Childminder in North Yorkshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 01/05/2014 05/01/2009

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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 failed to safeguard children with regard to their supervision on outings. This impacts on children's welfare, well-being and safety.  The childminder's risk assessments, particularly in relation to the use of a double buggy, are not sufficiently robust.  The childminder has not maintained an accurate record of attendance for all children. This compromises their safety.  Arrangements are not fully in place to liaise with other settings that children attend, so information about their wider learning can be taken into account when planning activities in order to promote a consistent approach to supporting and extending children's learning.

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It has the following strengths

 Children are happy and settle very well due to the warm, welcoming environment created by the friendly and caring childminder. Children are well supported to develop their confidence within the setting.  The childminder supports children's language skills well as she constantly talks to them and teaches them new words as they play.

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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 to the childminder and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection.  The inspector viewed the premises, toys and equipment.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector checked evidence of the childminder's qualifications and suitability of adult household members.  The inspector looked at a sample of policies and procedures.  The inspector observed a specific activity planned by the childminder.

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Information about the setting

The childminder was registered in 2003 and is on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She lives with her husband and two adult children in a bungalow in Bedale, North Yorkshire. The whole of the property, except for the main bedroom, is used for childminding. There is an enclosed rear garden available for outdoor play. The family has two pet cats. The childminder visits local shops and parks on a regular basis. She collects children from the local schools and pre-schools. There are currently six children on roll, two of whom are in the early years age group and attend for a variety of sessions. The childminder operates all year round, from 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except Bank Holidays and family holidays. She is a member of the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years.

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must:

 make sure that the arrangements for supervising children on outings meet the needs of all children and ensure their safety so they remain within sight and or hearing at all times

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must:

 minimise the risk to children on outings, particularly in relation to using the double buggy, to ensure their safety

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must:

 keep an up-to-date daily record of children's attendance.

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

 develop further the partnerships with other early years providers where children attend, to support a more shared approach to children's ongoing learning.

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who attend

The childminder has not met a number of welfare requirements, however, these have no overall impact on the quality of children's learning. The childminder has a suitable understanding of how young children learn. She gathers information from parents when their child starts in order to find out what they like and can do. Even though children have only recently started to attend on a regular basis, she knows them very well and has used her knowledge of where children are at in their learning to plan a range of interesting and challenging activities which follow their interests.

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who attend

The quality of teaching is suitable as the childminder spends her time playing and interacting with children. For example, she sits on the floor and participates well with them in their chosen activities, teaching them skills which will promote their overall development. She encourages them to 'have a go' at fitting the pieces of the puzzle together and naming the different shapes. She introduces mathematical language, such as 'big' and 'little', as they describe the different sized beds in the dolls' house and make pillows and blankets for their baby. The childminder listens carefully to what children are saying and repeats words back to them so they learn how to pronounce new words correctly. Consequently, children learn new words, such as 'helicopter' and 'aeroplane'. Children join in with the words and actions to favourite songs on the television. They are developing suitable physical skills. For example, they play in the garden and visit the local

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who attend

park. Children enjoy looking at a suitable range of books with the childminder and make marks using different pens and paper as well as the water-based drawing mat. The childminder provides suitable opportunities for the children to socialise with others in larger groups. Consequently, they are beginning to learn the necessary skills to prepare them for the next stage in their learning, such as moving on to nursery or school.

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who attend

The childminder keeps parents informed about their child's daily learning and care through regular verbal feedback, diaries and text messages. She is aware of the requirement to carry out the progress check at age two and share the written report with parents, to identify children's strengths and any delays or gaps in their learning. As eligible children have just started to attend on a regular basis, she is allowing them time to fully settle before completing this.

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

Children's well-being is compromised by weaknesses in leadership and management which fail to meet the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. However, children are clearly happy and settled with the childminder as she is very warm and caring and provides a calm, nurturing environment for them. This is evident as children enter her home happily, know the routines and come to her independently for cuddles. The close relationships that the childminder has developed with the children are enhanced through positive working with parents. She gathers important information from parents at the start, such as children's daily routines, and invites children for short settling-in sessions. This helps the childminder to get to know the children and supports a smooth transition into her care. Children are given regular opportunities to socialise with their peers and encouraged to share and take turns. In addition, the childminder

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

encourages children to develop their self-care skills and independence, for example, through putting on their own cardigans and washing their own hands. This helps to prepare children for starting nursery or school.

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

The childminder uses praise and encouragement to support children's good behaviour, and they respond positively to this. Children play in a clean and well-kept home. The childminder uses appropriate safety equipment and procedures to reduce the risk of accidents in her home; this includes using socket covers and keeping external doors locked. Children learn about keeping safe through discussion and activities, such as practising road safety and fire drills. Resources are plentiful and many stored so children can make independent choices about their play. Alongside this, the childminder has laminated photographs of other resources which are not as readily available, so children can choose from these also.

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

Children's good health is promoted well by the childminder. They have regular opportunities for fresh air and exercise, for example, they go for walks and play in the garden. Parents are currently providing children's meals, with the childminder encouraging children to eat fruit, for example, by making them into smoothies. The childminder also displays charts of healthy foods and talks to children about the importance of eating healthily.

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provision

This inspection was brought forward as a result of a concern that the childminder had left children unattended outside a local shop. This inspection found that on one occasion the childminder had left children outside a shop in a double buggy. This does not safeguard children or provide them with adequate supervision, ensuring they are within sight and or hearing of her. Alongside this, although the childminder describes how she assess risks when using the double buggy, for example, not going into certain shops or taking children out of the buggy, on this occasion she did not follow her procedures. This does not ensure children's safety. Detailed records of attendance are kept for older children, however, the childminder does not keep a daily record of the times of younger children's attendance, particularly those that attend very occasionally. Children's personal records and records of parental permissions are easily accessible and readily available for inspection. The

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provision

childminder has maintained her paediatric first-aid training certificate. She has a suitable understanding of local safeguarding and child protection procedures. She understands her responsibilities and the procedures to follow if she has any concerns about the children in her care. The childminder has recently updated her safeguarding training through e- learning. Consequently, children are effectively safeguarded in the event of a concern. The childminder is also fully aware of the need to notify local child protection agencies of any serious accident or injury of a child in her care, and states that she would act on any advice given. The childminder completes risk assessments for all areas her home, alongside daily checklists, and she holds up-to-date public liability insurance.

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provision

The childminder has very recently begun to care for children on a regular basis who are in the early years age range. She is in the process of developing systems to monitor the delivery of the educational programmes to ensure all aspects of each area of learning are fully covered. She has used her own initial observations and information from parents to assess each child's skills, abilities and identify any gaps in their learning. The childminder has started to devise a simple action plan and is in the early stages of considering how she will prioritise areas identified for improvement and how she will achieve them in order to ensure sustained improvement.

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provision

The childminder forms friendly relationships with parents. She exchanges information with them on a daily basis through a written diary. This keeps them up to date with their child's care throughout the day. Although the childminder talks to parents and children about what they have been doing at pre-school, she does not yet have secure arrangements in place to liaise with the staff about children's 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 Met The requirements for the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are Met

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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 EY261497 Local authority North Yorkshire Inspection number 953580 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 6

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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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