Childminder in Sandwell

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, Patricia Webb, monitored your provision on 05/06/2014 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 24/03/2014, we sent you a notice to improve. If you were set actions at the inspection, or as a result of our subsequent monitoring or investigations, these are included at the end of this letter unless we have already verified that they have been completed.

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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. She observed you and your co-childminder and your interaction with the children present. The inspector had a discussion with you regarding the action you have taken and looked at your policies and procedures. The inspector also spoke to a representative from the local authority by telephone prior to the visit. She looked at your planning, children's developmental records and the information you seek from parents about their child's learning and development from the start of the placement.

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Outcome of monitoring

The inspector found that you have arranged to attend specific training to extend your knowledge and understanding of safeguarding. In the meantime, you have taken direct action to seek further information about the use of mobile phones and cameras in the setting. You explained that you understand the potential for misuse of images of children and have discussed this with parents. All visitors to the home are asked to switch off their phones and leave them in a basket in the entrance hall. This is improving the arrangements for promoting the welfare of children in your care. You have also now registered with the Information Commissioner's Office, which is an additional reassurance for parents and demonstrates your commitment to safeguard their children. This information is clearly recorded in your reviewed policies and procedures on safeguarding.

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Outcome of monitoring

You have also booked to attend further training on observation and planning in order to improve your knowledge and understanding of how to plan for individual children. You have discussed this with the early years adviser and other experienced childminders, to consider how to adapt activities for children of different ages and levels of ability. You are using some new formats for planning based on information you are now taking for the more focused observations and assessments on each child. The new documents for tracking children's progress are giving you a simple, but clear, overview of where each child is at in their learning and development. Parents are contributing comments to their children's records. The records seen indicate that parents are very pleased with their children's progress. You have discussed children's ages and stages with parents from the start of placements and are using the improved level of information to support more detailed planning for

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Outcome of monitoring

each child. This is enabling you to offer challenge and extension for the wide age range of children cared for, adapting activities and learning objectives to reflect children's ages and stages of development.

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Outcome of monitoring

During the monitoring visit, children were observed engaged in a play dough activity. You and your co-childminder supported each child as they played for a sustained period of time. Older children engaged in deep conversation and discussed colour, texture and the various shapes and patterns they were creating; younger children were developing their manipulative skills, scrunching and squeezing with dexterity under close and sensitive supervision to promote their learning as well as their safety.

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Outcome of monitoring

You have also given attention to meeting the requirements for both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. Your commitment to working in partnership with parents is strengthened further as you have now developed a written procedure to explain the process for managing any complaints, made in writing, or by e-mail, by a parent.

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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

Nick Hudson National Director, Early Education

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Action Due date Closed date

ensure there is a written statement of procedures to be followed in relation to complaints which relate to the requirements of the Childcare Register and which a parent makes in writing or by email (compulsory part of the Childcare Register) 31/03/2014 05/06/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

ensure there is a written statement of procedures to be followed in relation to complaints which relate to the requirements of the Childcare Register and which a parent makes in writing or by email (voluntary part of the Childcare Register). 31/03/2014 05/06/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

improve knowledge and understanding of child protection procedures relating to the use of mobile phones and cameras 31/03/2014 05/06/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

ensure planned experiences and activities are adapted to meet younger children's individual needs and stage of development so that they receive a challenging experience which enables them to make good progress. 07/04/2014 05/06/2014

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