Childminder in Redcar and Cleveland

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 23/01/2014 22/04/2009

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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

 Children are not safeguarded by the robust management of all the necessary documentation because a daily record of the hours of children's attendance is not maintained and required information about children is not easily accessible and available for inspection.  Risk assessments have not identified that one of the doors to be used as an emergency exit is obstructed. This prevents easy opening from inside and compromises children's safety should an incident occur.  The childminder does not closely monitor how well she is promoting the educational programmes or how children are progressing towards the early learning goals. This does not ensure children are supported to make the best possible progress.  Arrangements are not fully in place to liaise with parents and other settings that children attend, so information about their wider learning can be taken into account when planning activities to promote a consistent approach to supporting and extending

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It has the following strengths

 The childminder and her assistant are warm and caring and provide a welcoming environment in which to care for children.

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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, the assistant and the children at appropriate times throughout the inspection.  The inspector viewed the premises, toys and equipment.  The inspector looked at children's assessment records and planning documentation.  The inspector took account of the views of parents provided in written form.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector checked evidence of the childminder's qualifications and suitability of adult household members.

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Information about the setting

The childminder was registered in 2008 and is on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She lives with her husband who is her assistant, and their two children aged nine and seven years in a house in Middlesbrough. The whole of the ground floor and the bathroom on the first floor are used for childminding.

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Information about the setting

The childminder attends activities in community groups. She visits the shops and park on a regular basis. She collects children from the local school and pre-school. There are currently seven children on roll, of whom six are in the early years age group and attend for a variety of sessions. She operates all year round, offering flexible hours, except for family holidays. The childminder holds a relevant childcare qualification and is a member of the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years.

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must:

 keep a daily record of children's attendance and ensure that the required information about children is easily accessible and available

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must:

 improve risk assessments so that they identify aspects of the environment that need to be checked on a regular basis; this particularly relates to ensuring identified fire exits are free from obstruction

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must:

 improve the systems to monitor the delivery of the educational programmes and children's development, to ensure all aspects of each area of learning are fully covered and to obtain an accurate assessment of each child's skills, abilities and progress.

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

 encourage parents and early years teachers to contribute more information about what children do at home and school, and use this shared knowledge to plan together and think through ideas of how to move children even further forward in their learning

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who attend

The provision for children's learning and development requires improvement to ensure the quality of teaching is good. The childminder carries out observations of children as they play and provides a varied range of activities to support their learning. However, although she does some assessment of where children are in their development, these do not show a precise and accurate picture of what children are able to do across the seven areas of learning. This means children's next steps are not securely identified. As a result, activities are not securely based on helping children make as much progress as possible and be as ready as they can be for starting school. Nevertheless, she knows the children and can talk in general about what progress the they have made in their learning while they have been in her care and the play opportunities she arranges for them.

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who attend

The childminder talks to children, speaking clearly, and uses actions to support her words. This helps children to develop their communication and language. She encourages children to listen to each other and to share and take turns. She provides and adapts activities so that all children, even the youngest, can join in and feel part of the group. For example, when older children return from school she organises tables so that they can all sit together to participate in a craft activity. This ensures all children have an equal opportunity to join and to feel included. The childminder provides a variety of familiar resources reflecting everyday life, such as kitchen equipment, which encourages children to use their imagination and engage in make-believe play. The childminder encourages children to become independent, and they show signs of increasing independence as they help themselves to resources and feed themselves. Attendance at community groups gives

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who attend

children the opportunity to play in larger groups, which helps with their transition into nursery. It also allows them to use additional equipment to support their development.

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who attend

Parents indicate they are happy with the range of activities provided for their children. The childminder shares some information with them about children's learning through daily diaries and verbal exchanges. However, they are not consistently given opportunities to share information about their child's learning at home, so this can be used to further enhance planning.

