Childminder in Cambridgeshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 26/02/2014 25/06/2013

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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 has left the children in the sole charge of an assistant and other unauthorised adults for a significant period of time. This compromises children's safety and is a breach of the requirements for the Early Years and the Childcare registers.  The childminder does not always maintain required adult to child ratios. This is a breach of the legal requirements and compromises children's safety.  Not all children settle well because the childminder does not always collect essential information to enable her to meet their individual needs, including their starting points for learning and development.

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It has the following strengths

 There is a good range of resources to help children occupy themselves and develop 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 with the childminder and her assistant at convenient times during the inspection.  The inspector observed the children and their interactions with the childminder.

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Inspection activities

 A representative sample of documents were checked, including registers, children's learning journals, accident reports and policies and procedures.

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Information about the setting

The childminder was registered in 2004 and is on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She lives with her husband and three children aged, eight, 10 and 20 years in Chatteris, Cambridgeshire. The ground floor of the childminder's house and an outdoor playroom are used for childminding and there is an enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder works with another childminder and/or an assistant. There are 11 children on roll, nine are within the early years age group. Some of the children are learning English as an additional language. The childminder takes and collects children from local schools and pre-schools and attends activity and toddler groups. There are several pets in the home, including four dogs, six cats, tropical fish and four rabbits.

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Information about the setting

The childminder offers her childminding service from 6am until 6pm each weekday all year round. She is a member of the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years.

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must:

 ensure that the maximum number of children being cared for at any one time does not exceed the legally required adult to child ratios so that children are safe and their needs are appropriately met

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must:

 ensure that details of anyone acting as an assistant on the childminding premises is notified to Ofsted

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must:

 ensure assistants are not left in sole charge of children for periods of time longer than those specified in the Statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage

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must:

 ensure all required information relating to children's welfare and learning is gathered prior to children starting in order that children's individual needs are effectively met.

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

 develop further consistent systems to gather initial information from parents about children's starting points, interests and learning styles prior to placement to effectively support their learning and development from the outset.

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who attend

Children mostly enjoy their time with the childminder and benefit from a suitable range of accessible and age-appropriate resources. The childminder provides activities and routines that generally enable children to make steady progress in their learning and development. However, caring for more young children than allowed and leaving the children in the care of unauthorised adults affects their safety and welfare. This means that the needs of the range of the children who attend are not met. The childminder makes ongoing observations on most children's achievements and uses recommended guidance to adequately assesses their development. This, along with the progress checks, helps to identify any possible gaps in children's development. Most parents have opportunities to contribute to the learning records, for example, some share a written daily diary and all have daily verbal feedback from the childminder. Not all parents contribute to their

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who attend

children's starting points on placement, which limits the information the childminder has on children's initial interests and stage of development. Therefore, their learning is not fully supported from the outset.

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who attend

Children's communication and language skills are supported appropriately because the childminder and her assistant engage the children in conversation as they play. There is a good selection of books and children are encouraged to access them and have regular story times. The childminder is working with parents of children who are learning English as an additional language. For example she gathers some key words to support them. However, some information to help them settle in is incomplete, so these children find it harder than others to integrate and enjoy their learning. Children gain confidence in their early writing skills and enjoy drawing, colouring and painting. Therefore, children acquire some of the skills they need in readiness for school. The childminder and her assistant play alongside the children and sometimes support their ideas. For example, they help children dress up in hats from the dressing up box. Children show competent physical

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who attend

control as they steer small toy cars around the floor, and build structures from interlocking blocks. The childminder shows suitable teaching skills as she helps the children to think about numbers, sizes and shapes when assembling puzzles.

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

Most children form positive relationships with the childminder and her assistants. The children move around the home freely and generally demonstrate they are happy and settled. The childminder offers parents settling in visits to enable them and their children to become familiar with the setting and other children. However, because the childminder does not ensure all the necessary information is collected before some children start, these are less secure and do not settle well. The childminder talks to children about good behaviour and has house rules for children to follow, which helps the children to learn about right and wrong. Children play together well and develop firm friendships. The childminder organises her home appropriately so that resources and equipment are easily accessible. As a result, children have appropriate opportunities to make choices about their learning. This develops their independence, ready for the next stage in their learning.

