Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 2 August 2016 Not applicable

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Inadequate 4

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Inadequate 4

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Outcomes for children Requires improvement

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This provision is inadequate

 Safeguarding of children is not robust. The childminder has failed to notify Ofsted of an adult who has regular contact with the children. Therefore, the required checks have not been completed in order to assess their suitability. The childminder does not ensure all visitors abide by her mobile phone policy.  The childminder does always not complete the daily record of children's attendance to help protect their well-being.  The childminder does not identify some potential risks to children's safety or act as quickly as possible to remove known hazards after completing a risk assessment. This compromises children's safety when playing in the home and the garden.  The quality of teaching is variable. At times, the childminder does not use strategies that fully support children's development. For example, when children are learning to read and write, she does not help them to make the connection between letters and

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This provision is inadequate

sounds.  The monitoring of practice and self-evaluation is not being used as effectively as possible to drive forward the quality of the provision for children.

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It has the following strengths

 Children are confident and enjoy sharing their thoughts and ideas. They have good relationships with the adults and other children in the setting.  The childminder prepares plenty of enjoyable play experiences, both indoors and outside, for all of the children.  The childminder keeps parents well informed about children's daily experiences and their care. She makes the most of the latest technology to give parents almost instantaneous updates on important events in the children's lives.

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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:

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Due Date

 provide Ofsted with the necessary information regarding adults on the premises who are in regular contact with the children, including a Disclosure and Barring Service check, to enable the full suitability checks to be completed 23/08/2016

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Due Date

 maintain a daily record of the hours of children's attendance 16/08/2016  take all reasonable steps to identify, remove and minimise risks to children in the home and garden 16/08/2016

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Due Date

 implement the policy and procedures covering the use of mobile phones and cameras in the setting. 16/08/2016

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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

 strengthen the consistency and quality of teaching to ensure children receive the appropriate support and challenge to help them reach their full potential  review the monitoring and evaluation of practice in order to drive forward the quality of the provision for children.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector observed and discussed a planned activity with the childminder.  The inspector held discussions with the childminder, her assistant and the children at appropriate times throughout the inspection.  The inspector looked at a range of documentation, including policies and evidence of the suitability of the childminder and her assistant. She also looked at observation and assessment of children's progress and the safeguarding procedures, and discussed self- evaluation.  The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection, looked at questionnaires they have completed and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective. The childminder does not ensure that persons having regular contact with children undergo the required checks to ensure they are suitable. At the time of the inspection the childminder's partner, who has not been checked by Ofsted, was present and using a mobile phone in the presence of minded children. The childminder does not consistently complete the record of attendance to show which children are present each day. Therefore, she is not able to appropriately monitor patterns of attendance for all children. The childminder maintains the ratios of children and adults, working with her assistant when necessary. She does not identify all potential dangers or routinely act to remove hazards to protect the welfare of children. She also fails to check the garden before children play outside. The childminder and her assistant have a suitable knowledge of the signs and symptoms of abuse and neglect and

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

understand the action required in the event of any concerns. The childminder establishes effective relationships with parents. She gathers relevant information about children's care needs and what they know and can do when they first attend. The childminder works with other early years settings that children attend and supports them as they move between the settings. The monitoring of practice and self-evaluation is not sufficiently robust to ensure weaknesses are identified and tackled, in order to secure sustained improvement in the provision. However, the childminder seeks the views of parents and uses these to make some improvements.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

At times, children benefit from the childminder's enthusiasm and ability to offer interesting and worthwhile experiences. However, the teaching does not always match children's precise learning needs. Some activities are not well thought through and, as a result, do not fully support children's learning. For instance, children thoroughly delight in the exciting story time, but the teaching during some adult-led activities that follow is weak. The childminder does not swiftly adapt her approach to ensure she offers an appropriate level of challenge that helps children to solve the problems they encounter. For example, when children struggle to recognise colours she does not offer more clues or support to enable them to get the answers right. Children have time to choose their own activities and the childminder and her assistant interact with them. Children enjoy building with plastic blocks. They use their knowledge of different buildings, making houses and tall

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

towers. Children are very keen for the childminder to take a photograph and send it to their parents. The childminder and her assistant observe children as they play. The detailed termly summary of some children's progress is warmly received by parents.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

The failure to meet safeguarding requirements undermines children's sense of security. Children are at risk of being injured as they reach for objects, such as glass jars, and as they play on the floor close to trailing leads from the childminder's laptop. When issues are pointed out, such as the lodged water on the sand tray cover, the childminder does not take swift action to address these before children are taken outside to play. Behaviour is good and the childminder and her assistant are consistent in their approach to helping children to share and take turns. Children follow appropriate hygiene routines that help to prevent the spread of germs. They eat balanced meals and the childminder takes account of any special dietary requirements when planning meals and snacks. Children have daily outdoor experiences. The childminder uses her garden and local outdoor spaces regularly, ensuring children get fresh air and exercise.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

Children make some progress based on their individual starting points. However, they are not always challenged effectively, in order to help them attain at a higher level. The childminder helps children to prepare for life in school. They are developing their independence, such as learning to put their own shoes on ready to go outside and pouring their drinks from a jug at mealtimes.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY477494 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 1057121 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 0 - 9 Total number of places 12 Number of children on roll 7

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Name of registered person

Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 2014 and lives in Stevenage. She operates all year round from 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds an appropriate qualification at level 6 and works with an assistant. She provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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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