Childminder in Leicestershire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 15/12/2014 26/10/2009

p.1

early years provision

This inspection: 3 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 3 The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision 3

p.1

This provision requires improvement

 Children participate in a wide range of activities that cover the areas of learning and teaching is good. Therefore, children make good progress towards the early learning goals.  The childminder communicates well with parents and other professionals by regularly sharing important information with them. This ensures that every child's needs are effectively known and met, which helps them to form close bonds and warm relationships with the childminder. As a result, children are happy and content in her care, which successfully promotes their emotional security.  The childminder has a sound understanding of child protection procedures, which ensures children are protected from potential harm.

p.1

It is not yet good because

 The childminder has not maintained her paediatric first-aid qualification to fully protect children's well-being.  The childminder does not promote every opportunity for children to think creatively for themselves because questions are sometimes repetitive and overly directive.  The childminder's programme of self-evaluation and professional development is not sufficiently focused or targeted to enhance the quality of her practice.

p.1

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

p.2

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.

p.2

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.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector checked evidence of the childminder's suitability and looked at a selection of policies, procedures and children's records.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke with the childminder and children at appropriate times during the inspection and conducted a joint observation.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector had a tour of the areas of the childminder's home that are used for childminding purposes.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The views of parents and carers were taken into account from comments noted on the childminder's own parent feedback forms and references.

p.2

Information about the setting

The childminder was registered in 1999 on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She lives with her son and uses the whole of the ground floor for childminding. The family has two rabbits as pets. The childminder attends a toddler group and activities at the local library. She visits the local shops, cafes and park on a regular basis. She collects children from local schools. There are currently 10 children on roll, five of whom are in the early years age group. Children attend for a variety of sessions. The childminding provision operates all year round, from 7am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, except bank holidays and family holidays.

p.3

must:

 ensure that a paediatric first-aid qualification is maintained at all times

p.3

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

 improve the delivery of questions during activities, so that they are not too repetitive or overly directive to give children more opportunities to think creatively for themselves

p.3

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

 enhance the current arrangements for self-evaluation to ensure an astute and targeted programme of professional development supports continuous improvement to enhance children's safety, learning and progress more effectively.

p.3

who attend

The childminder provides children with a varied range of interesting and age-appropriate learning experiences in and out of the home. Children make good progress given their starting points. The childminder gathers detailed information from parents on All about me forms to determine what children can already do when they begin at the setting. This is supplemented with her own initial observations, helping her to define each child's unique starting points. The childminder regularly observes children and uses this information to provide a summary of their progress and plan for their next steps in learning. As a result, she is able to track children's progress and identify any gaps in their learning. The childminder maintains regular communication with other adults involved in the children's care and learning. For example, she exchanges information with children's parents and their teachers at pre-school and school. Parents share what they know about their children

p.3

who attend

from the outset and as an ongoing process. In addition, the progress check for children between the ages of two and three years is appropriately completed and shared with parents. The childminder talks with staff at the setting where children attend and talks about future events and their assessment of children's progress. This means that everyone is fully informed and working towards a common goal.

p.4

who attend

A range of activities and leaning experiences, appropriate for their age and stage, are enjoyed by children. For example, they eagerly participate in an activity making Christmas pictures. They use paint, and cut and glue materials to their picture to create the effect that they would like. The childminder engages with children well during activities, promoting their communication and language through meaningful dialogue. Overall, she asks a good range of appropriate questions as they play. However, on occasion, these are repetitive and overly directive, which restricts children in learning to think creatively for themselves. Children enjoy selecting and reading books. They eagerly share favourites with the childminder who responds positively to their interests. For example, she supports a younger child's growing interest in letters and sounds as they look through a book together. This promotes their literacy skills. Children count and identify numbers and

p.4

who attend

shapes on floor mats and use tools, such as brushes and sponges to make marks on paper. These activities help children develop the skills they need to be ready for next stage in learning and for their future move onto school.

