Childminder in Lancashire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 09/10/2014 12/04/2012

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early years provision

This inspection: 4 Previous inspection: 3 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

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This provision is inadequate

 The childminder has failed to update her first-aid training. Consequently, the childminder does not have the most up-to-date knowledge when dealing with children's accidents and injuries.  The childminder does not have a good understanding of the learning and development requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. She does not accurately assess children's development or plan for their future learning so that they make good progress towards the early learning goals.  The childminder does not work in partnership with all parents. Therefore, there is inconsistency between the learning that takes place at home and in the childminding setting.

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It has the following strengths

 The childminder has a positive and warm approach to the children. Consequently, children build lovely relationships with her.  The childminder has interesting resources to offer children of all ages. Therefore, children enjoy their time with the childminder.

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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

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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.

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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.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector had a tour of the setting.  The inspector observed activities in the playroom.  The inspector held conversations with the childminder throughout the inspection.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector looked at documentation, such as observations of children's learning, their learning journals and the childminder's policies and procedures.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector took an account of the views of parents through questionnaires, cards and letters, which the childminder keeps.

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Information about the setting

The childminder has been registered since June 2003. She lives with her partner and two adult sons. The family home is in Penwortham near Preston. It is close to two parks, a library and a primary school. Most of the ground floor is used for childminding, including the lounge, playroom, conservatory and toilet facilities. The family has two pet rabbits. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and on both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. Currently there are eight children on roll, of whom five are within the early years age range. The childminder cares for children on weekdays from 7am to 6pm, all year round. The childminder is a member of the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years.

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must:

 establish a clear understanding of the learning and development requirements, the areas of learning and the ways in which children learn and develop so that children are best supported to make good progress

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must:

 establish robust partnerships with all parents to keep them informed of their child's progress to support them in continuing their child's learning at home

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who attend

The childminder does not have a suitable knowledge and understanding of the learning and development requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Consequently, children are not supported effectively by the childminder to make sufficient progress towards the early learning goals given their starting points. The childminder sometimes observes children as they play and has examples of this in their learning journals. However, she does not have an understanding about the areas of learning she observes. Therefore, observations are not effectively used to monitor children's progress or identify any gaps in any areas of their learning because she does not know how to assess the progress children are making.

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who attend

Children enjoy their time with the childminder because she has interesting resources on offer to them. Children's work is displayed around the setting, which means children feel valued by her. The childminder asks a range of questions and communicates with children frequently, which promotes their language development. Children use their imaginations as they play with malleable materials, such as playdough. They use fine muscle movements to manipulate the dough and use the cutters to make their own play figures. They sit with the childminder as she reads a story to them. These general activities however, are not supported by purposeful play planned by the childminder to meet individual children's learning needs. This is because assessments of children's learning are not accurate. Therefore, the childminder does not have sufficient information to be able to plan effectively for children's future learning to ensure that they make good progress.

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who attend

The childminder speaks to most parents to collate information on a daily basis. She also uses a daily diary. She asks for information to support children's care routines and passes on information to them about their child's experiences throughout their day. This means most parents are informed. However, the childminder does not effectively engage all parents in partnership with her to support children's learning. This is because the childminder lacks precise information about their children's progress to be able to share this with parents so that they can continue this at home.

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

The childminder's failure to update her first-aid training, which means that children's well- being is not sufficiently protected. This is because the childminder does not have up-to- date information about current practices when providing first-aid to the children in her care.

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

Children settle well as they arrive at the childminding setting. They are reassured when they get upset as their parents leave and this results in them calming quickly. The childminder has a warm and positive approach to the children throughout their routine. As a result, children build a lovely relationship with her and come to her for cuddles in order to feel safe and secure. The childminder praises children as they behave well and offers a consistent approach to behaviour management. Consequently, children take turns and cooperate as they play. The childminder follows children's routines and asks parents for information about each child's care needs during settling-in periods. As a result, children are familiar with their surroundings and emotionally supported during times of change.

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

The childminder offers children a range of accessible resources. Children confidently and independently choose activities from clearly labeled boxes and trays. Children have a visually stimulating playroom to explore, which has displays of their work and colourful paintings on the windows. As a result, the environment is interesting for children. Children are learning about other cultures and countries of the world as the childminder offers them resources, such as a basket of fruit, from a popular cultural book. Therefore, children are learning about similarities and differences in the world around them.

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

The childminder provides fresh home-cooked meals for the children and they get regular exercise during various outings to the local parks. The childminder ensures they go out every day in all weathers. As a result, they benefit from a healthy lifestyle. The childminder supervises children adequately if they play in the back garden and ensures they participate in fire drills.

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provision

The childminder is not committed to undertaking professional development to improve her practice. This is because she has not noticed that her first-aid certificate is out of date. Therefore, the first aid that she provides, will not reflect up-to-date information about best practice. This is a breach of the legal requirements of the Early Years Register and both parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder has an appropriate understanding of child protection procedures and the signs and symptoms that may suggest that children are at risk of harm.

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provision

The childminder is not aware of the recommendations, which were set in her last inspection report. She is unaware of what needs to be done to improve her practice. She has not kept up to date with the changes to the Early Years Foundation Stage and does not know how to effectively monitor her practice. For example, assessments of children's development are not used to plan for children's future learning. As a result, children are not supported to make sufficient progress from their starting points.

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provision

The childminder gives parents questionnaires to ask them how they feel their child is settling in the care of the childminder. The comments parents make are complimentary and they indicate they are pleased with the care she provides. Additionally she has cards and letters of appreciation, which praise her for welcoming families into the setting. However, partnerships with parents are not effective enough to support consistency in meeting children's learning needs. The childminder is honest and aware her practice needs improvement. However, she is not able to put specific targets in place because she has no method of evaluating her practice. As a result, she is not able to focus on developing her practice to improve outcomes for children.

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The Childcare Register

The requirements for the compulsory part of the Childcare Register are

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actions)

The requirements for the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are

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To meet the requirements of the Childcare Register the provider must:

 ensure an appropriate first aid qualification is in place (compulsory part of the Childcare Register)  ensure an appropriate first aid qualification is in place (voluntary part of the Childcare Register).

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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. We re-inspect nurseries and pre-schools judged as requires improvement within 12 months of the date of 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

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Grade Judgement Description

is not meeting the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. It will be monitored and inspected again within six months of the date of this inspection. Met There were no children present at the time of the inspection. The inspection judgement is that the provider continues to meet the requirements for registration. Not met There were no children present at the time of the inspection. The inspection judgement is that the provider does not meet the requirements for registration.

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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.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY239859 Local authority Lancashire Inspection number 877447 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 8

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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.

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Type of provision

For the purposes of this inspection the following definitions apply:

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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,

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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’.

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Type of provision

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

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