Cosgrave, Mrs Sarah

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 8 February 2016 8 November 2011

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Outcomes for children Requires improvement

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

 The childminder's ways of monitoring and assessing children's progress are not sufficiently accurate. These weaken the childminder's knowledge of what children can do at the start of their placement, and how she plans for their future learning.  Children's learning is not extended well enough to ensure that they have the skills to be fully ready for school. The childminder does not make good use of her resources or plan challenging activities that help children progress quickly.  The childminder does not promote robust hygiene practices to keep children healthy.  The childminder is not rigorous in the self-evaluation of her service. She has not identified its weaknesses sufficiently well or taken appropriate steps to improve her teaching skills. This has led to a drop in the standard of her service.

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It has the following strengths

 Parents praise the childminder for the support that she gives them. The childminder keeps them informed about what activities their children do and these communications help the parents support children's learning at home.  The childminder is good at supporting children's emotional well-being. She helps them talk about their feelings, and encourages their confidence and self-esteem.

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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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Due Date

 gain information from parents about what children can do and understand when they start, to establish a baseline from which to check and monitor their progress accurately 12/03/2016

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Due Date

 use the information gained from assessments of children's progress to plan challenging experiences that make good use of the available resources. 12/03/2016

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Due Date

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

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Due Date

 improve the way in which children are taught about healthy lifestyles and good personal-hygiene practices  improve the self-evaluation process, to identify all areas of weakness and determine how these will be addressed effectively, including through professional development.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed children's play and learning during the inspection.  The inspector sampled a range of documentation, including children's development records, and the childminder's key policies and procedures.  The inspector conducted a joint observation with the childminder and discussed the findings.  The inspector took account of parents' views through feedback letters.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

Safeguarding is effective. The childminder knows the signs and symptoms that might cause her to be concerned about a child, and knows how to respond if need be. The childminder's risk assessment of her premises has not identified all potential hazards to children's safety, for example, in the kitchen. However, she is taking immediate action to address these. No child has come to harm, so there has been no significant impact of the weakness on children's safety. The childminder does not pay good attention to her professional development. She does not fully reflect on what works well and how she can improve outcomes for the children through extending her teaching abilities. Processes to monitor learning are not well established. Generally, the childminder keeps herself up to date through reading relevant literature and undertaking required courses.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

The childminder plans a range of activities for children, which they enjoy. She draws on their interests when planning. However, she does not fully encourage them to explore the resources to ensure they make the most of the learning opportunities available. The childminder helps children to play with each other and to share resources, such as dough. The childminder promotes children's communication and language skills effectively. For example, the childminder has helpful conversations with children so they hear new words. The childminder shows children how to squeeze, cut and roll the dough using different tools, such as rolling pins and cutters, to develop their coordination. Children copy her actions and create models using their own ideas. She makes sure that children have some choice of activities.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

The childminder builds affectionate relationships with children and promotes their good behaviour. For example, she supports their understanding that other people matter. Children learn personal independence, for example, by helping to cut up cucumber safely for their lunch. The childminder promotes children's understanding of healthy lifestyles through eating well and taking daily exercise. However, her teaching about good hygiene routines is less effective. Children are not helped to understand good hand-washing methods. Children learn to manage risks and to understand their limitations, for example, when attempting new skills, such as climbing a rope ladder.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

Children gain some skills in preparation for school. For example, they listen to what the childminder says, behave well, learn to count, and learn to put on their coats and shoes independently. However, the childminder does not extend their learning sufficiently.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 154266 Local authority Harrow Inspection number 836796 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 4

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Name of provider

Date of previous inspection 8 November 2011

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Telephone number

The childminder registered in 2001. She lives in the London Borough of Harrow and operates her service each weekday, all year round. The childminder has a home-based childcare qualification.

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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

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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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