Childminder in Blackburn with Darwen

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, Rachel Ayo, monitored your provision on 13/08/2014 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 23/05/2014, 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.

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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 your interaction with the children, held numerous discussions with you and viewed the resources and activities available to the children. The inspector looked at local authority documentation and your own self-evaluation document, children's records of learning and planning. She also undertook a tour of the premises. The inspector spoke to a representative from the local authority.

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Outcome of monitoring

The inspector found that you have targeted all areas identified for improvement with the support of your local authority adviser, which you have positively welcomed. This has been achieved in a very timely manner, in order to demonstrate a commitment to continuous improvement. Following on from this, you have begun to develop your own systems for self-evaluation, in order to help you embed the drive for improvement and evaluate the quality of your practice and its impact on children. As part of this, you are currently working towards gaining a child care qualification at level 3 to extend your knowledge of early years practice. Furthermore, you have sought other sources of support by developing links with other childminders graded as outstanding. Consequently, children's safety, well-being and learning are impacted upon in a positive way. However, systems for reviewing your practice are not yet fully successful. This is because although you have effectively addressed all actions,

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Outcome of monitoring

you have not identified and met a small number of other unrelated specific legal requirements. For example, you have not notified Ofsted of changes to persons living in the household, with specific regard to your daughter moving back in. However, the impact is minimised because she is already registered as an assistant and has, therefore, been deemed suitable by Ofsted. Consequently, children continue to be safeguarded.

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Outcome of monitoring

The inspector found that you have developed your knowledge of the learning and development requirements. As a result, there is provision of a more broad and balanced curriculum being delivered through a mix of adult-led and child-initiated activities that meet children's individual needs. This stems from more precise observation, assessment and planning systems. For example, you are now using information gained from regular observations of the children more effectively to assess children's starting points for learning, identify their next steps for learning and monitor their continued development. This is because you have introduced a tracking system. Consequently, you are providing individual learning experiences for each child across the areas of learning through precisely-targeted individual planning. This contributes to children's improved achievements and progress and ensures they receive appropriate levels of challenge. In addition, this means that you can monitor

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Outcome of monitoring

gaps in children's learning and identify where they are working below expected levels of development and ensure early intervention if needed. This is supported further through the completion of a more well-informed progress check carried out for children between the ages of two and three years.

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Outcome of monitoring

The inspector found that you have strengthened the two-way flow of information with parents. Alongside friendly day-to-day exchanges, daily diaries and newsletters, parents have free access to children's records of learning. These are now more insightful and informative. You provide ongoing communication about children's next steps for learning and how parents can support these at home. As a result, a shared and consistent approach is helping children to make improved progress towards the early learning goals. However, links are less successful in relation to the communication between yourself and other practitioners where there is shared care. This prevents you from gaining a full picture of all children's achievements, in order to complement their learning fully and from balancing children's experiences with those in other settings.

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Outcome of monitoring

The inspector found that you have improved opportunities for children to be healthy. You now encourage children to make positive choices about what they eat and learn about how this contributes to healthy lifestyle practices. This is because you provide a selection of healthy and nutritious snacks and meals throughout the day. This includes a freshly made meal each day, such as spaghetti bolognaise.

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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. 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

develop an educational programme which considers each individual child's needs and interests, and plan this effectively so that challenging adult-led and child- initiated experiences are offered across all areas of learning, in order to help children make the best possible progress 23/07/2014 13/08/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

develop knowledge and understanding of the learning and development requirements, with particular reference to the observation and assessment of each child's individual needs and stage of development 23/06/2014 13/08/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

assess children's starting points and progress throughout all areas of learning and ensure their next steps are identified, so that children make good progress towards the early learning goals 23/07/2014 13/08/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

strengthen the two-way flow of information with parents and/or carers, in order to provide the support they need to guide their child's learning and development at home and to ensure each child's care is tailored to their individual needs 23/07/2014 13/08/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

improve opportunities for children to be healthy, by offering them a choice of healthy, nutritious snacks and meals. 23/07/2014 13/08/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

ensure effective partnership working with other providers by exchanging information about children's learning and development, so that there is a shared and consistent approach to supporting their progress and achievements 27/08/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

ensure that Ofsted are informed of the name, date of birth, address and telephone number of any person aged 16 or over working or living on the premises 27/08/2014 (compulsory part of the Childcare Register) ensure that Ofsted are informed of the name, date of birth, address and telephone number of any person aged 16 or over working or living on the premises (voluntary part of the Childcare Register). 27/08/2014

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