Sass, Venessa

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, Marina Howarth, monitored your provision on 18/09/2014 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 04/06/2014, 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 observed your interactions with the children, and spoke with you and the children at appropriate times. The inspector looked at your Disclosure and Barring Service checks and asked to see evidence of the current status of new checks for verification. The inspector observed and discussed safety measures with you and the organisation of your setting. She also sampled a range of documentation, including your daily attendance register, risk assessments, accident records and your planning and assessment documents. The inspector was unable to speak to a representative from the local authority, because your representative was unavailable.

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Outcome of monitoring

The inspector found that you have been working closely with your local authority advisor and have developed a clear plan of action to address the issues raised at your last inspection. You have started to evaluate the quality of your practice and the impact this has on outcomes for children. This has enabled you to determine how to address the areas for improvement raised at your last inspection and to plan ongoing improvements to the provision for children. You explained the action you have taken to ensure that all household members over the age of 16 years have completed or are going through the necessary suitability checks through the Disclosure and Barring Service. You demonstrated that you have taken prompt and effective steps to ensure all requested information is returned to Ofsted so that accurate information is held. Relevant checks of household members are in place or currently in the process of being undertaken. You were able to demonstrate this through evidence of

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Outcome of monitoring

documentation, which contributes to safeguarding children. You have informed parents of this requirement, ensuring they are fully aware of the procedures you have implemented.

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Outcome of monitoring

The inspector found that you have satisfactorily addressed the welfare requirements with regard to keeping and making easily accessible the required records for the safe and efficient management of your setting. This includes the implementation of a new process for ensuring all accidents or injuries and any first-aid treatment administered is recorded. You now ensure a copy is retained by yourself and a copy is issued to parents, ensuring they are kept fully informed. This contributes to keeping children safe. You have reviewed you daily attendance record, which includes the required information on every child and their hours of attendance. Consequently, this means you are now able to demonstrate that the total number of children under the age of eight being cared for never exceeds the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Sufficient supervision and safety measures were explained by you with regard

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Outcome of monitoring

to periods of time when exceptions are being made to the usual ratios for early years children. Records demonstrate that since your last inspection, you have reduced the number of children you are caring for. This means that the care you provide for older children does not adversely affect the care of children receiving early years provision. As a result of the actions taken to address the areas for improvement, you are now also complying with the requirements of the Childcare Register.

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Outcome of monitoring

The inspector found that you have taken prompt and effective action to review your risk assessment process. As a result, you have made changes to improve the organisation of your premises to ensure that potential risks are removed or minimised. Items are no longer stored on the stairs. Children are unable to open the safety gate located at the kitchen entrance. However, older children are able to open the safety gate located at the bottom of the stairs to enable them to use the bathroom. You explained that this supports their independence. You demonstrated that you have conducted a risk assessment for the stairgate. This ensures that younger children are not able to access the stairs unless they are under your direct supervision. Consequently children's safety is prioritised and they are cared for in a safe environment.

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Outcome of monitoring

The inspector found that you have also improved the organisation of space and equipment to ensure the environment is less cluttered and more effectively meets the needs of the children. For example, you have organised resources into areas of learning throughout your home, making better use of space, which enhances learning for children. Children can explore and make their own choices. You have reduced the amount of toys that children have out at any one time and this has created more space and made learning more meaningful for children as they use their resources with greater purpose. You have also reviewed mealtime routines so that babies are provided with appropriate seating that supports their independence skills and enables them to focus fully on eating. The inspector found that you have improved the arrangements for observation and assessment, which includes more frequent observations of each child's learning and

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Outcome of monitoring

development. These are now more closely linked to specific areas of learning and are being used effectively to identify children's next steps in learning. You are now using a tracking system, which enables you to closely monitor children's progress in all areas of their development and enables you to understand their precise levels of achievement. Records available demonstrate that children are making progress across all areas of learning. The educational programme has been improved and has depth and breadth across all seven areas of learning.

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Outcome of monitoring

Observations of you working with children show that you provide interesting activities that both support and challenge children's thinking. You ensure that activities planned are matched more effectively to children's individual learning styles and development needs. As a result, children's learning is extended and their progress is promoted more effectively. You demonstrate a secure commitment to continuing to improve these systems, with clear plans to attend further relevant training, which will help to develop your knowledge and skills in this regard.

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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

ensure all requested documentation is returned to Ofsted so that accurate information is held and relevant checks of household members can be undertaken 02/07/2014 18/09/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

ensure that the numbers of children attending at any one time do not exceed the maximum numbers allowed in the Early Years Foundation Stage and that any care provided for older children does not adversely affect the care of children receiving early years provision 02/07/2014 18/09/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

keep an accurate daily record of the names of children looked after and their hours of attendance 02/07/2014 18/09/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

keep a written record of accidents or injuries and first-aid treatment 02/07/2014 18/09/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

improve the organisation of space and equipment to ensure that sufficient space is available for the number of children present, the risk assessment is effectively implemented, and suitable equipment is consistently provided to fully meet children's individual needs 02/07/2014 18/09/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

use ongoing assessment as an integral part of the management of the learning and development process, observing children to understand their precise levels of achievement and the progress they make, and more carefully planning a programme of activities that will support each child's progression through the Early Years Foundation Stage in a broad and balanced way. 02/07/2014 18/09/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

keep a daily record of the names of the children looked after on the premises and their hours of attendance, and retain them for a period of two years (compulsory part of the Childcare 02/07/2014 18/09/2014 Register). keep a daily record of the names of the children looked after on the premises and their hours of attendance, and retain them for a period of two years (voluntary part of the Childcare Register). 02/07/2014 18/09/2014

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