Childminder in Barnet

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 27/03/2014 02/07/2010

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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 regularly leaves the children she is responsible for in the care of her co-childminder. She does not give enough consideration about how this affects the quality of care and supervision for these children. This arrangement compromises children's well-being.  The childminder does not conduct a thorough risk assessment of the outdoor area to ensure that equipment is safe for use by all children. This compromises children's safety.  The childminder does not take into consideration the individual needs of the babies and this has a negative impact on the quality of care and learning provided.

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It has the following strengths

 Children form affectionate bonds with the childminder and show they feel at ease in her care.  The childminder's knowledge of children's learning is well developed and, as a result, most children are making sound 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 observed the childminder preparing meals, organising activities, and supporting children's play indoors and outdoors.  The inspector held discussions with the childminder.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector viewed a sample of documentation, including evidence of suitability checks and qualifications, policies and procedures.  The inspector took account of the views of parents.  The inspector talked to some of the older children.

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Information about the setting

The childminder registered in 2007. She lives with her partner, who is also a registered childminder in a semi-detached house in the Whetstone area of the London Borough of Barnet. The whole of the ground floor of the house is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. There are currently 11 children in the early years age range on roll. The childminder supports children who are learning English as an additional language. The childminder walks/drives to local schools to take and collect children.

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must:

 ensure that ratio requirements are met at all times, so that a maximum of six children under the age of eight are cared for at any one time; of these six children a maximum of three may be young children, and there should only be one child under one year

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must:

 make sure that identified hazards in the outside play area are made safe or inaccessible to children

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must:

 ensure that children are adequately supervised and decide how to best deploy co- workers to ensure children's needs are met, remembering that children must be usually within sight and hearing of the childminder and always within sight or hearing.

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must:

 take full account of the individual needs, interests, and stages of development of babies in your care and use this information to plan enjoyable experiences in the prime areas of learning.

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

 improve communications with parents to further ensure that care arrangements are fully discussed and ensure personal care arrangements for children are fully met.

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who attend

The childminder's home is bright, warm and welcoming. Walls are covered in an array of educational posters and pictures of children in their play and learning. The childminder and co-worker organise their home and play resources well, in order to encourage children's independence. The childminder provides a range of activities and experiences that cover all areas of learning. Older children are making steady progress, through child- led play using the extensive range of resources made available to them. The childminder observes children's learning by taking photographs and video footage using a tablet computer. She shares these observations with parents each month and provides them with an update of their child's progress. She evaluates children's learning and plans for their next steps. The childminder has good knowledge and understanding of the how young children in the early years age range learn and develop. The quality of teaching is

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who attend

good overall and the childminder provides sufficiently challenging activities to help all children in her care to make some good progress in their learning. However, the childminder is routinely absent, at times, during the day, as she takes responsibility for collecting and delivering children from other settings. This affects the quality of children's care and learning over the course of the day.

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who attend

The childminder engages the youngest children in play and learning promoting their physical development by offering sensory equipment and musical toys, helping children to coordinate their movements. A range of floor toys, such as mirrors, shakers and rattles, are provided. These engage the children for lengthy periods of time but do not actively challenge babies in their further development.

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who attend

The childminder provides the children with writing desks that are also used as meal tables. They provide children with opportunities to make marks and develop early writing skills. Children are proud to see their art work displayed with their names written alongside it.

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who attend

The required progress checks completed for children at aged two years are used effectively to inform parents about children's development. The childminder speaks fluent French and uses this alongside English to support children who are learning English as an additional language. She sings French songs that encourage children to explore and engage in their home language. The childminder fosters children's language development well. She talks to the children to develop their communication skills and acknowledges their verbal contributions and engages in chatter and songs with them throughout their play.

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who attend

Children are curious and active learners and the childminder observes their activities and plans according to their needs to help them achieve their goals. Planning is tailored to the needs of each individual child as the childminder is flexible in her approach to children's learning and builds on their current interests. Children enjoy their time with the childminder and they are engaged, happy and interested. She supports their child-led play and learning. For example, children ask to complete their Mother's day cards. She offers them resources and tools to complete the cards independently at their desks. She supports children's early writing skills by encouraging them to write their name in the cards. Some children write their names and others make a good attempt at forming letters. Pre-printed greetings in children's home language are stuck into the cards showing that their home languages are valued.

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who attend

The children demonstrate a sense of security and confidence and they ask the childminder if they need help. For example, a child shows the childminder a picture of a rocket, and then sings 'One, two, three and whoosh'. She responds to the child's interests by offering a rocket to play with, which the child excitedly explores. However, she quickly realises other children want to play with this exciting resource and quickly provides another toy rocket, enabling the children to play alongside each other, learning to take turns and act out experiences.

