Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 5 December 2016 7 June 2013

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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

 Children's health and well-being are not promoted adequately. The childminder does not obtain written permission from parents before administering medicine to children. Furthermore, she does not hold a valid first-aid qualification.  The childminder does not obtain and keep a record of the required information for all children and their parents or those with parental responsibility to ensure children's welfare.  The childminder does not share precise information about children's achievements with staff from other settings that they attend to fully support continuity in their learning and development.  There are times during adult-led, art and craft activities that the childminder is more focused on the finished article. She does not always respond to ideas that children have about completing the tasks in their own way.

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It has the following strengths

 Children demonstrate that they feel secure and confident in the care of the childminder. They enjoy her company as they play and, occasionally, stop to enjoy a cuddle with her.  The childminder gives high priority to promoting children's communication and language development. She helps to expand children's vocabulary by introducing words in context, such as racket and gap, as children play, therefore, embedding their new knowledge in a meaningful way.  Children enjoy nature walks. They observe how the environment changes during the different seasons. They experience the sensation of crispy autumn leaves on their legs as they walk through piles of them and compare the different colours, shapes and textures. This helps children to develop a good understanding of the world.

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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

 obtain written permission from parents prior to administering both prescription and non-prescription medication 06/12/2016

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Due Date

 obtain and maintain a current paediatric first-aid qualification 16/01/2017  keep a record for all children providing details of their full name, date of birth, name and address of every parent or those who have parental responsibility, details of the parent/carer the child normally lives with and their emergency contact details. 06/12/2016

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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

 enhance opportunities for children to develop their creativity, building on their own ideas and ways of doing things  strengthen the partnership with other staff from settings that children attend, so more precise information about their achievements is shared.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during indoor activities and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector spoke to the childminder and children at appropriate times.  The inspector observed a planned activity and discussed this with the childminder.  The inspector looked at the childminder's observations of children's achievements and discussed their individual progress and assessments with her.  The inspector reviewed a selection of policies, safety procedures and required documentation.  The inspector looked at evidence of the suitability of persons aged 16 years and over who live at the premises.  The inspector took account of the written views of parents and reviewed the childminder's self-evaluation process.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective. The childminder has failed to renew her first-aid qualification for a considerable length of time. This means she is not aware of up-to-date practices, in order to reliably administer correct first aid. Furthermore, she does not obtain prior written permission from parents who require her to administer medication to their children. This means she is unable to clarify the medical reason for the particular medication and the correct dosage. The childminder does not obtain or keep a record of the required details about all children in her care. Therefore, should she need to contact them in the event of an emergency and meet children's specific safety and welfare needs, she is not able to do so. The childminder reads professional publications and attends some training to enhance her knowledge her skills. She has recently completed specialist training to develop her understanding of how to support vulnerable families. This helps

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

her to identify any children who may be at risk of harm from extreme behaviours and views. She knows how to take swift action, in order to protect children's welfare in the event of a child protection concern. The childminder carefully reviews children's progress to ensure that any gaps in learning are swiftly addressed. However, she does not use self- evaluation effectively, in order to identify weaknesses in the service she provides to ensure that all legal requirements are met. Parents appreciate how the childminder keeps them fully informed about their children's achievements.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The childminder's genuine praise helps to motivate children to complete challenging activities. For example, they finish complex puzzles and solve clues as they participate in a treasure hunt in the local community. The childminder introduces children to mathematical ideas in a fun and engaging way. Children demonstrate perseverance as they work out through trial and error how to balance different shaped toy bricks on top of each other to create structures. They count the number of bricks they use and sort them into groups according to their shape. Children laugh with delight as they take turns to knock each other's structures down. They pretend to be a doctor, using a toy stethoscope to listen to the childminder's heartbeat. The childminder demonstrates what each piece of equipment in the doctor's set is used for. This helps to promote their vivid imaginations and inquisitiveness.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

The childminder's poor knowledge of the requirements compromises children's health and well-being. Children are learning how to share and take turns when participating in joint activities. The childminder provides children with a nutritious home-cooked meal. Children plant and nurture the growth of fruit and vegetables in containers outdoors. They help the childminder to pick the produce and taste some. This supports children's understanding of where food comes from and when it is ready to eat. Daily visits to local parks provide children with opportunities to develop their physical capabilities. Children grow in strength and stamina as they bounce on the trampoline and run freely under the supervision of the childminder.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are making good progress in their learning given their starting points. They are independent individuals. Children are able to manage their own outer clothing and help themselves to a good range of toys and activities. They learn to link letters to sounds as they play games, such as identifying objects in the environment that begin with the sound of each letter. Outings on a canal boat help children to develop a good understanding of the world as they observe how locks work. These are just some of the skills that help to prepare children well for their next stage of learning and the eventual move on to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 127837 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 1063598 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 1 - 10 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 11

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 1992 and lives in Ware. She operates all year round from 7.30am until 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds a qualification at level 3.

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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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