Childminder EY477913

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 20 September 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 Good 2

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Inadequate 4

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This provision is inadequate

 The childminder has not informed Ofsted that she is employing assistants. This means that she has not provided the information to enable relevant checks to be carried out on these people. Additionally, the childminder does not have robust procedures to carry out her own checks when she employs assistants. This significantly compromises children's welfare and safety.  The childminder does not have permission from parents to leave their children in the sole charge of the assistants. This means that children's daily safety and well-being are not promoted and the trust between parents and the childminder is weakened.  On some occasions, the childminder does not make the most of opportunities to support children in fully developing their skills in thinking and solving problems for themselves.

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It has the following strengths

 The childminder uses her childcare experience and her qualification to support her in working with other professionals and settings. She exchanges information with them so that they are able to work together to understand each child and promote their development.  The childminder and her assistants use effective teaching methods. They carefully observe children and offer them exciting play opportunities that accurately reflect their interests and developmental needs. Children demonstrate a positive attitude as they learn new skills and develop their knowledge.  Creative activities encourage children to understand their community and to feel able to participate in local life and wider society. For example, children make their own maps. They record the facilities, roads and landmarks in their area and enjoy referring to these in their discussions.

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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

 ensure that there are rigorous systems in place to make sure that children are cared for by people who are suitable to do so 04/10/2016

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Due Date

 provide Ofsted with the information needed in order to check that people who have regular contact with minded children are suitable to do so 04/10/2016

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Due Date

 obtain parental permission to leave children with an assistant. 04/10/2016

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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

 extend the opportunities for children to think critically and solve problems they may encounter during daily activities and discussions.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector talked with the childminder, her assistant and minded children at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector looked at children's assessment records, planning documentation and evidence relating to the suitability of household members and assistants. She viewed the childminder's self-evaluation information and a range of other documentation, including the safeguarding procedures.  The inspector took account of the views of parents, as given in their written feedback to the childminder.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective. The childminder has failed to inform Ofsted that she employs assistants. Therefore, the relevant checks have not been completed to ensure that the assistants are suitable to work with children. Furthermore, the childminder does not have her own rigorous procedures in place to check the suitability of any adults she employs. As a result, children are regularly cared for by unchecked adults, significantly compromising their daily well-being and welfare. These are further compromised as the childminder does not have the required parental permission to leave children in the sole charge of the assistants. The childminder does show a clear understanding of issues relating to child protection. She makes sure that both she and her assistants are aware of the possible signs of abuse or neglect and know how to report any concerns to the appropriate agencies. Weekly meetings with the assistants enable the

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

childminder to offer them some supervision and she encourages them to complete further training to develop their practice. The childminder uses her childcare qualification to inform some areas of her work. However, she does not use this higher level of qualification to support the organisation and evaluation of her daily practice and to ensure that all legal requirements are met.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The childminder plans activities well so that these capture children's attention and enable them to build on their knowledge. For example, children enjoy following a simple pictorial recipe card to make malleable dough. They experiment as they add glitter, extending their language as the childminder encourages them to sing simple words, such as, mix, mix, mix. However, the childminder and her assistants miss some opportunities to encourage children to think further and solve problems as they encounter them in their play. The childminder makes resources, using these as one way of extending children's learning. For example, children learn to make marks and become interested in writing as they use their fingers to make patterns on plastic wallets filled with paint. The childminder supports parents well in extending their children's learning. She uses newsletters and daily communication books to inform parents of planning and to offer them ideas for activities

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

The childminder's omission in informing Ofsted of her assistants and ensuring that appropriate checks are carried out, means that children's personal and emotional needs are met by unchecked people. Children build attachments and learn to feel secure with the assistants. This is a false sense of security due to the lack of suitability checks. The childminder works with parents so that she understands children's needs and routines. She praises children and involves them in discussions where they explain their thoughts and play. This helps children begin to understand their own learning and builds their self- esteem, helping to prepare them for starting school. The childminder uses discussions and picture prompts to support children in understanding their emotions and behaviour so that they learn to manage these appropriately. Daily activities, such as using the garden and local play areas, support children's physical development. Discussions at mealtimes and

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

during cooking activities help children to develop a clear understanding of the importance of a healthy diet.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children are making good progress in their learning. The childminder's secure monitoring procedures ensure that she is aware of any weaker areas in learning and she takes prompt action to address these. Children who have special educational needs or disability are supported well and make good progress in relation to their starting points. Children enjoy using simple sign language each day. They also participate in activities where they learn to work in partnership with each other. Opportunities, such as these, aid children's early communication and enable them to develop the key skills that support their learning and prepare them for the move to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY477913 Local authority Central Bedfordshire Inspection number 976490 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 6 Total number of places 12 Number of children on roll 8

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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 Dunstable. She operates all year round from 7.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds an appropriate qualification at level 6. The childminder provides care for children who have special educational needs or disability. She works with two assistants.

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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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