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who attend

Children have fun as they play and show delight as they run and jump and enclose themselves excitedly in a piece of scrunchy silver material. In this way children develop physically, use their imaginations and explore different textures.

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who attend

The childminder always collects children from other provisions and talks to other providers about the children's learning and any accidents that must be reported to parents. She shares relevant information routinely with the co-minder to ensure continuity of care and learning for children.

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who attend

The childminder keep parents informed of children's progress through daily discussions and as a result sound relationships have been formed with parents.

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

The childminder provides a caring environment and as a result children are happy and settled. However the childminder often leaves the children with her co-worker. As a result the co-childminder is left with too many children to care for alone and this adversely affects the care of babies and children. The childminder provides space for children to rest and sleep when they need it and adequate changing facilities are provided for babies and children. Babies have cot facilities in a separate room. However, the childminder does not ensure that sleeping babies are monitored adequately and this compromises their well- being. Children are not always within the childminder's or co-childminder's sight or hearing.

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

The childminder implements suitable care routines, in line with those parents follow at home. She helps children to learn good personal hygiene skills. Children wash their hands in readiness for meal times and after using the toilet. The childminder makes sure that babies and young children who wear nappies are regularly changed to ensure their comfort. Children behave well during meals and need no reminders to remain seated demonstrating the good social skills they have acquired. The childminder informs the parents about what healthy foods children have eaten at meal times each day.

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

Children's independence is promoted at meal-times because children feed themselves using appropriate eating tools, help clear away dirty dishes and tidy away eating tables. Children also understand the 'no shoes' rule. Consequently they remove their shoes before entering the play rooms, placing them on a shoe rack to ensure the rooms stay dirt free. This shows that they understand the behavioural expectations in the setting. The childminder gives children plenty of praise and encouragement to foster children's self- esteem.

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

The outdoor environment provides a range of experiences that support children's physical and social development. However the extensive outdoor play area is currently not safe for children to use as there is broken furniture awaiting removal and damaged resources awaiting repair.

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provision

The inspection took place following concerns about the care arrangements and numbers of children looked after by the childminder and her co-worker. The inspection found that the childminder knowingly leaves the co-worker looking after more than six children under the age of eight at any one time and this is a breach of ratio requirements. The childminder has failed to consider the impact of this arrangement on the care and learning of the children.

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provision

The childminder shares information with parents regarding children's healthy eating routines and offers a choice of foods at meal times. The childminder and co-worker offer a 'home visit' for all new parents that enable important registration documentation to be completed. However, these documents are not consistently reviewed to identify any concerns parent note and, as a result, important issues are sometimes overlooked and lead to a breakdown in communications with parents. The childminder is not always responsive to parents' requests for greater information but she has extended the food menu to include more detail about the type of foods offered.

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provision

The childminder offers a welcoming environment which enables children to play in relative safety. The childminder is aware of her responsibilities in relation to safeguarding matters and knows how to report any concerns she may have about a child. The childminder has undergone the required background suitability checks. All records and documentation are made readily available and show how the childminder continues her professional development. Policies and procedures, such as accidents and administration of medicines, provide parents with details about the individual care their children receive when they are hurt or unwell.

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provision

The childminder has established sound relationships with most parents. For example the two-way flow of information at the beginning and end of each day enables parents to share valuable information about their child's health and well-being. The childminder is flexible and changes the routine to accommodate the children's needs. For example, as a result of discussions with the parents the childminder is made aware of concerns over a child's dietary needs. Therefore meal times are closely monitored to provide additional food to supplement their diet if needed. However, it is evident that, on occasions, poor communication about organisation of the provision has led to misunderstandings that have affected the quality of engagement with parents.

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provision

The childminder provides a selection of activities, experiences and opportunities that help children make progress towards their learning goals. The childminder demonstrates a good understanding of how children develop and helps them to make steady progress in their learning and development.

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provision

The childminder is working in partnership with her co-worker to evaluate their provision. She fully understands the importance of evaluating what is going well and where she can make improvements. Since the last inspection she has made improvements to the meals provided, ensuring they are fresh, healthy and nutritious. Parents are invited regularly to discuss their child's progress and share ideas to fully involve them in their child's learning and development. The childminder has updated and completed a paediatric first aid course to safeguards and promote children's welfare. The childminder has identified that improvements can be made by regularly asking children what makes them happy, in order to assess what activities they enjoy to assist their learning.

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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 EY349150 Local authority Barnet Inspection number 945088 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 9 Number of children on roll 15

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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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