Childminder in Somerset

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 1 July 2015 15 August 2012

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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:

 On occasion, the childminder leaves the children in sole charge of her assistant, who has not had her suitability confirmed. This does not fully promote children's well-being and is also a breach of the Childcare Register requirements.  Overall, the childminder plans a suitable range of activities that children enjoy. However, some activities led by adults do not provide sufficient challenge to engage all children. As a result, they quickly lose interest.  Children do not always learn about similarities and differences between themselves and others regarding their family experiences and backgrounds.

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It has the following strengths

 The childminder builds warm and trusting relationships with the children, which supports their emotional and physical well-being. This builds their confidence and prepares them well for the next stage in their development.  The childminder establishes effective partnerships with parents, which enables her to meet their care needs well.  The childminder reflects on her practice. She has established systems that help her to identify some areas for development accurately so that she can raise standards and improve outcomes for children.

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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 that people whose suitability has not been checked, including through an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check, do not have unsupervised contact with children being cared for

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 ensure that activities provide sufficient challenge so that all children remain engaged for the duration of the activity  provide more opportunities for children to talk about their friends, families and special people to learn about similarities and differences.

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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 that any person having unsupervised contact with children is suitable to be in regular contact with them and an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check has been obtained through Ofsted in respect of that person (compulsory part of the Childcare Register)  ensure that any person having unsupervised contact with children is suitable to be in regular contact with them and an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check has been obtained through Ofsted in respect of that person (voluntary part of the Childcare Register).

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching and the impact on children's learning.  The inspector sampled a range of documentation, including children's learning records.  The inspector and the childminder jointly observed the children playing with ice cubes.  The inspector spoke to the childminder, her assistant and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection.  The inspector took into account the views of parents from written comments.

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who attend. This requires improvement

The childminder works with parents to find out about their children's interests and learning needs. She observes children as they play and plans some activities that challenge their learning. For example, she teaches children about the life cycle of the butterfly. Children enjoy watching and taking photographs of the egg, observing it changing into a caterpillar before becoming a butterfly. She teaches the children new words, such as 'chrysalis', which extend their vocabulary and support their understanding. However, some activities lack challenge for older children and the childminder does not always provide children with good-quality interactions to extend or challenge their learning. For example, the childminder encouraged the children to explore ice cubes. Younger ones enjoyed splashing in the puddles they left when melted, but older ones quickly lost interest. Children enjoy looking at books with photographs of themselves engaged in activities. However, the

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who attend. This requires improvement

childminder does not use all opportunities to encourage children to talk about themselves, their families and their experiences to learn about similarities and differences.

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requires improvement

At times, the childminder leaves her assistant with children unsupervised. However, the required suitability checks have not been completed and this may put children at risk. Children enjoy themselves when in the childminder's care. They settle well because the childminder is kind and gentle in her approach, which builds children's confidence and helps them feel safe. The childminder has successfully addressed the recommendations raised at the last inspection. Children now take part in regular fire drills so that they learn how to evacuate the premises quickly and safely in an emergency. Children have good opportunities for daily exercise and active activities to develop their physical skills.

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provision requires improvement

Overall, the childminder understands her responsibility to keep children safe and is clear on the reporting procedure if she has a concern about a child's welfare. However, the childminder has increased her number of children before her assistant has completed her suitability checks. This means that the childminder is unable to provide suitable supervision at all times. For example, children are on their own with the assistant for short periods in the garden when the childminder returns inside to assist children with their toileting. Parents are very happy with the provision and the progress that their children make. The childminder works well with other early years providers and schools, which promotes continuity for children in their learning. Her reflective practices enable her to identify training needs and keep up to date with changes. She tracks children's progress and monitors the educational programmes suitably to ensure she helps children make

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY442257 Local authority Somerset Inspection number 986363 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 5 Number of children on roll 14

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Name of provider

Date of previous inspection 15 August 2012

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Telephone number

The childminder registered in 2012. She lives in Yeovil, Somerset. The childminding service operates Monday to Friday all year round.

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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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