Mrs Linda Dianne Kavanagh

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 23 June 2015 16 November 2011

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Previous inspection: Good 2 How well the early years provision meets the needs of the range of children who attend Inadequate 4

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children Inadequate 4

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision Inadequate 4

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

The setting does not meet legal requirements for early years settings

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This provision is inadequate

 The childminder has a limited understanding of the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. She does not ensure her assistants are fully aware of how children learn and develop, that they know her policies and procedures, and can meet the requirements for being in sole charge of children. This significantly impacts on how children's welfare is safeguarded and their needs are met.  The childminder has a very limited knowledge of safeguarding matters. She has not kept her safeguarding knowledge up to date. This means she does not have a clear understanding of what to do or who to contact if she has a concern about a child in her care.  The childminder has three assistants that she uses at different times and, on occasion, she leaves them in sole charge of children. She has failed to obtain permission from parents for this. Children were left with assistants for more than two hours and they did

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This provision is inadequate

not have valid first-aid certificates. These are breaches of the safeguarding and welfare requirements.  The childminder is aware of what children enjoy playing with. However, at times, she does not allow children sufficient opportunity to lead their own play. In addition, the assistants lack the knowledge and skills to meet children's learning needs. As a result, children do not always have positive play experiences.

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It has the following strengths

 Children are happy and settled in the childminder's care.  The childminder helps children develop their independence skills.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

The provision is inadequate and Ofsted intends to take the following enforcement action:

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

we will issue a welfare requirements notice requiring the provider to:

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

implement a safeguarding policy that is in line with the guidance of the Local Safeguarding Children's Board and covers the use of mobile phones and cameras;

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

ensure child protection training is undertaken to be able to identify, understand and respond appropriately to signs of possible abuse and neglect;

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

ensure all assistants who have sole charge of children hold a valid paediatric first-aid certificate;

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

ensure that parental permission is obtained to leave children in the sole care of an assistant for no longer than two hours in any single day.

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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

 ensure knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage is improved so the childminder has a clear understanding of all of her roles and responsibilities  develop questioning techniques to help extend children's experiences without over- directing how they should complete activities  ensure all assistants working with children are aware of the learning and development requirements, and able to provide interesting and challenging experiences for all children  ensure all assistants are fully aware of their roles and responsibilities, and the policies and procedures to follow for the safe management of the provision. 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 any assistant in sole charge of children does so for no longer than two hours and that parents have given their consent for the child to be left with the assistant (compulsory part of the Childcare Register)  keep and implement a written statement of procedures to be followed for the protection of children being cared for (compulsory part of the Childcare Register)  provide appropriate training to all assistants to ensure they have the suitable skills and experience to care for children (compulsory part of the Childcare Register).  ensure any assistant in sole charge of children does so for no longer than two hours and that parents have given their consent for the child to be left with the assistant (voluntary part of the Childcare Register)  keep and implement a written statement of procedures to be followed for the protection of children being cared for (voluntary part of the Childcare Register)

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Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke with the childminder and one of her assistants during the inspection.  The inspector looked at a sample of policies, documents and procedures.  The inspector took account of the views of parents from their comments.  The inspector discussed the childminder's self-evaluation process with her.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the childminder.

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who attend. This is inadequate

The childminder is aware of what activities children enjoy, but does not have an adequate knowledge of the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. At times, she over- directs children's play and does not encourage them to complete activities for themselves. In addition, she does not ensure her assistants have sufficient knowledge to provide all children with a range of interesting and challenging experiences that are tailored to their individual needs. As a result, activities are not providing children with opportunities to make as much progress as possible, or giving them sufficient skills to be ready for school. The childminder provides an adequate range of resources and activities, both inside and outside. These are displayed in a way that allows children to make their own choices about what they wish to play with. The childminder supports children's communication and listening skills adequately. She carries out the required progress checks when children

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who attend. This is inadequate

are between the ages of two and three years and shares this information with parents.

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inadequate

The childminder has a valid first-aid certificate. However, she has failed to ensure that any of her assistants, who have sole care of children, are paediatric first-aid trained. This is a breach of the safeguarding and welfare requirements. This significantly impacts upon the well-being of the children as these assistants do not have a clear understanding of how they will deal with accidents and injuries when alone with the children. The childminder helps develop children's emotional well-being as she builds secure emotional attachments with them. She carries out risk assessments to ensure the areas used by the children are safe. Children are helped in developing healthy lifestyles, and the childminder provides opportunities for them to exercise as they play in the garden or go out for walks in the local community. Children behave well. The childminder gives clear explanations to children about what is expected and they are beginning to develop an understanding of

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provision is inadequate

The childminder has a written safeguarding policy but has not kept her knowledge of safeguarding up to date. She is not aware of the how to keep children safe from the use of mobile phones and cameras, or the procedures to follow, and who to contact, should she have any concerns about the children in her care. She has also failed to ensure her assistants, who are left in sole charge of children, have any knowledge or understanding of child protection issues, or her policies and procedures. The childminder has allowed her assistants to care for children unsupervised for over the maximum of two hours in a single day permitted. She has failed to seek permission from parents to allow them to do this, and the assistants are not appropriate trained to be in sole charge either. Therefore, children's welfare and well-being are not effectively safeguarded. These significant weaknesses in practice are breaches in the requirements of the Early Years Foundation

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provision is inadequate

Stage, and associated requirements of the Childcare Register. Although the childminder evaluates her practice, this is not effective and is not helping her drive positive improvements in her practice. Nonetheless, the childminder forms friendly relationships with parents, uses daily diaries to inform them of their child's day and parents comment they are happy with her provision.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 134093 Local authority Oxfordshire Inspection number 846417 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 12 Number of children on roll 9

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Name of provider

Date of previous inspection 16 November 2011

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Telephone number

The childminder registered in 1995. She lives in Wolvercote, Oxfordshire. The childminder operates weekdays for most of the year. She has three assistants.

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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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