Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 15 August 2017 5 November 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 update her safeguarding knowledge, including Prevent duty guidance, and the process to follow to report any concerns about a child's welfare. This significantly compromises children's safety and welfare.  The childminder does not provide her assistant with regular opportunities for support and training. The assistant does not have a secure knowledge of all safeguarding matters.  The childminder and assistant do not hold a relevant paediatric first-aid certificate.  The childminder does not ensure that all areas of her home are safe, suitable and hygienic. In addition, she fails to ensure that resources and activities are appropriate for children's ages and stages of development.  The childminder failed to provide all relevant documentation at inspection, including information about children and a daily register of children's attendance.  The childminder does not know the maximum number of children she can care for at

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This provision is inadequate

any one time.  The childminder does not understand how to promote children's learning and development. She does not observe and assess children's play or ensure that the range of resources and activities provide suitable challenge.

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It has the following strengths

 The childminder has made links with staff at other pre-schools that children attend and the local school.

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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

 develop secure safeguarding knowledge in order to identify and respond to any concerns about children's welfare, including those which relate to the Prevent duty guidance and allegations against self or household members 01/09/2017

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Due Date

 develop appropriate arrangements to provide assistants with effective support, coaching and training, including knowledge of all safeguarding matters 01/09/2017

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Due Date

 gain a relevant paediatric first-aid qualification and ensure this remains valid at all times 01/09/2017

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Due Date

 ensure that the premises are fit for purpose, with particular regard to keeping highchairs and kitchen facilities clean and suitable for the hygienic preparation and provision of food for children 01/09/2017

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 ensure that equipment used by children is suitable, particularly in regards to age restricted computer games 01/09/2017

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 ensure that all records and documents are easily accessible and available for inspection 01/09/2017

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 ensure that information about children, including their full name, date of birth, name and address of every parent and/or carer is recorded for every child 01/09/2017

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Due Date

 maintain an accurate record of the names of all children cared for and their hours of attendance 01/09/2017

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Due Date

 ensure assistants who are left in sole charge of the children for any period of time, hold a current paediatric first-aid qualification 01/09/2017

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Due Date

 gain knowledge of the ratios which are applicable for childminders. 01/09/2017 To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage and the Childcare Register the provider must:

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Due Date

 keep a written statement of procedures to be followed for the protection of children 01/09/2017

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Due Date

 develop knowledge and understanding of the learning and development requirements to provide children with age- appropriate resources and experiences 01/09/2017

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Due Date

 improve the use of observations and assessments to plan and provide activities that challenge, engage and motivate children to help them make good progress in their learning and development. 01/09/2017

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Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke to the childminder, her assistant and the children.  The inspector sampled available documentation, including evidence of the suitability of adults living on the premises.  The inspector observed the childminder's interactions with the children.  The inspector discussed with the childminder how she ensures her assistant's suitability and about the support she provides.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

Safeguarding is ineffective. The childminder has not updated her safeguarding knowledge to ensure that she is aware of all child protection matters, including how to identify when children may be at risk of harm. The childminder talks to her assistant, who is her husband, about his health and ongoing suitability. Medication and other substances, such as alcohol, are stored out of younger children's reach. However, she has failed to support her assistant regularly to help him develop his skills and practice. For example, the childminder has not provided any safeguarding training to help him understand the procedures to follow to protect children. In addition, the childminder leaves her assistant in sole charge of children, without a valid paediatric first-aid certificate, as required. The childminder does not carry out effective checks to help ensure that all areas of her home that children use are hygienic and suitable for the children she cares for. This significantly

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is inadequate

The childminder has not kept her knowledge of the learning and development requirements up to date. She does not provide children with suitable resources across all areas of learning that consistently engage and motivate them. Children are bored with the activities available and choose to watch cartoons on the television constantly. The childminder does not complete regular observations of children's play to help her identify their stages of development and does not plan for what they need to learn next. Children do not make adequate progress in their learning from their starting points

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

The weaknesses in leadership and management have a significant impact on children's welfare. The childminder has failed to renew her paediatric first-aid certificate. She does not ensure that the work surfaces in the kitchen are hygienic and suitable for preparing children's food. In addition, the highchair is unclean, which poses a significant risk of cross-contamination for younger children. The childminder does not ensure that she has the required information about every child in her care. For example, she does not have available the required records, which include children's allergies, parents' contact details and where they live. In addition, the childminder does not keep an accurate daily record of children's hours of attendance, including their arrival and departure times. She fails to understand the importance of monitoring children's attendance and safety.

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Outcomes for children are inadequate

Children do not develop the skills they need to be ready for school. Children do not engage in play that motivates them to learn. They spend too much time watching television. They develop some physical skills, for example, when they play with the childminder on the grassed area outside her house. Overall, children do not make adequate progress.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 129516 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 1111001 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 7

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Name of registered person

Date of previous inspection 5 November 2013

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Telephone number

The childminder registered in 1998 and lives in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. Her husband works as her assistant. The childminder operates all year round from 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except 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

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our website for news, information and updates at www.ofsted.gov.uk/user.

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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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