Childminder in Wirral

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, Lynne Naylor, monitored your provision on 05/09/2014 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 06/06/2014, 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 viewed your resources and discussed the indoor and outdoor activities available to children. She discussed with you the actions you have taken to improve the safety of the children when selecting resources. The inspector viewed various regulatory documents, such as the children's records of attendance and risk assessments. The inspector discussed the steps you are taking to improve your skills and knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage. She discussed the arrangements you have put in place to observe, assess and track children's progress and to work in partnership with other settings that children attend. She viewed the documentation you are using to keep records of children's progress that can be shared with parents. She talked with you about the ways you manage children's behaviour. The inspector spoke with a

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Outcome of monitoring

representative from the local authority.

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Outcome of monitoring

The inspector found that, with the support of the local authority, you have developed an appropriate action plan and demonstrated a commitment to address all the issues raised at the last inspection. You shared your action plan, which is being used to monitor the effectiveness of the changes you have put into place, since your last inspection. You explained to the inspector that since your last inspection you have been meeting with other childminders at weekly drop in sessions, which has enabled you to discuss aspects of childcare and development. You have also started to attend childminder play sessions, which are led by your local authority childminding coordinator. You now feel more aware of the seven areas of learning and able to incorporate children's interests into the planning of activities because these sessions provide you with ideas for appropriate activities. You have built in a range of ways to

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Outcome of monitoring

prepare children emotionally for their move on to school. For example, talking with children about uniforms, friends and activities, reading books about starting school as well as preparing children with self-help skills. You have put in place arrangements to observe, assess and track children's progress and to work in partnership with other settings that children attend. You acknowledged that you are still developing your knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage learning and development requirements. Therefore, you have welcomed the support from your local authority and have accepted their offer to jointly observe a child as a way to build your confidence in assessment procedures.

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Outcome of monitoring

Increased access to the garden and visits to the park and farm provide more opportunities for outdoor play, in order to support all areas of children's learning. Children have been involved in devising positive house rules so they are more aware of boundaries. Your behaviour management procedures identify positive ways to manage behaviour and your written policy on behaviour management has been shared with parents. The inspector looked at your updated records of risk assessment and these reflected the organisation of your home. You have created a checklist for each room in your home, which you tick daily to ensure hazards in the home are minimised before children arrive. The inspector looked at the new furniture you have bought and the way you have re-organised your front room to improve safety. The fold away dining table, smaller storage units and re-organised shelves provide children with more space to freely and safely access the resources on offer.

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Outcome of monitoring

The provision of carpet shapes encourages the children to keep toys in one place and limits tripping hazards. You explained how you closely supervise children in the garden. However, the inspector noted the wooden skirting to the rear of the home has become detached and hazards, including a gas cylinder and tin of fence preserver, are accessible to children. Therefore, the procedures for reviewing risks and monitoring the effectiveness of these are not sufficiently robust. As a result, a further action has been set at this monitoring visit. This also relates to the requirements of the Childcare Register.

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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

The next step will be a full inspection.

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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

Yours sincerely Nick Hudson National Director, Early Education

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Action Due date Closed date

improve knowledge of how children learn, focusing on how to meet children's needs by incorporating interests into planning activities, to help children make good progress and be emotionally prepared for the next stage in their learning 04/07/2014 05/09/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

ensure arrangements for undertaking observations and assessments of children's progress are in place, so that all children have consistent assessment which adequately identifies any gaps in their learning 04/07/2014 05/09/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

undertake a risk assessment of the premises and equipment (compulsory part of the Childcare Register) 25/07/2014 05/09/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

establish links with other providers in order to improve children's experiences so that they benefit from a common approach to support their learning 25/07/2014 05/09/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

undertake a risk assessment of the premises and equipment (voluntary part of the Childcare Register). 04/07/2014 05/09/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

organise the learning environment in order to allow children to freely access the resources on offer and provide access to outdoor play, in order to support all areas of learning 04/07/2014 05/09/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

implement a consistent behaviour management procedure which sets clear boundaries and focuses on rewards, in order to consistently promote positive behaviour 18/07/2014 05/09/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

ensure that risk assessments clearly identify aspects of the environment that need to be checked on a regular basis and that identified risks are removed. Also make sure that children have an understanding of managing risks. 25/07/2014 05/09/2014 review the environment regularly and take action to remove or minimise identified hazards so children are not exposed to risks, this particularly relates to the damaged and loose wooden skirting to the rear of the home and items, such as a gas cylinder and fence preserver 08/09/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

ensure that all necessary measures are taken to minimise any identified risks (compulsory part of the Childcare Register) 08/09/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

ensure that all necessary measures are taken to minimise any identified risks (voluntary part of the Childcare Register). 08/09/2014

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