Childminder in Central Bedfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 9 December 2016 20 March 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 Inadequate 4

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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 failed to notify Ofsted of two assistants she is now employing and consequently, the full procedure for assessing their suitability has not been completed.  The childminder and her assistants do not implement appropriate or consistent behaviour management strategies. Children merely comply in order to avoid the chosen action taken by the adults to moderate behaviour. Children are not supported in learning to make better choices about their behaviour and actions.  The childminder does not ensure that the assistants know what to do in the case of an emergency. This is a particular concern as the childminder leaves them in sole charge of children at times.  Supervision arrangements for the assistants are weak. The childminder does not ensure the assistants know how to effectively teach children and manage their behaviour.  The childminder does not assess and track children's development in order to identify

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This provision is inadequate

exactly where children are in their learning in order to prioritise where support is needed.  Children are not challenged in their learning. The resources and activities that the childminder provides are not appropriate for their age and stage of development and do not inspire children to learn.

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It has the following strengths

 The childminder has developed partnerships with other settings and schools children attend. She shares some information with them on children's learning and takes notes of topics being covered.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

The provision is inadequate and Ofsted intends to take enforcement action

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

We will issue a Welfare Requirements Notice requiring the provider to:

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Due Date

 ensure that individuals who have not had their suitability fully checked do not have unsupervised access to children 30/12/2016

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Due Date

 implement effective supervision arrangements for the assistants so that they are continually supported to develop their practice and teaching skills 30/12/2016

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Due Date

 ensure that children's behaviour is appropriately managed in ways that do not threaten or adversely affect a child's well-being 30/12/2016

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Due Date

 make sure that the assistants know and understand how to safely evacuate children from the premises in the event of a fire or other emergency 30/12/2016

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Due Date

 inform Ofsted of any changes to anyone over 16 years of age who lives or works in the premises where childcare is provided. 30/12/2016

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Due Date

To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage the provider must:

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Due Date

 develop effective procedures to assess and track children's development so that any gaps in their learning can be swiftly identified and addressed to promote their good progress 30/12/2016

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Due Date

 ensure that children are provided with challenging and enjoyable experiences, resources and activities that meet their individual needs, interests and stage of development. 30/12/2016

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the childminder and the assistants joining in activities with the children and at appropriate times discussed the learning that was taking place with them.  The inspector saw the areas of the house and garden used for childminding.  The inspector checked the evidence of the suitability of household members and assistants and a range of other documents, including the safeguarding procedure and children's records.  The inspector interacted and spoke with the children at appropriate times throughout the inspection.  The inspector held discussions with the childminder and both assistants. She took account of the childminder's self-evaluation and of the written views of parents and children.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective. The childminder has failed to notify Ofsted of her current assistants. She has obtained Disclosure and Barring Service checks for these persons but she has not provided this information to Ofsted to enable the full suitability assessment procedures to be completed. The childminder and her assistants have attended safeguarding training and are confident about following appropriate child protection procedures. Although she carries out some risk assessments, the childminder has not ensured that the assistants understand the evacuation procedures to be followed in her absence. For example, the assistants talk about taking the children into the garden if there is a fire and are unsure of where to find the key to the padlocked gate. The childminder talks about having concerns about some children's rates of development. However, her process of assessing and tracking children's progress is weak. Consequently,

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

she does not quickly identify gaps in children's learning in order to plan suitably challenging activities to ensure children make good progress. The childminder holds some informal supervision meetings with her assistants. However, she does not identify areas of development for them or ensure they fully understand their role and responsibilities. Despite holding a qualification at level 3, the childminder's support for children's care, learning and development is poor.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is inadequate

The resources and equipment the childminder provides are very limited and children have very little choice in their learning. The few toys available are for younger children. On the day of the inspection, children aged two and three years spent a great deal of time playing in a small ball pool designed for use by babies. This led to their play becoming mundane as there was little interaction from the adults and children resorted to throwing the balls around the room. The childminder acknowledges that some learning occurs when children show how they can sort the balls into sets of different colours. She plans some activities based on current themes, such as making Father Christmas faces. However, the childminder and the assistants overly direct children as they engage in these activities. Children are interested in dipping the cotton wool in glue, however, they are told not to do this as the glue has already been put on by an adult. When children finish they excitedly

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is inadequate

tell the adults what their picture is, such as an aeroplane. However, the adults laugh and tell them it is not, belittling their efforts. This approach fails to acknowledge and value children's ideas and creativity and does not foster their self-esteem. The childminder shares some information with parents about what children have been doing through the day. She encourages them to tell her what the children have been doing at home, in order to gain some understanding of their development away from the setting.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

Children's safety and welfare are compromised by the poor practice and lack of awareness of the evacuation procedures. The childminder's behaviour management strategies are inappropriate and at times threatening. On the day of inspection, the childminder and her assistants attempted to moderate children's behaviour by telling them that they would be fastened into a high chair if they did not comply. The childminder believes that this is an effective approach as she states that she knows that the children do not like the punishment. This has an adverse effect on their well-being as children passively comply to avoid the end result and are not supported in learning to make better choices about their behaviour for themselves. Children are developing an understanding of healthy lifestyles. They have opportunities to play in the garden and have visits to parks. Children understand the need to wash their hands before they eat and enjoy healthy snacks.

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Outcomes for children are inadequate

Weaknesses in the childminder's assessments and tracking of children's development mean that they are not adequately supported to make sufficient progress. Children are not challenged in their learning. During adult-led activities children are not encouraged to be creative as the adults have set ideas of what the outcome will be. This results in children passively completing activities in the expected way. Children are not developing skills to help them to prepare for the next stage of their learning and for school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY370766 Local authority Central Bedfordshire Inspection number 1065138 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 1 - 11 Total number of places 12 Number of children on roll 21

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Name of registered person

Date of previous inspection 20 March 2013

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 2008 and lives in Houghton Regis. She operates Monday to Friday from 7am until 6pm, all year round apart from bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder employs two assistants on a full-time basis. The childminder holds an early years 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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