Childminder in West Northamptonshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 16 April 2015 22 March 2011

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Previous inspection: Good 2 How well the early years provision meets the needs of the range of children who attend Requires improvement The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children Requires improvement The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision Requires improvement The setting does not meet legal requirements for early years settings

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This provision requires improvement. It is not yet good because:

 Links with other early years settings that children attend are not yet established, so children do not always receive effective continuity in their care or learning.  The childminder does not have a strong enough understanding of the procedures to follow for dealing with complaints from parents and does not provide them with consistent and current information for contacting Ofsted.  The childminder is not aware of her responsibilities under the Data Protection Act 1998, with regard to the safe storage of personal data. This poses a potential risk to children's safety.

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It has the following strengths

 The childminder provides a welcoming and homely setting. She has a warm and caring approach and so children are forming secure bonds and attachments with her, which promotes their emotional well-being and confidence effectively.  This experienced childminder uses a range of appropriate teaching methods to help children learn. This includes asking questions and demonstrating new things. As result, children make steady progress in their learning and development and in readiness for school.  The childminder has built positive relationships with parents, which encourages them to share information and their views about their children's care and development.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage the provider must:

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 develop a two-way flow of information with other early years settings to share information about children's progress and achievements, to help ensure the child's needs are met and to provide continuity of their learning and development  ensure the procedures for dealing with complaints are current and in line with requirements, and that the correct information is made readily available for parents and carers  improve understanding of the statutory requirements regarding responsibilities for data protection and the safe storage of information and photographs of children.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 ensure the written statement of procedures to be followed in relation to complaints, which relate to the requirements of the Childcare Register and which a parent makes in writing or by email, contains accurate detail (compulsory part of the Childcare Register)  ensure the written statement of procedures to be followed in relation to complaints, which relate to the requirements of the Childcare Register and which a parent makes in writing or by email, contains accurate detail (voluntary part of the Childcare Register).

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Inspection activities

 The inspector viewed the areas used for childminding. She talked to the children and childminder at appropriate times throughout the inspection and observed a variety of activities.  The inspector looked at evidence of the suitability and qualifications of the childminder as well as a selection of policies and procedures, including safeguarding and discussed risk assessments and the childminder's self-evaluation process.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the childminder. She discussed children's learning and development and sampled their records and looked at the planning documentation.  The inspector took into account the views of parents by reading a number of their comments on letters obtained by the childminder.

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who attend. This requires improvement

Children are provided with a range of activities and experiences, which support their developmental progress. The childminder observes children by using photographs and written notes to detail their achievements, across all areas of learning, in their developmental folders. This helps to identify the children's next steps in their learning. The childminder liaises with parents daily and has developed good relationships with them, to support children's individual needs and interests. However, she has not yet built up a working partnership with the settings that some of the children attend. As a result, children do not make the best progress possible because there is not a common approach to supporting all aspects of children's development. The childminder introduces new vocabulary and asks open probing questions, which supports children's communication, language and thinking skills, including children who speak English as an additional

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who attend. This requires improvement

language. For example, children correctly identify plastic insects, they explore their different characteristics and discuss that some are bigger and are scary.

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requires improvement

The atmosphere is calm and the environment, both indoors and outdoors, is interesting with a wide variety of resources easily accessible to children. This gives them opportunities to make their own choices about what they play with and develop independence and decision making. However, children's welfare is compromised because of weaknesses in leadership and management in relation to the childminder's knowledge of the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. The childminder supports children to learn about how they can keep themselves safe. For example, during imaginative play children take their baby dolls for a walk across an imaginary road and the childminder discusses appropriate safety practices.

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provision requires improvement

The childminder has a good enough understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage. She demonstrates a suitable knowledge of the procedures to follow if she has concerns about a child in her care. She carries out risk assessments for her home, outings and trips, ensuring that potential risks to children's safety are identified, minimised or removed. However, she does not have a suitable understanding of the requirement for data protection, including how to store information and images safely. Additionally, the childminder's knowledge of the procedures for dealing with complaints and the information she provides to parents regarding this requires improvement. She is unaware of the required timescales and she has incorrect contact information for Ofsted. The childminder undertakes mandatory training to keep her knowledge updated, for example, she holds a current qualification in paediatric first-aid and has recently updated her knowledge of child

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provision requires improvement

protection by attending a safeguarding course. A self-evaluation document has been completed, which the childminder feels has enabled her to reflect on the provision for children.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 220356 Local authority Northamptonshire Inspection number 865871 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 3

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Name of provider

Date of previous inspection 22 March 2011

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Telephone number

The childminder registered in 1984 and lives in Northampton. She operates all year round from 7.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays.

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Telephone number

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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Telephone number

procedures set out in the guidance ‘Complaints procedure: raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. 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, safeguarding and child protection.

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Telephone number

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Telephone number

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

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