Childminder in Warrington

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, Frank Kelly, monitored your provision on 24/06/2014 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 28/03/2014, 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. The inspector discussed with you, your action plans and quality improvement plans. He viewed various regulatory documents, such as the information you hold about each child, records of attendance and discussed with you your arrangements for risk assessment. He discussed with you the actions you have taken and viewed the equipment you have obtained and put in place to improve the safety of the children. The inspector discussed vocational training that you have undertaken and your plans for future training, such as safeguarding children in relation to child protection procedures. He viewed the documentation you are using to engage parents and plan and assess for children's future learning. The inspector discussed with you the learning taking place with some of the children present to identify your understanding of the seven areas

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Outcome of monitoring

of learning. He observed the way you interact and play with the children and the ways you encourage and manage their behaviour. The inspector spoke informally with one of the children's parents and also held a telephone conversation with a representative from the local authority. The inspector also discussed with you concerns received at Ofsted on 19 June 2014 with regards to the way you supervise children when on outings and how you manage their behaviour.

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Outcome of monitoring

The inspector found that while you have taken some steps to begin to address some of the actions raised, you do not currently have an action plan to support improvement. As a result, you have not taken action with sufficient robustness and rigour to tackle all areas, which were identified as needing to improve at your last inspection. It was also found that there were two additional breaches of regulatory requirements. Adult to child ratio requirements were met during the visit; but your records of children's attendance and discussion with you confirmed that this is not always the case and that you do not always ensure that the requirements of Early Years Foundation Stage are met. The inspector found that your reasons for 'exceptional circumstances' did not meet the criteria for such arrangements. In addition, you were unable to provide evidence that you had sought the agreement and gained consent from all the parents prior to undertaking such arrangements.

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Outcome of monitoring

Furthermore you have also failed to gain written consent for taking children on outings for two of the children. This is a breach of the welfare requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage and requires immediate action.

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Outcome of monitoring

The inspector observed how you interact with the children present. The demands and differing needs of the children meant that on occasions, some children were not actively engaged. As a result, they became bored or disruptive and their behaviour deteriorated. He discussed with you your methods for encouraging children's behaviour and how they were not always consistent. Although, on some occasions you did use simple examples and explanations to help the children learn about the care of others, such as when they were playing with the dolls. You acknowledged that your ability to engage the children was more effective when some children had been collected and you had smaller numbers of children. During these periods children were observed to play well together and you spent time on the floor playing alongside them and encouraging them to share the toys appropriately. You explained you have sought guidance from the local authority representative to support you to

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Outcome of monitoring

raise your awareness and implement strategies; to support children when their behaviour becomes challenging. This is still in the early stages and requires further improvement.

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Outcome of monitoring

The inspector acknowledged that there has been some improvement with regard to the availability of confidential information relating to children. He viewed the children's registration details held for each child on roll. He found that in the main you hold most of the required information for each and every child. Consequently, you demonstrate you have made sufficient progress to ensure that records are more accessible and maintained in a confidential manner. The inspector observed that there was a varied range of toys and resources set out within the home and in the garden. The variety of toys and equipment were suitable to meet the needs of the ages and developmental stages of the children present and cover the seven areas of learning. Children were observed to make choices about what they played with and where they played. In addition, you explained to the inspector about your plans to create a pictorial book to show the wider range of toys and activities available.

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Outcome of monitoring

Consequently, children are beginning to have a wider range of developmentally appropriate resources available to them, both indoors and outside. When invited to explain the learning taking place you were able to make connections to some of the areas of learning, such as physical development and understanding of the world, as the children played with the digger-trucks and other small world equipment. However, you acknowledged that your developing knowledge of the areas of learning and how you plan for children's next steps of development; and how you support children's learning is still too weak. Your acknowledged more needs to be done to improve the quality of teaching and children's learning to ensure children make the best progress.

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Outcome of monitoring

The inspector viewed the revised records for children's learning that you have created. He noted that with the exception of one child, you have yet to add any information received from parents or from your own observations. As a result, you are not yet effectively assessing children's levels of achievement. You have also missed opportunities to build a stronger relationship with parents, so as to gain a fuller picture of children's abilities from when they start; so as to securely identify children's starting points. A progress check for children between the ages of two and three years has been completed for one child. However, this does not include any comments from parents and does not fully consider ways to extend the child's development across the prime areas of learning. The inspector acknowledged you were receptive to the discussion about how this could be improved, for example, by linking activities to children's emerging interests, such as 'pirates'. You showed the

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Outcome of monitoring

inspector communication diaries and discussed the use of electronic communication media as ways to develop relationships with parents; and share information about children's learning. You confirmed that as yet, you have not started to use either format and therefore no effective progress to improve information sharing with parents has taken place.