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

Overall, children's well-being is compromised because the childminder does meet all of the safeguarding and welfare requirements. As a result, children's safety and well-being are not sufficiently assured. For example, a kitchen door is identified as an escape route in the event of an emergency; however, during the inspection this had numerous objects leaning against it and so could not be easily opened from the inside. All childminding areas are clean to help reduce the risk of cross-infection. Suitable provision is made for children to exercise and enjoy the fresh air. The childminder walks with children on nursery and school runs. This means children benefit from being in the fresh air while learning about the world around them. She takes children to local parks so they can benefit from using a range of different equipment. Any meals snacks provided are suitably healthy and children are given sufficient drinks to ensure they are hydrated.

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

Children have obviously developed close attachments to the childminder and her assistant and they approach them with confidence and affection. The childminder and her assistant are both warm and caring and treat children equally, fairly and without prejudice. There are successful procedures in place for settling in new children. The childminder encourages parents to visit with children and then leave them for short periods so they can all get to know each other. This means there is a smooth transition from home into the childminder's care and helps children to feel happy and emotionally secure. The childminder works in partnership with their parents so she has information to enable her to meet individual care needs. She takes younger children to school with her to collect older children and this familiarity helps to begin to prepare them for the transition to school.

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

The childminder supports children in forming relationships by taking them along to groups and encouraging them to engage with other children. She recognises that the youngest children are at an age where they find it a challenge to share and take turns. She is calm with them, explains things to them and tries to anticipate potential conflict so that she can reduce this. Consequently, children are getting clear, consistent messages about being kind and respectful to each other. The childminder teaches children about road safety while out on walks.

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provision

Leadership and management is inadequate. There are breaches of safeguarding and welfare requirements for the Early Years and both parts of the Childcare Register that have an impact on the safety and well-being of children. The childminder does not keep a daily record of the times of children's attendance. Also, one child's record of information including the required written permissions is not readily available or accessible. This child was cared for on the day of the inspection. Additionally, although the childminder undertakes risk assessments and for the most part these are successful in reducing potential dangers. However, one of the doors identified as an escape route in an emergency is obstructed; consequently preventing the quick evacuation of the premises should an incident occur. The childminder does ensure that children are supervised appropriately. She ensures that children are always where she can see or hear them. The

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provision

childminder has a good understanding of her responsibilities and of the procedures to follow should she be concerned about a child. She completes regular child protection training and has all necessary information to hand so she can report any concerns promptly. The required checks have been completed on the adults in the home to ensure they are suitable and her assistant is monitored in his role at all times.

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provision

The systems to monitor the delivery of the educational programmes are not thorough enough to ensure all aspects of each area of learning are fully covered. This means that the childminder does not have an accurate assessment of each child's skills, abilities and progress. A weak reflection on practice has in resulted breaches of requirements. Also, one of the recommendations made at the last inspection has not been satisfactorily addressed. This does not demonstrate that the childminder has a capacity to secure continuous improvement without further support and monitoring.

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provision

The childminder forms friendly relationships with parents. Written comments received from parents are positive and state that they are very happy with the care provided by the childminder. She exchanges information with parents on a daily basis through a diary. This keeps them up-to-date with their child's care throughout the day. Although the childminder talks to early years children about what they have been doing at nursery and school, she does not have secure arrangements in place to liaise herself with the teaching staff about children's learning and progress. This does not help to consistently support children's ongoing 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 the premises used for the purposes of the childcare are safe and suitable for that childcare. This relates to ensuring identified fire exits are free from obstruction (Compulsory part of the Childcare Register)  keep records of the following: the name, home address and date of birth of each child who is looked after on the premises, the name, home address and telephone number of a parent/guardian/carer of each child who is looked after on the premises and a daily record of the names of the children looked after on the premises and their hours of attendance (Compulsory part of the Childcare Register)  ensure the premises used for the purposes of the childcare are safe and suitable for that childcare. This relates to ensuring identified fire exits are free from obstruction (Voluntary part of the Childcare Register)  keep records of the following:the name, home address and date of birth of each

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To meet the requirements of the Childcare Register the provider must:

child who is looked after on the premises, the name, home address and telephone number of a parent/guardian/carer of each child who is looked after on the premises and a daily record of the names of the children looked after on the premises and their hours of attendance. (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 EY381090 Local authority Redcar & Cleveland Inspection number 951128 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

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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