Childminder in Suffolk

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 7 July 2015 11 January 2010

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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:

 The childminder has not updated her first-aid training to ensure that her qualification is maintained at all times.  The childminder does not consistently assess children's progress based on an accurate knowledge of their starting points or achievements. She does not use information from her observations to tailor her planning to meet the learning needs and styles of individual children. This means that children are not always sufficiently challenged or supported to make good progress in their learning.  Risk assessments and daily safety checks are not robust enough to identify all hazards to children. The daily check, carried out in the garden, has not been used to effectively identify the risk from animal faeces.

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It has the following strengths

 Children form close and caring relationships with the childminder. Parents are encouraged to play an active part in the childminder's settling-in procedures, to ensure that children's early experiences with the childminder are positive.  The childminder demonstrates appropriate knowledge of child protection procedures and how to refer any concerns to the relevant authorities for investigation.  Parents are provided with some opportunities to view their children's development records and they receive verbal feedback from the childminder at collection time. This ensures parents are kept appropriately informed about their children's routines and experiences.  The childminder and her co-childminder work well together and share the daily roles and tasks.

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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

 maintain a current paediatric first-aid qualification at all times  ensure assessment is precise and used effectively to help parents, carers and practitioners to recognise children's ongoing progress from their starting points, and use this information to plan challenging and enjoyable activities, so that children make best progress in their learning  ensure risk assessments and daily safety checks are robust enough to identify all aspects of the environment that need to be checked on a regular basis.

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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 an appropriate first-aid qualification is maintained at all times (compulsory part of the Childcare Register)  take all necessary measures to minimise risks to the health and safety of children (compulsory part of the Childcare Register)  ensure that an appropriate first-aid qualification is maintained at all times (voluntary part of the Childcare Register)  take all necessary measures to minimise risks to the health and safety of children (voluntary part of the Childcare Register).

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities in the childminder's lounge and garden, and viewed all areas of the home used for childminding purposes.  The inspector held discussions with the childminder, her co-childminder and children at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector looked at a range of records including children's personal details, accident and medication records, written policies, written risk assessments and a selection of other relevant documentation.  The inspector saw evidence of the checks used to assess the suitability of all adults living on the premises and the childminder's training certificates and qualifications.  The inspector took account of the views of parents shared through written reference letters and those spoken to at the time of the inspection.

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who attend. This requires improvement

Children generally enjoy their time with the childminder. She uses her observational skills to follow children's development. The childminder is familiar with the requirement to complete a progress check for children aged between two and three years and has undertaken this for a number of children. However, her knowledge of how to effectively assess children is not robust. She does not always use information from observations in her assessment process. Information about children's interests and capabilities is not used effectively to plan challenging activities for each child. The childminder supports children's language and communication by using some appropriate questioning skills and repeating words as they play. Children are generally prepared for their next stages of learning, such as moving on to nursery. The childminder and her co-childminder's provision caters for children until their third birthday. Therefore, children's next stage of learning is usually

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requires improvement

Children settle well in the childminder's care, and behave well as they follow the childminder's clear directions. The childminder's lack of first-aid training, means that she has not maintained a good standard in regard to promoting children's well-being. Children develop knowledge of how to keep healthy as they follow the childminder's directions, such as washing their hands before touching food. Children enjoy healthy themselves meals and snacks and are reminded to take regular drinks throughout the day. The childminder promotes children's physical skills by providing them with appropriate resources indoors and outdoors. She also makes good use of local parks and toddler groups to enhance their physical and social abilities.

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provision requires improvement

The childminder has allowed her first-aid qualification to lapse for a short period of time before seeking an appropriate training course. However, her first-aid knowledge remains secure and she demonstrates an appropriate understanding of how to deal with accidents and emergencies. Therefore, the result of this lapse in training has minimal impact on children. The childminder has attended previously training courses to help to improve her childcare knowledge. She uses self-evaluation to identify further training that she intends to access in the future. The childminder conducts daily safety checks of her home and garden to help children to play and learn in a safe environment. However, these are not robust enough, as on the day of the inspection the childminder failed to spot animal faeces. Once this was identified, she acted promptly to remove it and make sure the area was safe. The childminder demonstrates some knowledge of how children learn. There

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provision requires improvement

are, however, weaknesses in her assessment systems, which mean that she does not maintain a sharp focus on each child's progress in relation to their starting points. Partnerships with parents enable the childminder to share information about children's activities and daily routines with them.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY275601 Local authority Suffolk Inspection number 860907 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 6

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Name of provider

Date of previous inspection 11 January 2010

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 2002 and lives in Sudbury, Suffolk. She operates all year round from 7am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder works with a co-childminder.

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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

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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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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