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Outcome of monitoring

During the visit you showed the inspector the areas of your home that you use to care for children and discussed with him the steps you take to keep children safe. You explained that due to the current seasonal climate you are not using your fuel- burning fire to heat the home. As a result, you were of the opinion that the immediate danger has been removed. You shared with the inspector your concerns regarding a conventional fire guard also becoming too hot and presenting a further potential hazard to the children. This demonstrated that you have begun to think about keeping children safe. However, you have not explored further, how this can be resolved so that you are fully prepared for the future. You shared a check list of potential hazards, which you informed the inspector you check daily before the children arrive. You confirmed that children are no longer left unaccompanied in your car and that they are now always within your sight and hearing. The inspector

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Outcome of monitoring

discussed with you the steps you have taken to promote children's safety when on outings. You stated that you supervise children at all times and that you use suitable safety equipment, such as a double buggy and on some occasions wrist straps to keep children safe and prevent them from running off. When asked about safety within the car you confirmed that all safety seating in the car is fitted correctly and appropriate for the ages, heights and weights of the children. You explained to the inspector that you had researched this equipment and also sought guidance from the relevant retailers and manufacturers. However, you did not have evidence of any guidance sought or details of when such risk assessments were conducted. The inspector also noted that access to your home was not always fully restricted as he was able to enter the rear garden on his arrival. The inspector acknowledged that you were accompanying the children at this time and later on following a child being

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Outcome of monitoring

collected, the gate was fully secured. This helps prevent strangers gaining access to the garden and children leaving unnoticed, which protects children more fully. When asked about specific incidents relating to the safety and supervision of children on an outing; you denied that you have ever lost a child when on an outing or that a child had run onto the roadside. You explained that during school collections children on occasions run from one area of the playground to another but they are not lost and that you supervise them appropriately. During this discussion you demonstrated that you understand the need to inform Ofsted of such incidences, if they occur.

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Outcome of monitoring

The inspector found that you have sought the support of the local authority, however, your delay in making the initial contact after your last inspection means that you have only very recently gained support and begun to implement changes. As a result, you have not yet created an action plan to support the robust implementation of any actions taken to improve. In addition, you have taken on additional children and this has not been managed effectively. Consequently, on occasions this results in you not always having sufficient time to meet the differing demands and needs of the children. This impacts on the way the children behave. It also impacts on the time you have to spend with the children and the quality of teaching and support provided by you.

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Outcome of monitoring

Having considered all the evidence, the inspector is of the opinion that the childminder has not taken prompt and effective action to address the points for improvement.

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Next steps

We will take enforcement action to ensure compliance with children’s welfare and/or learning and development requirements.

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Next steps

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 that confidential records are kept securely and are accessible and available to those who have a right or professional need to view them 27/06/2014 24/06/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

increase understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage to ensure that children learn and develop through good quality teaching. Children must have access to suitable range of accessible and appropriate resources to maintain their interests 28/03/2014 24/06/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

develop a robust system for observation and assessment, including children's starting points and the progress check for children aged two, to identify next steps that fully support and extend children's learning across all areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage 25/04/2014 24/06/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

enable a regular two-way flow of information with parents and/or carers, to ensure information about children's progress is shared 25/04/2014 24/06/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

review health and safety procedures to ensure that all risks and hazards are identified and appropriately dealt with in order to maintain children's safety. 28/03/2014 24/06/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

safeguard children effectively by more vigilant supervision that ensures they are always within sight and hearing. 30/05/2014 24/06/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

ensure that written permission is obtained from parents to confirm that their child can take part in outings 19/07/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

ensure you consider the individual needs, interests, and stage of development of each child in your care, and use this information to plan a challenging and enjoyable experience for each child in all of the areas of learning and development 26/09/2014 implement a robust system for observation and assessment, including children's starting points and the progress check for children aged two, to identify next steps that fully support and extend children's learning across all areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage 22/08/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

obtain and share information with parents and/or carers, to ensure information about children's progress is shared and the needs of all children are met 22/07/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

review risk assessments regularly to ensure that all risks and hazards are identified and appropriately dealt with to keep children safe. 19/07/2014

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