p.4

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

Children form close bonds with the childminder and they are secure, happy and settled in her care. They interact well with the childminder and are confident to ask for help and express their needs when needed. This is evident, for example, when they need assistance during an activity or when they are hungry. However, children's well-being is not effectively maintained because the childminder has not met a legal responsibility, as she does not hold a current paediatric first aid certificate. However, she does have the basic knowledge of how to attend to minor accidents and injuries to children. The childminder has a flexible induction procedure that supports children to settle when they are ready. She is calm and caring and knows children well. This is because she seeks detailed information from parents relating to children's individual needs and care routines. The childminder provides a warm, welcoming environment, helping children to feel a sense of

p.4

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

belonging. For example, they feel valued when looking at photographs of themselves and at their own and others artwork displayed in the environment. This helps children to feel emotionally ready for when they move to other settings and school. The childminder has created a purpose built playroom where children are free to access a good range of appropriate toys and equipment that reflect children's interests.

p.4

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

Children behave well because the childminder sets clear and realistic expectations, which they learn to respect. Children are helped to understand some routines and boundaries within the childminder's home as she models positive behaviour. The childminder promotes good behaviour through praise, which helps to support children's confidence and self-esteem and their desire to want to contribute. Good daily practice and ongoing explanations help children develop their understanding of how to keep safe. For example, the childminder clearly explains the dangers of running indoors and they talk about road safety and stranger danger when out walking. Children learn about the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Their parents provide their meals and snacks, which are supplemented as necessary by the childminder. Children develop an understanding of the importance of physical exercise and are provided with opportunities to play outside on a regular basis.

p.4

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

For example, they make good use of the childminder's garden and visit local parks and recreational areas, where they can run and climb.

p.5

provision

The childminder does not meet the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. This is because her paediatric first-aid qualification expired shortly before the inspection and although she has a course booked to renew it, she does not currently hold a valid certificate. This is a breach of requirements of the Early Years Register and the Childcare Register and means that children's well-being is not effectively assured. However, the childminder ensures that children are safe as she carries out daily visual checks on the premises and equipment and supervises children well. Detailed risk assessments are in place for all areas of the childminder's home and for outings. These effectively minimise any potential hazards. The childminder has an appropriate knowledge and understanding of how to safeguard children. She clearly knows how to recognise the signs and symptoms of abuse and has a firm understanding of the procedures to follow in

p.5

provision

The childminder has made some improvements since her last inspection, including implementing appropriate risk assessments and developing the arrangements for observing and assessing children. This has enabled the childminder to successfully monitor children's progress and plan learning opportunities in all areas of learning. However, although the childminder understands the benefit of training to update and improve her knowledge, she has not been pro-active in doing this. This includes failing to maintain the necessary mandatory training, such as completing a paediatric first-aid training course in a timely manner. Consequently, self-evaluation is not used effectively to identify all areas for improvement, or to identify gaps in knowledge or plan for how these will be addressed through targeted improvement and training plans.

p.5

provision

Partnerships with parents and links with schools and other early years providers are well established. This ensures consistency in meeting children's needs. The childminder provides parents with a range of information relating to the Early Years Foundation Stage, through her policies and on displays within her home. Verbal discussions and regular invitations to view and contribute to learning journals ensure that parents are fully involved in their children's learning. Parents comment positively in written references about the childminder's professional yet caring approach. As a result, a shared approach to children's learning is fully embraced.

p.5

The Childcare Register

The requirements for the compulsory part of the Childcare Register are

p.6

actions)

The requirements for the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are

p.6

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

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

p.6

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

p.7

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.

p.7

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.

p.8

Setting details

Unique reference number 226113 Local authority Leicestershire Inspection number 818312 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 10

p.8

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.

p.8

Type of provision

For the purposes of this inspection the following definitions apply:

p.8

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.

p.8

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.

p.8

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.

p.9

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,

p.9

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’.

p.10

Type of provision

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

p.10