Childminder in Leicestershire

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD Telephone: 0300 123 1231 Fax: 0300 123 3159 Minicom: 0161 618 8524 Email: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk Web: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Monitoring for provision judged as inadequate

An Ofsted inspector, Alex Brouder, monitored your provision on 29/05/2014 following your inspection where the provision was judged to be inadequate.

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Outcome of monitoring

As a result of our inspection on 04/03/2014, we sent you a notice to improve. The actions you were set are included at the end of this letter.

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Outcome of monitoring

During the monitoring visit the inspector discussed with you the steps you have taken to address the actions raised in the notice to improve. The inspector observed your practice with children and also looked at information recorded in a support visit made by a representative from the local authority. She looked at your risk assessments, the records of your emergency evacuation practice, evidence of parents' consent to leave an assistant alone with children, discussed your health and hygiene procedures and knowledge and understanding of the learning and development requirements and looked at how you observe, assess and plan for children's next steps for learning.

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Outcome of monitoring

The inspector found that you have begun to work with a representative from the local authority to make improvements to all of the actions raised at the last inspection. The adviser notes that you have begun to use all required documents to support the delivery of the Early Years Foundation Stage. You confirm that you are committed to making and sustaining improvements to children's care, learning and development.

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Outcome of monitoring

The inspector found that you have updated and amended your risk assessments to ensure that all areas children have access to are closely monitored to ensure that potential risks are minimised. In addition, you have established a pet policy to reflect where the dogs are kept during the day and to ensure that all areas of the home and garden are cleaned appropriately before children access them, to promote children's health and well-being.

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Outcome of monitoring

You showed the inspector evidence of your emergency evacuation procedure and how and when this was practised with children, which ensures that children develop an understanding of how to leave your setting quickly and safely in the event of, for Our Reference EY395608

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Outcome of monitoring

example, a fire. In addition, you provided documentation to show that consent has been obtained from the parents of the children you care for, to allow an assistant to care for children for short periods of time.

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Outcome of monitoring

Following the inspection, you have changed the way you undertake sensitive observations and assessments of children, to support planning for their individual needs. You explained how you have undertaken observations on a regular basis and recorded these in children's files. The records showed that you are beginning to link the observations to the areas of learning. You explained how when planning activities for children that you have carefully considered their individual needs and interests to ensure that through play, they are able to make effective progress in their learning and development.

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Outcome of monitoring

You explained how you have supported children's learning through a suitable range of play based learning experiences. You are able to adequately discuss how activities link to each area of learning, supporting children's progress across all areas. For example, you discussed how talking to children during lunch supports their communication and language as well as introducing them to simple mathematics. In addition, you explained how role play supports children's imagination and that handling and using books enables children to develop their physical skills as well as their skills in literacy. You described how you have encouraged children to play and explore and to keep on trying as they try to achieve. This shows how you have promoted the characteristics of effective teaching and learning with children.

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Outcome of monitoring

You have developed your partnership working with parents and other settings that children attend to ensure that children's learning and development is shared with all. You discussed how you have used information from other early years settings to extend children's play and ideas in your own environment. As a result, children's interests are reflected through the range of available and accessible resources and activities. You explained how you are encouraging parents to share 'wow' moments and achievements from home to inform children's individual learning journals, but explained that parents prefer to share this information verbally and not in writing.

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Outcome of monitoring

During the monitoring visit you discussed how you would complete a progress check for children between the ages of two and three years. You discussed how your local authority representative had shared a proforma with you and explained how to complete this check using the observations you make on the children in your care. You discussed how this check would be used to inform parents of children's learning and development within the prime areas of learning and how this can be used to seek early intervention, should this be necessary.

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Outcome of monitoring

During the monitoring visit you also discussed plans to sustain and secure further improvement. You discussed the importance of self-evaluation and the monitoring of your practice, to ensure that you continue to make improvements to the actions raised in readiness for your next inspection. You explained how regular meetings are planned with the local authority representative, to support this and to help you Our Reference EY395608

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Outcome of monitoring

address the actions set by them. You recognised that monitoring and evaluation is an ongoing process, if you are to sustain improvement overtime.

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Outcome of monitoring

Having considered all the evidence, the inspector is of the opinion that the childminder has taken prompt and effective action to address the points for improvement.

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Next steps

The next step will be a full inspection.

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Next steps

I hope that you have found the visit helpful in promoting improvement in your childminding service. If you have any further queries please contact us on the number at the top of this letter.

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Next steps

Lorna Fitzjohn National Director, Childminding Our Reference EY395608

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Action Due date Closed date

ensure risk assessments clearly identify aspects of the environment that need to be checked and take the necessary action to remove and minimise risks to children 21/03/2014 29/05/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

implement effective health and hygiene policies and procedures with specific regard to managing dogs within the home 21/03/2014 29/05/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of children on the premises in the case of fire or any other emergency and ensure an emergency evacuation procedure is in place 21/03/2014 29/05/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

provide evidence of parent's consent to leave children with the assistant, including for very short periods of time 21/03/2014 29/05/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

obtain and share information regularly with professionals, parents and carers and other early year providers to allow an effective two-way flow of information that informs planning and supports effective teaching. 21/03/2014 29/05/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

update knowledge of the learning and development requirements, in order to consider the individual needs, interests and stage of development of each child and use this information to plan a challenging and enjoyable experience for each child in all of the areas of learning and development 21/03/2014 29/05/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

observe children to understand their level of achievement, interests and learning styles and provide an appropriate range of resources, in order to shape learning experiences for each child, reflecting those observations through planned, purposeful play and through a mix of adult-led and child-initiated activity 21/03/2014 29/05/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

complete a progress check at age two for each child between the age of two and three years, in order to provide parents/carers with a written summary of 21/03/2014 29/05/2014 Our Reference EY395608

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Action Due date Closed date

their child's development in the prime areas of learning, which identifies the child's strengths and any areas where the child's progress is less than expected undertake a risk assessment of the premises and ensure that all of the necessary measures are taken to minimise any identified risks (compulsory part of the childcare register) 21/03/2014 29/05/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

undertake a risk assessment of the premises and ensure that all of the necessary measures are taken to minimise any identified risks (voluntary part of the childcare register) 21/03/2014 29/05/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

ensure that the premises and equipment used for the purposes of childcare are safe and suitable for that childcare (compulsory part of the childcare register) 21/03/2014 29/05/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

ensure that the premises and equipment used for the purposes of childcare are safe and suitable for that childcare (voluntary part of the childcare register) 21/03/2014 29/05/2014

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