Childminder in Hertfordshire

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, Kelly Eyre, monitored your provision on 08/07/2014 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 17/04/2014, 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 talked with you about the steps you have taken to address the actions raised in the notice to improve. She observed your interaction with children and the strategies used to manage their behaviour. She looked at your attendance register, accident and medication records, contracts with parents, policies and procedures. Additionally, the inspector looked at records of children's assessments and progress and the activity planning procedures.

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Outcome of monitoring

The inspector found that you have welcomed the support offered by the local authority early years adviser, in order to aid you in addressing the issues raised at your last inspection. The inspector noted that you now have a clear process to evaluate your daily work and the impact this has on the provision for children. This has supported you in addressing the areas for improvement and in helping to ensure that any improvements made are sustainable.

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Outcome of monitoring

The inspector found that you have attended additional training in order to improve your understanding of the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. This, alongside the support you have received from the early years adviser, has enabled you to review your policies and procedures and show that these support you in meeting the legal requirements. In addition, you have made sure that all records are in place. This includes a record of children's daily attendance, their details, accident and medication records. This means that, overall, children's health, safety, welfare and development are now better promoted. In order to help ensure that these changes are sustainable, you have joined a professional organisation so that you can receive updates and information about any changes that you need to act on. You have also arranged to use set formats provided by the professional organisation as you recognise that this will support you in maintaining appropriate records for each

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Outcome of monitoring

Your attendance at additional training has enabled you to develop an improved understanding of how to assess children and plan appropriately. The inspector found that you now keep written records of your observations and reference these to the areas of learning. You are able to explain how you then use this information in order to plan each child's next steps in learning and include these in the daily planning. As a result, you are now better able to promote children's individual learning and development through planned activities and appropriate play opportunities.

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Outcome of monitoring

Similarly, having attended additional safeguarding training, you have improved your knowledge of how to protect children. The inspector found that you have also worked with the early years adviser to review your safeguarding policies and procedures. These now include appropriate reference to the procedures of the Local Safeguarding Children Board. Additionally, you have written your own contact list and state that you always have this with you, should you need to refer any concerns to the relevant agencies. These changes mean that children's welfare is now better promoted.

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Outcome of monitoring

With regard to the management of children's behaviour, you have worked with the early years adviser to improve the strategies you use. The inspector found, through discussion and observation, that you now try to understand the reasons for children's behaviour. You use this understanding to help develop appropriate ways of working with children. For example, you now aim to ensure that children are purposefully occupied and do not feel the need to resort to inappropriate behaviour. The inspector observed that you talk with children and help them to understand the impact of their actions and how to manage these. Consequently, children's behaviour is now handled more appropriately and they are suitably supported in developing their own understanding of how to manage this. You have recognised that this is an area you feel you need to develop further. In order to embed and strengthen your understanding, you plan to attend further training.

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Outcome of monitoring

The inspector found that you have improved the procedures for dealing with complaints. You have implemented a written procedure to support this area and have made sure that you have the required documentation in place to record your investigation of, and response to, any complaints or concerns about your practice. A recent issue raised by Ofsted was appropriately investigated by yourself and no further action was taken. In this way, you have demonstrated that you understand how to use this procedure and are willing to implement it whenever needed. The result of this improvement is that you are now better able to share information with others in order to show that you meet the requirements and are, therefore, promoting children's welfare and safety.

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Outcome of monitoring

The inspector found that you have improved the way in which you communicate with parents. You have achieved this by developing a daily diary for each child. This details their meals, sleep times, activities and any other significant events during the day. You have plans to use these if any of the children attend other providers. Additionally, you have booked meetings with parents so that you can discuss their children's progress and next steps in learning. These changes support you in working appropriately in partnership with parents so that children's care is consistent and their learning and development are suitably promoted.

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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

improve knowledge and understanding of all aspects of the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage, and ensure that it is implemented 16/05/2014 08/07/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

undertake ongoing observational assessments of children, in order to understand their level of achievement, and in order to plan and provide for their learning, so that they make good progress towards the early learning goals 16/05/2014 08/07/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

improve knowledge and understanding of how to protect children, including the procedures to follow if there is a concern about a child, in line with the guidance and procedures of the Local Safeguarding Children Board, and implement the procedures when necessary 16/05/2014 08/07/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

improve knowledge and understanding of managing children's behaviour in order to teach children how and why to behave appropriately 16/05/2014 08/07/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

provide the required records and information to ensure the safe and efficient management of the setting, and to ensure the needs of all children are met. These include records of children's details, accident and medication records, and attendance records 16/05/2014 08/07/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

ensure that a record of any complaints is kept 16/05/2014 08/07/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

develop the two-way flow of information with parents and with other providers to support children's continuity of care and learning. 16/05/2014 08/07/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

ensure familiarity with issues of child protection and keep a written statement of procedures to follow to protect children and report concerns (compulsory 16/05/2014 08/07/2014 part of the Childcare Register) ensure that children's behaviour is managed in a positive way which promotes their understanding (compulsory part of the Childcare Register) 16/05/2014 08/07/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

ensure all complaints are fully investigated and reported (compulsory part of the Childcare Register) 16/05/2014 08/07/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

ensure that the required records of each child are kept, including a daily record of the days and times of attendance, accidents and any medication administered. (compulsory part of the Childcare Register) 16/05/2014 08/07/2014

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