the children to make independent choices.  The parents write positive comments about the childminder and the care she offers.

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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 observed activities in the main play spaces including the portacabin, garden, kitchen and lounge areas.  The inspector had discussions with the childminder, assistants and the children.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector sampled a range of documentation including children's records, safeguarding procedures and policies.

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Information about the setting

The childminder registered in 2007 and she lives with her mother and sister in the Wood Farm area of Oxford. Children have access to the downstairs area of the home and portacabin in the garden. There is also an enclosed garden for outdoor play. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder has a qualification at level 4 in childcare and works with three assistants. There are currently twenty-two children on roll in the early years age group. The family has a pet dog and a cat.

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enforcement action:

We will issue a Welfare Requirements Notice requiring the provider to:- - ensure people whose suitability has not been checked, including through Disclosure and Barring Service, do not have unsupervised contact with children being cared for - ensure that there is an effective safeguarding policy and procedure in place that all assistants understand and are able to implement.

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must:

 take all reasonable steps to prevent unauthorised persons entering the premises

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must:

 develop secure systems for monitoring and self-evaluation, to identify areas for development and foster a culture of continuous improvement to promote the interests of children.

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who attend

Although children make suitable progress in their learning and development, their welfare cannot be assured. The childminder has failed to notify Ofsted of an adult working on the premises, who is present when children are attending. In addition, she has not supplied Ofsted with information to enable suitability checks to be completed. These are breaches of safeguarding and welfare requirements that have a negative impact on the safety and well-being of the children in the setting. Nonetheless, children appear at ease in the childminder's care. They have a broad range of toys and resources available to them, which are used purposefully to promote their learning and development. The childminder and her assistants have a secure understanding of the learning and development requirements. This helps them to plan activities suitably to meet the individual needs of the children. The childminder has a good

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who attend

system of observation and assessment in place. Children's development records are shared with parents and show how children are achieving across all areas of learning. This partnership supports children's individual needs and continued learning.

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who attend

The childminder supports children's communication and language well. She engages effectively with the children and asks a wide range of questions to develop children's speech and language. Children listen attentively to stories and the childminder is skilful at recapping on children's past experiences of visiting farms to enable them to relate the story to real life. This promotes their imaginations and memory skills, while supporting children's understanding of the world. The range of activities provided helps children prepare for their next stage of learning and their move to school.

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who attend

Children benefit from regular fresh air and exercise. They explore the resources outside in the childminder's garden such as the slide and bikes. In addition, children enjoy investigating creatively with the flour and water, which supports the children's physical skills for moving and handling. Children of all ages independently use programmable toys, for example, they explore with confidence cameras, remote control cars and electronic keypad games. This helps children learn about simple technology. Children enjoy dancing to African drum music and Irish songs. This helps children's awareness of other people's cultures and communities.

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

Children's well-being and safety is put at risk, because the childminder has failed to ensure the suitability of all her assistants. This poses a significant risk to children. At times, children are left unsupervised with these adults, and have their care routines such as nappy changes undertaken by the unchecked assistants. Overall children develop suitable attachments with the childminder. Children readily seek assistance from the childminder and are clearly comfortable in her care. Younger children benefit from ample cuddles and older children regularly invite the childminder to join in their play.

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

The children have a good range of toys and resources available to them in the portacabin. The childminder has created a welcoming environment here, and children can choose toys and resources suitable to their ages and stages of development. This promotes their independence skills successfully. The childminder manages children's behaviour well and gives suitable explanations as to why and when their behaviour is not acceptable. This helps children to understand the consequences of their actions. Children are offered a suitable amount of praise that promotes their self-confidence and self-esteem.

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

Appropriate hygiene procedures are in place to promote and support children's health. The childminder provides a range of healthy snacks and meals, and drinks are freely available for children. All meals are a sociable occasion. Children are able to rest and sleep according to their individual needs and there are suitable facilities to rest and sleep. Children enjoy moving freely between the house, portacabin and garden. This helps them to be healthy and active through the regular outdoor play.

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provision

By working with more than two assistants, the childminder is acting as a childcare provider on domestic premises. However, she is not registered to do so. In addition, she has failed inform Ofsted of all adults working on the premises with the children, which is an offence. Ofsted will not take any action in relation to these offences at the current time; however, these offences may be taken into account, should the provider commit the same offence in the future. The childminder allows unchecked adults to work unsupervised with the children. This is a breach of requirements, and puts children at significant risk.

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provision

Overall, the childminder has a basic understanding of the possible signs and symptoms of child abuse. She also uses risk assessments to minimise most risks in the learning environment. However, safeguarding requirements have not been met. Children's safety was compromised following a recent incident when an unauthorised adult entered the premises where childcare was being offered. Although the childminder notified Ofsted of this significant event, the inspection found breaches in safeguarding requirements. In addition, the childminder has not ensured that assistants follow her safeguarding procedures, regarding the use of mobile phones. This does not protect children.

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provision

The childminder forms secure partnerships with parents. Together they complete 'All about me' forms, providing information about their child. They sign required parental consents to allow the childminder to act in the interest of the child in the event of an accident, for example. The childminder and her assistants take and collect children to and from local playgroups and schools. They have formed suitable partnerships overall, which enables her to support the children's transitions and maintain continuity of care.

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provision

The childminder has evaluated her practice, however she has failed to recognise failings in her safeguarding practice, and does not ensure children's safety at all times. These breaches also mean that the childminder is failing to comply with the requirements of the Childcare Register.

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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 no one can enter the premises without the knowledge of a person who is caring for children on the premises (compulsory part of the Childcare Register)  ensure that any person having unsupervised contact with children is suitable to be in regular contact with children and that a Disclosure and Barring Service check has been obtained through Ofsted in respect of that person (compulsory part of the Childcare Register)  ensure that no one can enter the premises without the knowledge of a person who is caring for children on the premises (voluntary part of the Childcare Register)  ensure that any person having unsupervised contact with children is suitable to be in regular contact with children and that a Disclosure and Barring Service check has been obtained through Ofsted in respect of that person. (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 EY357233 Local authority Oxfordshire Inspection number 936707 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 22

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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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