Childminder in Sheffield

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 17/02/2014 22/12/2009

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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 does not carry out effective observations and assessments of children's progress. As a result, activities are not planned to match children's abilities and their learning is not supported.  Partnerships with parents are not fully established. The childminder does not encourage parents to contribute to their children's learning in order to support continuity in their development.  Partnerships with other providers are not in place. The childminder does not exchange information to ensure she is able to fully support children's learning and development with regard to their next steps, through all areas of learning.  Risk assessments of the premises do not take full account of all areas, specifically the bathroom. This compromises children's safety.  The childminder has evaluated some aspects of her provision. Although she has not identified significant weaknesses, particularly in partnership working.

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It has the following strengths

 The childminder is attentive and sensitive to some of children's needs, helping them form appropriate attachments.  The childminder is secure in her knowledge of child protection issues. She has a clear understanding of how to make a referral and deal with any concerns and she has attended appropriate training.

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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 children within the provision as they engaged in activities.  The inspector observed the practice of the childminder.

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Inspection activities

 A range of documents were looked at by the inspector and discussions were held with the childminder throughout the inspection.

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Information about the setting

The childminder was registered in 2009. She is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She lives with her husband and five-year-old son in Sheffield. The whole of the ground floor and the rear bedroom and bathroom on the first floor are used for childminding. There are currently seven children on roll, three are in the early years age group. The childminder operates Monday to Friday all year round. She visits the local shops and the park on a regular basis and she collects children from the local schools.

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Information about the setting

The childminder is a member of the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years and she receives support from the local authority.

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must:

 improve knowledge and understanding of the learning and development requirements to enable a robust process of observing, planning and assessing of children's progress to be implemented

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must:

 improve partnerships with parents by gathering relevant information when children start attending to establish their starting points and ensure information with regard to children's progress is shared with parents on a regular basis

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must:

 improve partnerships with other providers where children attend and ensure information with regard to children's next steps is shared to enable them to be fully supported in their progress

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must:

 complete regular risk assessments of all areas of the home, with specific regard to the bathroom, identifying and removing any hazards to ensure children's safety.

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

 develop further the system for self-evaluation to inform priorities for improvement with specific regard to developing more rigorous partnerships.

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who attend

The childminder has a very limited knowledge and understanding of the learning and development requirements of the Statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage. She provides care for children in the early years age groups and is unclear about what children can and cannot do. This is because she does not make regular observations to enable her to effectively assess and track their progress. She provides children with a suitable range of activities. However, they do not always offer appropriate challenges to support children for the next stage in their learning and their eventual move to school. Information with regard to children's daily care and well-being is shared with parents on a daily basis. However, she does not share information about children's learning or encourage parents to share information about what children are doing at home. This means the childminder cannot gather an overview of children's learning in order to fully

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who attend

Children enjoy the company of the childminder as she engages in their play. For example, they ask for her support with puzzles and in their construction activity. Children are able to self-select their activities and ask the childminder for what they want to play with. Most toys and resources are stored upstairs and the childminder takes the children to where they are and enables them to make their own choices. The childminder talks to the children about what they are making with the construction bricks and she asks age- appropriate questions. For example, when children use their imagination in construction as they place bricks around the floor and say they are stepping stones on the water, the childminder engages and asks 'how can you reach the other side of the room using your stepping stones?' This encourages children to think and solve problems for themselves as they step on one brick, turn, and move the previous brick in front of them to enable them

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who attend

to move forwards. The childminder praises children when they succeed in their quest to reach the other side of the room without stepping on the floor and just using the bricks. However, the lack of planning of activities for children means that learning is incidental. The childminder does not fully support them in their development. For example, she has identified through an incidental observation that some children can complete a jigsaw of more than 10 pieces, but only provides them with a four piece puzzle. Therefore, she is not supporting them to reach their full potential as they move towards the early learning goals and is not using her observations to effectively enhance their learning.

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

The childminder gathers basic information from parents about children's welfare needs and requirements but little information about their learning and development. Settling-in visits are offered to all parents and children, enabling the childminder to provide a suitable transition for children between their home and her setting. Children are familiar with daily routines and are able to make their own choices as they select from a generally suitable range of toys and resources. Their independence is supported as they go to the bathroom, developing an awareness of their own personal needs, and as they make decisions about what they eat from their packed snack and lunch boxes that are provided by parents. The childminder provides children with regular drinks, which ensures they remain hydrated while in her care. Children's physical development is supported as they have access to play equipment in the garden and through regular visits to the local park.

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

Children form close relationships with the childminder, ensuring they are happy and settled. Clear boundaries for children to adhere to are in place and the childminder deals with any behaviour issues in a calm and age-appropriate manner, developing children's awareness and understanding of how to play cooperatively, share and take turns. Any inappropriate behaviour is discussed with parents to ensure children benefit from a consistent approach. Children are generally kept safe as the childminder has appropriate measures in place. For example, the premises are kept secure while children are present. However, some areas of the home, specifically the bathroom, does present some hazards to children and their total safety.

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provision

The inspection was prioritised following concerns being raised about the provider's ability to meet some of the requirements of the Statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage. The inspection found that although information about policies and procedures is shared with parents, the childminder has not shared relevant information about children's learning and development, in order to promote children's learning at home and within the setting successfully. This significant weakness in practice is a breach of the learning and development requirements. It was also found that the childminder appropriately supervises children in her care and undertakes generic risk assessments of the premises and for outings. However, she is less diligent with regard to regularly risk assessing all areas of her home, specifically the bathroom, where there are hazards that compromise children's safety. For example, not all hazardous liquids are placed safely out

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provision

of children's reach. This is also a breach of the requirements of the Childcare Register.

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provision

The childminder has a sound understanding of child protection and has a written safeguarding policy in place, which she shares with parents. She has a clear understanding of how to record and report any child protection concerns, which effectively safeguards children.

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provision

The childminder has started to review her practice and has identified weaknesses that she has sought help and support for, to enable her to better understand the learning and development requirements. However, she has not identified the need to improve her partnerships with parents and other providers. Consequently, she does not demonstrate a full drive for improvement that will raise children's achievements over time. The childminder maintains required documentation and is aware of the need to maintain confidentiality and of the changes she must notify Ofsted about.

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provision

The childminder provides basic information for parents about her provision and verbally exchanges information on a daily basis about children's care and well-being. However, parents are not encouraged to share and contribute their knowledge and observations of their children's capabilities and skills, in order for the childminder to further support them and assess their progress. Likewise, the childminder has not developed partnerships with other providers where some early years children children attend, to enable her to support and complement what they are learning and to ensure they make good progress.

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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 all necessary measures are taken to minimise any identified risks (compulsory 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 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 EY396121 Local authority Sheffield Inspection number 950714 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 5 Number of children on roll 7

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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

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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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