Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 26 January 2017 4 July 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 a significant event that affects her ability to care for children.  The childminder does not keep her safeguarding knowledge up to date. She has no knowledge or understanding of new legislation in order to protect children's welfare.  The childminder does not have a written safeguarding policy to meet the requirements of the Childcare Register.  The childminder is unaware of her responsibilities in accordance with the Data Protection Act.  The childminder does not assess and track children's development in order to identify exactly where children are in their learning in order to prioritise where support is needed.  The childminder does not always identify appropriate next steps in learning for children. For example, her expectation for children's mathematical development is unrealistic as she expects three-year-old children to be able to complete multiplications.

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This provision is inadequate

 The childminder does not complete the statutory progress check for children aged between two and three years.  The childminder does not swiftly gain information on children's development from other settings they have temporarily attended. Consequently, continuity in children's learning is weak.

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It has the following strengths

 Children develop their independence skills as they freely choose where and with what they want to play.

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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

 improve knowledge and understanding of all aspects of safeguarding, especially with regard to new legislation, in order to protect children's safety and welfare 24/02/2017

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Due Date

 develop and implement a written safeguarding policy and procedure 24/02/2017

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Due Date

 develop knowledge of the responsibilities under the Data Protection Act (DPA) 1998 and ensure these are met 24/02/2017

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Due Date

 develop effective procedures to assess and track children's development so that any weaknesses in their learning can be swiftly identified and addressed to promote their good progress 24/02/2017

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Due Date

 ensure that the next steps in learning identified for children offer children appropriate challenge and meet their individual needs, interests and stage of development 24/02/2017

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Due Date

 ensure the statutory progress check is completed for every child aged between two and three years and share a short-written summary of children's development in the prime areas of learning with parents. 24/02/2017

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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

 gain precise development information from other settings children have attended to promote continuity in their learning.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the childminder and the joining in activities with the children and at appropriate times discussed the learning that was taking place with her.  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 a range of other documents, including her policies and procedures 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. She took account of the childminder's reflection of her practice and of the written views of one parent.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

The childminder has failed to notify Ofsted of a change to her physical health within the required timescales. Recent surgery has meant she has been unable to care for children. Although she is now back working, she states that she cannot lift children, should the need arise. The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective. The childminder does not keep her knowledge of new safeguarding legislation up to date. Furthermore, the childminder does not have a written safeguarding policy and procedure, in order to comply with the requirements of the Childcare Register. However, the childminder understands how to recognise signs and symptoms of abuse and is confident to follow some appropriate child protection procedures. Since the last inspection, the childminder has gained a paediatric first-aid qualification and has reviewed the use of mobile phones and cameras in her setting. However, she is not aware of her responsibilities under the Data

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

Protection Act when storing information and photographs of children. The childminder evaluates some aspects of her service by identifying what is working well. However, she fails to recognise where her provision is weak and talks about how she has withdrawn from places where she can gain support, such as childminder network groups. The childminder's systems to assess and track children's progress are poor. Consequently, she is not able to quickly identify gaps in children's learning in order to plan suitably challenging activities to ensure children make good progress.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is inadequate

During the period of time the childminder has not been working, some children have been cared for at other settings. The childminder has failed to gain any information on children's learning and development through this time. Consequently, she has little knowledge on children's current stages of development in order to plan effectively for their next steps in learning. The childminder has no knowledge of the requirement to carry out a progress check for children aged between two and three years. Consequently, she does not identify if there are any emerging gaps in children's learning. The childminder states she thinks children are developing well and are ready for reading, writing and high level mathematics. She shares these next steps with parents of children who have just turned three-years-old. This gives parents unrealistic expectations of what children are able to achieve. Children engage in play and are able to choose from a wide range of resources.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is inadequate

They enjoy imaginative play, such as dressing dolls and making up stories while playing with a toy town. 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 involved with at home in order to gain some understanding of their development away from her setting.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

Children's safety and welfare are compromised because the childminder does not have any knowledge of how to recognise signs that children are at risk or being drawn into behaviours that are harmful to their well-being. The childminder's unrealistic expectations of children's development does not promote their self-esteem, as they are prone to fail. At times, these children are keen to show the childminder what they can do and she gives them some praise. Some children show a strong bond with the childminder as they regularly go to her for cuddles and want to help her in the kitchen. 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 at appropriate times, such as after using the bathroom.

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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 demonstrate they are able to count up to 10, with some prompts. However, the childminder expects them to be able to complete subtraction and multiplication tasks. Children show they are developing some skills in readiness for the next stage of learning at nursery. They enjoy making marks on magnetic boards and are able to operate simple technological toys, such as trains.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 149299 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 1043225 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 3 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 3

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 2000 and lives in Stevenage. She operates from 8am to 5.30pm, expect for bank holidays and family holidays.

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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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