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

The childminder provides children with healthy snacks and meals as agreed with their parents. She encourages children to have regular drinks and talks to them about healthy food options, such as, fresh fruit and vegetables. Menu plans help to ensure parents know which foods their children have enjoyed each day. Children have daily opportunities to play outdoors at local parks and play areas. They walk to and from school or pre-school each day for healthy exercise and develop active lifestyles to support their future development .The childminder follows good hygiene routines for nappy changing to avoid cross infection. She teaches older children about regular hand washing to develop their understanding of healthy practices. The family has a large number of pets, but the childminder is generally conscientious about maintaining a clean and safe play environment. Children learn to keep themselves safe through consistent routines, for

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

example they learn to walk together to school and wait at designated places.

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provision

The inspection was carried out following concerns that the childminder had left children in the care of an assistant for longer than is allowed. The inspection found that the childminder had left children in sole charge of her assistant and two other unauthorised adults on one specific occasion for a period exceeding two hours. The childminder had notified parents of her intention to do this. Nonetheless, leaving children in the sole care of an assistant for longer than two hours is a breach of requirements for the Early Years Register and the Childcare Register. In addition, the others caring for the children were not authorised to do so. One of these was a family member who is known to Ofsted, but is not known as an assistant. This is also a breach of requirements. The other adult present was a childcare student, who was not part of the ratios. None of these adults pose a significant risk to children. However, the childminder was not present, and was therefore

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provision

not in a position to take responsibility, supervise and ensure the children's safety and welfare.

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provision

It was also found that on the day of the inspection the childminder and her assistant were caring for more children in the early years age range than allowed. This is a breach of the requirements for the Early Years Register. Caring for more children than allowed compromises children's safety and affects their learning. The childminder demonstrates an adequate understanding of other aspects of safeguarding. She understands the procedures to follow if she has concerns about possible child abuse and has the contact numbers available. She ensures the assistants who work with her also understand how to report any concerns. The childminder keeps her home secure and ensures toys and equipment are clean and safe. She holds a current first aid certificate so she can provide children with suitable treatment in the event of a minor accident. Documentation is generally complete, but the childminder has not completed registration forms and

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provision

contracts for a few children. The absence of these forms means she lacks some of the essential initial information to ensure children's individual needs are known and met. However, she does keep parents' contact details on her telephone, so would be able to contact them in the event of an accident or incident. Parents are positive about the childminder's service. She has been minding for a number of years and parents show through letters and testimonials they appreciate her childminding service. The childminder provides parents with a detailed range of written policies and procedures to support her provision. There are appropriate links with the school and other early years providers to promote continuity of learning for those children who attend more than one setting. The childminder ensures that children have their progress assessed between the ages of two and three years to inform parents and others

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provision

about their development. The childminder continues to attend training to increase her knowledge and evaluates the quality of the provision. However, self-evaluation has failed to ensure she consistently meets all the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage framework.

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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 the childminder is present when childcare is being provided, unless for a maximum of two hours per day when a childminding assistant is present and parents have given their consent for their children to be left with the assistant (compulsory part of the Childcare Register).  ensure the childminder is present when childcare is being provided, unless for a maximum of two hours per day when a childminding assistant is present and parents have given their consent for their children to be left with the assistant (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 Requires improvement The provision is not giving children a good standard of early years education and/or there are minor breaches of the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. It will be monitored and inspected within twelve months of the date of this inspection. 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

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Grade Judgement Description

the Early Years Foundation Stage. It will be monitored and inspected again within six months of the date of this inspection. 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 EY285290 Local authority Cambridgeshire Inspection number 955236 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 12 Number of children on roll 11

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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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