Mackie, Linda Claire

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, Jan Linsdell, monitored your provision on 25/09/2014 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 11/07/2014, 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 all areas used by the children and checked the climbing frame in the garden. She had a discussion with you about your understanding of safeguarding procedures and talked to you about how you are supporting children's learning and development. The inspector enquired about the support you have received from your local authority adviser. She also reviewed your risk assessments and the children's learning records.

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Outcome of monitoring

The inspector found that you understand how to assess and manage risks to children's safety. You have various written risk assessments in place, including a basic risk assessment for the large climbing frame in the garden. This was following a serious accident where a young child fell off the climbing frame and broke his leg. You have taken some basic measures to help prevent young children accessing the climbing frame. However, you agreed with the inspector that the materials used are quite flimsy and not fully secure. Therefore, you agreed to seek further advice and take necessary steps to make safety arrangements more robust. You have obtained written agreement from parents for children over three years to use the climbing frame and you confirmed that children are always closely supervised at all times. This contributes to keeping children safe.

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Outcome of monitoring

The inspector found that you have made efforts to develop your understanding of safeguarding procedures. For example, you have obtained a copy of the Local Safeguarding Children Board child protection procedures from your adviser. You have basic knowledge of how to identify and respond to abuse and neglect. You know how to report concerns about the children and you have up-to-date contact numbers for the relevant authorities on display. Furthermore, you have booked a place on a safeguarding course, so that you can refresh your knowledge and skills. This contributes to promoting children's safety and welfare.

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Outcome of monitoring

You have improved your understanding of the learning and development requirements, for example, by reading the Early Years Foundation Stage framework and accessing useful information from early years websites. This has helped to broaden your understanding of the areas of learning and how to plan a more balanced educational programme for the children. You are starting to observe children more consistently and you are making appropriate use of your observations, in order to help identify children's interests and plan activities to support their next steps in learning. Consequently, you are starting to offer more purposeful activities to support children's progress.

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Outcome of monitoring

The inspector found that you have set up new learning records for all children in the early years age group. These include appropriate information about children's starting points in their learning, written observations and photographs and an individual tracking document that highlights the children's level of achievement. You are also using guidance documents to check that children are making progress according to expected levels of development for their age. This is enabling you to appropriately monitor and support children's progress across all areas of learning.

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Outcome of monitoring

As a result of the steps taken address the areas for improvement, the inspector found that you are now complying with 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 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 that risk assessments are undertaken, to ensure that all hazards are identified and minimised, to promote children's safety, with specific regard to the climbing frame in the outside play area. 31/07/2014 25/09/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

develop knowledge and understanding of safeguarding policy and procedures to ensure that children are kept safe and well. 31/07/2014 25/09/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

develop knowledge and understanding of the learning and development requirements, to ensure the educational programme is implemented through planned, purposeful play, and through a mix of adult-led and child-initiated activity. 31/07/2014 25/09/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

ensure that the premises and equipment used for the purposes of the childcare are safe and suitable for childcare (compulsory part of the Childcare Register) 31/07/2014 25/09/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

the childminder must ensure that they are familiar with issues of child protection and procedures to safeguard children from abuse or neglect (compulsory part of the Childcare Register) 31/07/2014 25/09/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

use information gained from observing children to determine their level of achievement, interests and learning styles, and plan learning experiences based on these observations, to help children make the best possible progress in their learning and development. 31/07/2014 25/09/2014

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