Heaton, Zoe Louise

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 12/09/2013 02/05/2013

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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 is not sufficiently rigorous in her supervision of children, particularly during outings and outdoor play. This weakness puts children at risk of harm from people whose suitability has not been checked. It increases the risk of accidents and incidents and reduces the childminder's ability to respond to behavioural issues.  The childminder does not assess risks to children adequately . She does not check the garden sufficiently before children play outdoors and fails to notice an open side gate. She demonstrates a lack of understanding of how to keep the garden sufficiently secure to ensure children's safety  Although the childminder keeps a record of some accidents, she does not rigorously record all accidents or ensure that she reports these to parents.

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It has the following strengths

 Children demonstrate that they enjoy their time with the childminder and have warm relationships with her.  The childminder plans a range of suitable activities to help children make some progress in their learning.

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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 talked to the childminder at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector observed activities and care routines both indoors and in the garden.  The inspector sampled a range of documentation.

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Information about the setting

The childminder registered in 2010. She lives with her husband and their two children, in Carterton, Oxfordshire. The family has a cat. The childminder uses the ground floor for childminding together with two first-floor bedrooms. Toilet facilities are available on both floors. Access to the home includes a step into the house. There is a garden available for outside play. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and is caring for one child in the early years age range. She is registered on both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register and is caring for four older children. She offers care on a daily basis, before and after school, and during school holidays. She walks to the local school and other early years facilities to take and collect children. The childminder holds a BTEC National Diploma at level 3 in early years.

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enforcement action:

We will issue a Welfare Requirements Notice requiring the provider to:

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enforcement action:

- ensure that children are adequately supervised with particular reference to outdoor play and outings, in order to promote their safety and to respond to any behavioural issues

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enforcement action:

- ensure that people whose suitability has not been checked do not have unsupervised contact with children with particular reference to outings

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enforcement action:

- ensure that the premises are secure with particular reference to garden gates when children play outdoors

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enforcement action:

- ensure that risk assessments are carried out appropriately to remove or minimise risks with particular reference to the garden

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enforcement action:

- ensure that children are kept safe on outings.

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must:

 ensure that a record is maintained of accidents or injuries and that parents are informed.

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who attend

The childminder provides a suitable range of activities to help children make some progress in their learning. However she is not sufficiently rigorous in her supervision of children, particularly during outings and outdoor play. While she demonstrates an adequate understanding of behaviour management strategies, her lack of supervision at times means that children do not always receive her support when needed. In addition, this occasional lack of supervision puts children at risk of harm.

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who attend

When the childminder focuses her attention on children, she demonstrates that she supports them appropriately. Children are able to choose activities freely following a morning in school. They develop appropriate physical skills, such as practising rolling and catching a ball. They play confidently with construction toys, making different models and using their imaginations to create their own pretend worlds. The childminder introduces some mathematical challenge, such as asking children how many wheels they are using.

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who attend

Children show good communication skills. The childminder supports them appropriately by extending conversations and valuing children's made-up words. She makes some use of open questions to challenge children's thinking. She praises their efforts to promote their self-esteem. Since the last inspection, the childminder has improved communication techniques, such as giving children more time to respond to answers. She plans some activities to help children develop early literacy and mathematical skills to complement their learning at school. Children develop their early writing skills further through activities that appeal to them, such as making 'road maps' to reflect their interest in transport. They develop a suitable understanding of the world around them, such as through planting seeds and creating pictures from things they find in the garden, including twigs, flowers and leaves.

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who attend

The childminder observes children's progress and identifies their next steps in learning, taking into account their interests and capabilities. She keeps parents informed about their children's time with her through daily diaries and discussion. She receives positive feedback from parents who state that their children bond well with her.

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

The childminder is not always vigilant enough to keep children safe. While attending drop- in sessions, she does not always supervise children sufficiently to protect them from people whose suitability has not been checked. A lack of supervision at times means that she does not always support children's behaviour appropriately, resulting in avoidable accidents and other incidents. When the childminder does focus on the children, she demonstrates that she is able to use adequate behaviour management strategies. She reminds children about 'house rules' and she plans sharing games, such as dominoes and puzzles, to promote their social skills. She also works with parents and children's schools to promote continuity regarding behavioural issues.

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

The childminder confirms that children play outdoors frequently and in all weathers in order to promote their physical development. However, she does not adequately assess risks to children in the garden. As children play outdoors, she fails to notice that the side gate to the garden is open, which increases the risk of children leaving the premises unsupervised. Following discussion about this issue, she fails to demonstrate a sufficient understanding of how to keep the gate secure to prevent such incidents.

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

Despite the weaknesses in the childminder's practice, children demonstrate that they enjoy their time with her. They show that they feel comfortable with her and enjoy her company. They have suitable levels of confidence and self-motivation as they enjoy exploring the toys and activities on offer. The childminder is familiar with children's individual routines, such as having an early lunch at school, so that she is able to respond appropriately. She offers children drinks when they return from school and asks them if they would like more items from their lunchbox so that they do not go hungry.

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provision

The inspection was brought forward as the result of a concern raised regarding the childminder's supervision of children during an outing. The childminder does not have a sufficient understanding of her responsibility to meet the legal requirements of the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage. She does not always supervise children well enough to protect them from other people, to prevent accidents and incidents or to support their behaviour when needed.

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provision

Since the last inspection, the childminder has developed appropriate procedures for the use of the trampoline. However, she shows a lack of regard to other risks in the garden despite having risk assessment records for the premises. She fails to keep the garden secure when children play outdoors and shows a lack of understanding of how to prevent children from leaving the premises unsupervised. She maintains a record of some accidents but fails to record others and does not always inform parents. These failures to safeguard children adequately mean that the childminder is not meeting the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage or the requirements of the Childcare Register. The childminder is not evaluating her practice sufficiently well to identify weaknesses. As a result of the inspection findings, Ofsted is currently considering taking enforcement action against the childminder.

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provision

The childminder has a safeguarding policy in place and demonstrates a suitable understanding of possible symptoms of children at risk. She is aware of procedures to follow if she has child protection concerns.

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provision

The childminder demonstrates that she plans a suitable range of children's activities. She monitors their achievements to help them make some progress. She attends some appropriate training to support her professional development. She provides parents with information about policies and procedures so that they are aware of her practice. She develops suitable partnerships with children's schools to promote some continuity in their learning and 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:

 ensure that children are kept safe from harm (compulsory part of the Childcare Register)  ensure that the premises is safe and suitable for childcare (compulsory part of the Childcare Register)  ensure that all necessary measures are taken to minimise any identified risks (compulsory part of the Childcare Register).  ensure that children are kept safe from harm (voluntary part of the Childcare Register)  ensure that the premises is safe and suitable for childcare (voluntary part of the Childcare Register)  ensure that all necessary measures are taken to minimise any identified risks (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 EY407594 Local authority Oxfordshire Inspection number 932262 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 4 Number of children on roll 5

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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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