Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 30/07/2014 28/01/2009

p.1

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

p.1

This provision is inadequate

 The childminder does not ensure the assistants she employs have the required knowledge and understanding of their role and responsibility to respond to safeguarding concerns. Therefore, children are not fully safeguarded.  Employed assistants have not been adequately supported, or attended training, to enable them to develop their knowledge and understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage and how to support children's learning using effective teaching skills.  Some of the activities provided for older children lack challenge. As a result, children are not fully engaged in their play and learning and their good progress is not assured.  Children's good health is not consistently promoted because they are not always encouraged to wash their hands before handling food.

p.1

It has the following strengths

 The childminder promotes children's physical development through a suitable range of outdoor physical activities.  Partnerships with parents are sound because the childminder promotes the flow of information through daily conversations and the daily diary.

p.1

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

p.2

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.

p.2

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.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities in the childminder's house and talked with the childminder and the assistant.  The inspector viewed the areas of the premises and garden used for childminding.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector looked at children's assessment records, planning documentation, evidence of suitability of household members, and a range of other documents.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector took account of the views of parents, as recorded in written questionnaires.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the childminder.

p.2

Information about the setting

The childminder was registered in 1996 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 house in Harpenden, Hertfordshire. The whole of the ground floor, one bedroom and the rear garden are used for childminding. The childminder employs her daughter as a childminding assistant. The family has one dog, one cat and seven rabbits as pets. The childminder attends childminding groups weekly. She visits the shops, zoos, farms and parks on a regular basis. She collects children from the local schools and pre- schools. There are currently 13 children on roll, seven of whom are in the early years age group and attend for a variety of sessions. The childminder operates all year round from 7.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, except bank holidays and family holidays. She is a member of the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years.

p.3

must:

 ensure that all assistants have the required knowledge to understand their role to safeguard children, as required by the Early Years Foundation Stage

p.3

must:

 ensure that assistants have appropriate induction and support them to acquire the skills they need to support children's learning and development effectively

p.3

must:

 improve the range of activities available to older children to provide them with appropriate challenge, so that they make good progress in their learning.

p.3

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

 ensure good hygiene practices are consistently encouraged, with regard to children's hand washing.

p.3

who attend

The childminder has an adequate understanding of the learning and development requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. She uses her knowledge to plan a satisfactory range of experiences for the children. She observes and assesses children at their starting points. Therefore, she has knowledge of what stage children are at and what she needs to put in place to encourage their next steps in learning. The childminder communicates with parents on a daily basis, either verbally or through the child's daily diary. Parents are able to access the children's profile folders regularly. Consequently, parents engage in their children's education.

p.3

who attend

Teaching and learning require improvement. The children play outside on a daily basis where the experiences on offer are set up to support their learning. Children choose from a range of physical play equipment including wheeled toys, hoops, a slide and a small trampoline. The younger children enjoy playing with toy dinosaurs in wood chippings and soon become engaged in their own learning. However, some of the experiences on offer do not always adequately engage or challenge the older children. Consequently, their play becomes mundane and learning opportunities are missed.

p.4

who attend

Children take part in a seaside craft activity. They enjoy peeling off stickers to make decorative tiles and jars. They show effective fine motor skills, as they carefully colour in their pictures, they develop their hand-eye coordination and small muscle skills. As a result, children make some progress in their learning and gain adequate skills in preparation for their next stage in learning. The childminder's assistant supports the children giving help where needed. However, she misses opportunities to extend children's learning further through effective conversations and questioning. The childminder promotes young children's enjoyment of books by sharing stories and encouraging children to point to the pictures as she reads. This promotes their language and communication skills.

p.4

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

The childminder does not meet all of the safeguarding and welfare requirements and this compromises children's safety and well-being. However, children are happy and settled with her. The childminder actively uses outdoor areas, such as parks, farms and zoos, to enhance the children's enjoyment of the natural environment. Children learn to take safe risks in their play, as they use large equipment, such as climbing frames. This supports their physical development and builds their confidence in using large equipment. The childminder does not consistently encourage children to wash their hands before handling food, which compromises children's good health. In other respects, she promotes children's health and well-being effectively by providing healthy food and ensuring drinking water is freely available.

p.4

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

The childminder's consistent approach to behaviour management results in children's good behaviour. The children play cooperatively, showing respect for each other. During the craft activity, children praise and encourage each other in their learning. Consequently, they are encouraging each other to become active learners. The available parent questionnaires show that parents are happy with the care their children have received from the childminder. Many of the children stay with her for a number of years. This consistent care and support has a positive impact on the children's well-being.

p.4

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

The childminder prepares children well for the move to school. She has good relationships with the local schools and has attended induction visits and social events with children to gain knowledge of the school's expectations. Consequently, she introduces appropriate activities to enable children to be adequately prepared. Therefore, children are excited about going to school and they eagerly look forward to it.

p.4

provision

The childminder does not fully meet the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. She has failed to ensure that all assistants understand their role and responsibility to safeguard children. This is a breach of the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage and compromises children's safety, as assistants are involved in caring for the children on a daily basis. However, the childminder is aware of and understands her responsibility to report any concerns she has about a child. The childminder promotes other aspects of children's safety by risk assessing the home, garden and any outings to ensure they are suitable for children.

p.5

provision

Records show the childminder attends relevant training courses. The impact of this on children's learning is evident as ongoing development is planned through self-evaluation. She has a sound understanding of the learning and development requirements. She completes observations and monitors her assessments of children. As a result, she is beginning to identify and narrow gaps in children's learning. However, the childminder has not provided her assistant with robust induction or ensured that she has appropriate knowledge and understanding of the safeguarding and welfare requirements and the learning and development requirements. Therefore, the assistant does not make good use of all learning opportunities and does not adequately support children's learning and welfare needs.

p.5

provision

The childminder has sound relationships with parents and they share information to support children's learning and well-being on a regular basis. Some parents speak highly of the childminder and feel she supports them well. Many of the parents have been involved with the childminder for many years. The childminder seeks the views of some parents through written questionnaires and she uses this information to reflect on her practice. The childminder's partnership with other providers of the Early Years Foundation Stage is sound because she shares information with them. As a result, partnership working is effective and children benefit from a shared approach to their learning and development.

p.5

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

p.5

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

p.6

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.

p.6

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.

p.7

Setting details

Unique reference number 123398 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 874749 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 13

p.7

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.

p.7

Type of provision

For the purposes of this inspection the following definitions apply:

p.7

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.

p.7

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.

p.7

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.

p.8

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,

p.8

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’.

p.9

Type of provision

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.9