Childminder in Devon

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 06/08/2014 15/11/2011

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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 not informed Ofsted of changes to the household to safeguard children and enable them to carry out the necessary suitability checks.  The childminder does not plan activities effectively that challenge children, based on their next steps in learning, to support their individual progress.  Partnerships with parents and other early years settings that children attend are not fully effective to enable routine sharing of information regarding children's progress, to provide complementary learning opportunities.  The childminder does not self-evaluate her provision effectively to identify and address all weaknesses in her practice to improve outcomes for children.

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It has the following strengths

 The childminder supports children's language development suitably through some positive teaching strategies.  Children settle in quickly due to the welcoming environment and warm relationships established 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 observed children both indoors and outside.  The inspector took account of the views of parents.  The inspector held discussions with the childminder to confirm procedures.  The inspector sampled documentation including children's observation records.

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Information about the setting

The childminder registered in 2004. She lives with her husband and two school-aged children in a residential area on the western side of Exeter, Devon. Her home is within walking distance of schools and other local amenities. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. There are currently two children on roll, both of whom are in the early years age group. Children have access to the ground floor of the house, an enclosed rear garden and a bedroom on the first floor for sleeping. The family has two pet dogs and keeps fish.

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must:

 plan targeted activities based on children's next steps in learning to challenge and support their individual development.

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To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

 improve partnerships with parents by sharing information with them about how they can contribute to their children's learning at home

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To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

 develop rigorous and effective systems for self-evaluation to ensure that identified priorities for improvement are implemented, particularly in regard to meeting children's learning and development needs

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To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

 enhance links with other early years settings children attend, to help provide consistency in their care and learning.

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who attend

The childminder has a basic understanding of the learning and development requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage to provide a range of play experiences for children. However, she does not have an adequate knowledge of each child's individual next steps in all areas of learning to plan activities that challenge and engage children in purposeful play experiences. This is because the childminder takes the children out each day to local community groups, meaning much of her childminding takes place outside her home. Consequently, while children enjoy the activities provided, the childminder does not specifically target them to meet children's individual learning requirements and needs. This means that children's development is not supported adequately overall to help them make good progress. The childminder has a suitable knowledge of her responsibility to complete progress checks for two-year-old children.

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who attend

The childminder uses appropriate techniques to promote children's communication and language development. For example, she encouraged children to pronounce new words and asked them to describe how different textures feel. Children learn appropriate social skills through the childminder's modelling. She gets down to their level and maintains eye contact when talking to them. This helps children understand the importance of listening when participating in discussions with others. The childminder takes advantage of children's interests to develop their mathematical skills. For instance, when children became distracted by the childminder's fish tank, she asked them to count the number of fish.

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who attend

The childminder has basic partnerships with parents to support children's experiences. She shares information with them relating to the children's daily care and general achievements through verbal discussions. However, she does not provide them with information about their children's learning needs and next developmental steps so that parents can support their children's learning at home. This means the childminder does not provide complementary learning opportunities that take in to account children's experiences elsewhere. As a result, parents do not have the opportunity to share what they know and work fully with the childminder to meet the children's learning needs together. The childminder creates daily diary keepsakes for each child. In these diaries, she records children's experiences and daily care routines through annotated photographs. This provides parents with some information about what their children do when with the

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

General safety measures ensure the childminder's home is safe through suitable risk assessments to help promote children's safety. For example, she ensures that chemicals are stored in the garden behind a fence to prevent children from accessing them. Children participate in fire evacuations to help them understand how to exit the premises safely in the event of an emergency. The childminder has an appropriate knowledge of child protection issues and understands how to refer these to the relevant professionals. However, the childminder has not informed Ofsted of changes to the adult members in her household. This puts children's welfare and well-being at risk.

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

Children are happy and settled with the childminder. They enjoy her interaction during their activities and frequently invite her to join in with their self-chosen activities. They refer to her as, 'Aunty,' which demonstrates the close bond they establish. During nappy- changing routines, the childminder maintains eye contact with young children and plays 'peepo', which makes the experience a positive one and helps them to feel valued. The childminder's frequent praise boosts children's self-esteem, for example, when children devised a way to move the water as they play, she told them it was a good idea. This encouraged them to explore and problem-solve and supported the children to feel secure. This also helped them to behave well and share resources unprompted. The childminder supports children to undertake small self-care tasks to develop their independence.

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

The childminder has a suitable range of play equipment and resources to interest and meet the needs of the children. These are stored in labelled containers at low level to encourage children to make choices in their play. The childminder supports children's health appropriately. Children are encouraged to drink water throughout the day so they do not become thirsty. She has a current first-aid qualification and implements appropriate procedures to record accidents to ensure parents are informed. The childminder reminds children to wash their hands at appropriate times and use their individual hand towels to dry them. This helps to prevent the spread of cross-infection. Children enjoy fresh air each day when playing in the garden and during outings. The childminder teaches children how to keep themselves healthy. For example, she explained to a child that they should not put items in their mouths that might be dirty.

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provision

The childminder has a weak knowledge of the learning and development requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Planning and assessment arrangements to monitor and support children's progress are not effective. As a result, the childminder does not have a true picture of children's next steps in learning, which means she is not able to extend their learning. Furthermore, the childminder has breached a legal requirement to inform Ofsted of changes to household members. This is because she did not inform Ofsted about an additional adult moving into her home. This means that Ofsted are not aware of who lives at the premises. Therefore, they have not been able to carry out the appropriate vetting checks through the Disclosure and Barring Service to determine that adult's suitability. This is a breach of statutory requirements for the Early Years Foundation Stage and the associated requirements of the Childcare Register. On this occasion, Ofsted do not

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provision

There are sound procedures in place to provide children with a safe and secure environment. The childminder maintains a suitable range of documentation to promote children's well-being, such as obtaining parental consents to take photographs, administer basic first aid and to seek emergency assistance. The childminder attends the necessary training to keep her knowledge of child protection and first aid up to date. She has relevant policies and procedures, which she makes available to parents to support their understanding of her practice.

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provision

The childminder does not engage fully with parents and other early years settings that children attend to extend and support their learning experiences. Although she makes contact with children's key persons at other settings, she does not share or request ongoing information relating to children's progress and learning experiences. This prevents her from building on children's experiences elsewhere, to provide consistent learning opportunities. The childminder provides parents with some information about their children's achievements and activities. Parents state that they are very happy with how the childminder contributes greatly to children's well-being, happiness and confidence.

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provision

The childminder uses a basic self-evaluation process to help her identify some areas for improvement, which she addresses suitably. For instance, she has acquired additional documentation to use with new parents to help her support their children when they begin attending the setting. However, the childminder does not use a robust system to evaluate all aspects of her provision effectively to improve outcomes for children. In addition, she is unaware of the effect of key weaknesses on children's overall care and learning.

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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:

 inform Ofsted of the name, date of birth, address and telephone number of any person aged 16 or over working or living on the premises (compulsory part of the Childcare Register).  inform Ofsted 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).

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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 EY278895 Local authority Devon Inspection number 843598 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 2

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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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