Kerrigan, Helen

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 15 October 2015 16 February 2011

p.1

3

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

p.1

3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Outcomes for children Good 2

p.1

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

 The childminder does not accurately maintain daily attendance records of children or retain these for the specified period of time.  The childminder has not fully considered available opportunities to constantly improve her good standard of teaching.  The childminder occasionally does not gather as much detail as possible from parents about children's learning at home when they start at the provision. Therefore, she is not able to use this information to further support her early planning.  The childminder does not always fully work in partnership with all the other settings that children attend to maximise children's individual learning.

p.1

It has the following strengths

 The experienced childminder has a secure understanding of the learning and development requirements. Teaching is good. She allows children to lead their own play and chooses timely moments to extend their learning through a range of stimulating and challenging activities.  The childminder promotes children's communication and language well. She pronounces words clearly for children to copy and asks skilful questions to stimulate discussion on past and future events.  Children demonstrate good mathematical skills; they count the number of pine cones that they collect in their bucket and describe leaves as big or small.  Parents are very happy with the care that the childminder provides. They appreciate information on the daily activities children take part in and the progress that they make.

p.1

What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

p.2

Due Date

 keep a daily record of the hours of attendance for children looked after on the premises and retain these for a period of two years. 15/10/2015

p.2

Due Date

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

p.2

Due Date

 make the most of available opportunities to further enhance teaching practice  focus more precisely on the initial information gathered from new parents to further support accurate assessments of children's starting points  strengthen partnerships with the other settings that children attend to develop more effective ways to share information about children's learning and development.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector observed children's activities indoors and during the lunchtime routine. She talked to the childminder and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection.  The inspector observed adult-led activities and jointly discussed the intentions and learning outcomes of these with the childminder.  The inspector sampled the childminder's documentation, including policies, medication records, training certificates and children's learning journals.  The inspector took account of the views of parents through discussions on the day and looked at a selection of written references from parents and colleagues.  The inspector saw evidence of the suitability of all persons living on the premises and other documentation in relation to the safeguarding and welfare requirements.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

The childminder has successfully addressed her previous action and recommendation. She now gains the permission of parents before administering any form of medication and uses her observations of children well to inform her future plans. The qualified childminder reviews the learning programmes that she provides and rotates the resources to maintain children's interest. Through her links with other childcare settings she gathers ideas to enhance future activities and keep abreast of new government policy. However, as yet the childminder has not made the most of all the training opportunities available to her to enhance her teaching. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The childminder understands what constitutes a risk or hazard to children and completes detailed assessments on all the areas that they use. However, the childminder does not meet all the safeguarding and welfare requirements. She does not accurately record the hours that

p.3

Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

children attend each day or retain these records for the required period of time. This has minimal impact on children's well-being as she can account for children in her care at all times and is aware of the reasons for any periods of absence.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The childminder organises the environment so that children can make choices in their play. She provides resources that she knows they will enjoy. For example, train sets and cars are made available and immediately appeal to new children. Children show interest in illustrations and print, and listen intently as the childminder reads stories of interest. The childminder knows each child well and has a clear understanding of the skills that they need to develop. However, she is not always aware of what children are learning at nursery or in the case of shared care arrangements. Therefore, she is not able to fully support continuity for each child. The childminder refers to approved childcare guidance to complete precise assessments of children and promote their good all-round progress.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

The weakness in leadership and management has a limited impact on children's welfare. Nevertheless, children enjoy their time with the childminder, and seek help and reassurance as needed. This demonstrates the suitable bonds they have developed. The childminder gathers information from parents when children start to support their smooth move into her home. This includes individual daily routines and children's favourite activities. However, this is not always focused on what children already know and can do, to fully support the childminder's early planning. The childminder is a good role model. Children are polite, behave well and wait their turn to play with favourite toys. They are beginning to form friendships with the other children and benefit from regular outings to local groups.

p.3

Outcomes for children are good

Children make good progress in their learning and gain the essential skills that they need in readiness for nursery and then school. They demonstrate their self-help skills as they attempt to dress themselves and manage care practices independently.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 495312 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 999447 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Age range of children 0 - 5 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 3

p.4

Name of provider

Date of previous inspection 16 February 2011

p.4

Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 2001 and lives in Welwyn Garden City. She operates all year round from 8.45am to 2.45pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. She holds an appropriate qualification at level 3.

p.4

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.

p.4

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.

p.4

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 reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/, write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.5

Telephone number

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our website for news, information and updates at www.ofsted.gov.uk/user.

p.5

Telephone number

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

p.5