Childminder in Halton

Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

The quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Good

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The provision requires improvement

The childminder maintains most required records to help to ensure the safe and effective management of her provision. She communicates closely with her co- childminder to organise tasks and to ensure that all children's basic care needs are met.

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The provision requires improvement

Children are keen to play with the toys and display occasional sustained attention, for example when the childminder notices children's interests and thinks of ways she can extend activities further. However, teaching is not consistent. While the childminder motivates children to join in and to have a go, she does not help children to develop their own play ideas. Furthermore, she does not encourage children to use resources creatively or promote strong attitudes towards independent learning. Teaching to promote children's communication and language is not given high enough priority to have a consistently good impact on their learning and progress. The childminder has not targeted her professional development to help promote the continual improvement of the quality of education for children. Despite this, children are helped to develop the basic skills they need in readiness for their future learning in school.

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The provision requires improvement

Children benefit from relaxed relationships with the childminder and her co- childminder. They are happy, settled and approach both childminders affectionately. The childminder prioritises children's emotional well-being. She establishes consistent daily routines and has high expectations for behaviour. Children feel safe and confidently explore the basic range of toys on offer in the childminder's home, which is risk assessed effectively.

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need to do better?

n The childminder rotates a basic selection of toys to provide children with a wider range of play opportunities which promote all areas of their learning. However, she does not make consistently good use of her premises and equipment to promote children's independent learning. The childminder does not use consistently effective methods to help children access resources of their choice and follow through their own thoughts and ideas. Children rely heavily on the childminder providing items to play with and cannot always respond to their own interests. The childminder provides additional experiences which build on the basic range offered in the setting. For example, she makes good use of the local park and toddler groups as a way to enhance children's physical skills, social skills and their understanding of the world around them. n The childminder knows her key children well. She keeps a close check on what

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need to do better?

they know and can do. The childminder knows that, mostly, children are making the progress typically expected of their age ranges. She knows that some

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need to do better?

12 September 2019 children are progressing less quickly with their communication and language skills. However, she does not use consistently good methods to promote children's speaking skills. For example, the childminder asks too many closed questions which do not encourage children to give a verbal response. n The childminder understands her role in enhancing children's learning through their play in aspects other than language. She notices when she can extend activities and provide some challenge for the children. For example, after noticing their interest in chopping the play fruit in half, the childminder provides children with a safety knife and encourages them to chop a banana and grapes for their snack. This sustains children's attention and promotes their physical development well. n Children display a strong sense of belonging in the childminder's care. She promotes their self-care skills effectively and helps them understand how to

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need to do better?

behave well. For example, she models and encourages the use of good manners and social skills. She prioritises potty training and ensures children can manage their own personal care in readiness for starting nursery or school. n In the main, the childminder manages her provision well. She maintains all required training and is committed to enhancing her qualifications further. However, she has not targeted her professional development to help her to maintain teaching of a consistently good quality. The childminder makes mostly effective use of online records to share information with parents immediately. On occasions, however, she has not obtained written parental permission to administer prescribed creams to children. Additionally, she has not kept written records of this, as is legally required. The childminder's misunderstanding of her recording systems did not have any impact on children's safety.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

This inspection was scheduled as a result of concerns about safeguarding arrangements. The childminder has maintained her safeguarding training. She can identify potential indicators of abuse and knows what to do in the event of different types of concern, including if allegations are made about herself or her co- childminder. The childminder assesses risk well, so that children can access the ground floor of her home to play safely. She understands her responsibilities to notify Ofsted of any changes and significant events, to help ensure children's continued safety.

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Due date

12 September 2019 obtain written parental permission to administer each and every medicine requested by parents and keep records of all medicines administered to children. 12/10/2019

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should:

n increase opportunities for improving the quality of teaching, in particular the teaching of children's communication and language n provide further opportunities for children to think creatively and critically in their independent play.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY489885 Local authority Halton Inspection number 10124050 Type of provision Childminder

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Childminder Age range of children 0 to 6 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 5 Date of previous inspection 18 June 2018

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2015 and lives in Runcorn. She operates all year round from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds an appropriate qualification at level 3. She works alongside a co-childminder.

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Inspection activities

n This inspection was carried out as a result of a risk assessment following information received about the provision. The inspection took account of the work of the childminder and her co-childminder as they worked together to care for the children. n Discussions were held with both the childminder and her co-childminder. The inspector spoke with each childminder about their key children and how their care and learning needs are met. n The inspector observed the childminder meeting children's care needs and carrying out a planned activity. She assessed the impact this has on children's learning and their well-being. n The inspector discussed how the childminder checks and evaluates the quality of her own knowledge, skills and practice and how she plans for continual improvement. n Relevant documentation records were viewed, for example records of suitability, training and children's information. n The inspector spoke with the children and took account of the views of parents

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Inspection activities

We carried out this inspection 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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Inspection activities

12 September 2019 regulates and inspects to 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 and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, 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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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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