Childminder in Hertfordshire

Overall effectiveness Inadequate

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

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The provision is inadequate

There are significant weaknesses in the childminder's knowledge and practice. She has not ensured that all adults living in her home are known to Ofsted. Therefore, their suitability has not been fully checked and children's safety and welfare are compromised. Furthermore, the childminder does not maintain all required records. For example, she does not always clearly record children's hours of attendance.

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The provision is inadequate

The childminder holds a relevant qualification in childcare. However, she has not engaged in any recent professional development to maintain and enhance her existing knowledge and skills. This limits the overall quality of her practice. For example, observations and assessments are not consistently used to help identify precisely where children are in their learning. This means that children are not always provided with challenging and motivating experiences to help them make the best possible progress in their learning.

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The provision is inadequate

Despite this, children show that they feel safe and happy in the childminder's care. They have built close relationships with her. For example, young children are happy to have a cuddle when they first wake up. The childminder has clear expectations of children's behaviour and they behave well. They use manners and regularly say 'please' and 'thank you' when asking for help.

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need to do better?

n Children's safety and well-being are compromised due to weaknesses in safeguarding and record keeping. The childminder has not provided Ofsted with the details of all persons over 16 years of age who are living on the premises. This means that suitability checks have not been completed for them. In addition, she does not keep an accurate daily record of children's hours of attendance. Therefore, the childminder does not meet the requirements for her registration. n The childminder has failed to address the recommendations raised at her previous inspection. She has attended mandatory training, such as child protection and first aid. However, she has not focussed on her professional development sharply enough to continually raise the quality of teaching and learning for children. n Although the childminder has made some improvements since the last inspection, observations and assessments are not consistently used to effectively

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need to do better?

plan suitably challenging activities for children. Next steps in learning are not routinely incorporated into activities and experiences in order to support children in making good progress. n Children can access a suitable range of toys and resources. The childminder knows what they are interested in. For example, she provides toy cars to

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need to do better?

19 November 2019 support young children's interest in vehicles and how they move. This helps them to engage in the activities. n Children enjoy making cakes with the childminder. They develop their physical skills as they help to mix the ingredients. Children take turns to use the cutters to make shapes with icing to decorate them. On occasion, children are encouraged to use their thinking skills. For example, the childminder asks them questions, such as, 'Where do eggs come from?' Children count the cakes they have made. The childminder asks them how many they will have left if they eat one of them. n Children have some opportunities to learn about how to keep themselves healthy and safe. They are provided with healthy meals and snacks. Children have some opportunities to play at the park. They take part in fire drills that help them to learn how to evacuate the childminder's house in an emergency. n Children learn about their own and other people's similarities and differences.

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need to do better?

The childminder sometimes provides activities that teach them about the festivals of different cultures. For example, they make Chinese dragons and taste different foods. Children learn about the wider world. They enjoy feeding the ducks on the heath and seeing the animals at the local farm. n The childminder develops positive partnerships with parents. She regularly shares information about their children's day through verbal discussions and text messages. n The childminder does not use self-evaluation effectively to reflect on the quality of her practice or identify breaches of requirements, which compromises children's welfare.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

Children's safety and welfare are compromised as the childminder has failed to provide Ofsted with all the information required to complete full suitability checks for all adults living on the premises. However, she has obtained Disclosure and Barring Service checks for them. Although the childminder knows which children attend each day, she is not consistent with her recording of their times of arrival or departure. The childminder has completed safeguarding training. She knows the procedures to follow and who to contact should she have concerns about a child's welfare. She takes effective action to minimise any hazards in her home, garden and on outings.

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Due date

19 November 2019 ensure Ofsted is provided with the information needed to check the suitability of individuals aged 16 years and over who live on the premises 26/11/2019

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Due date

maintain an accurate daily record of the names of the children being cared for on the premises and their hours of attendance 26/11/2019

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Due date

implement an effective programme for professional development to raise the quality of teaching to a higher level and consistently improve outcomes for children 26/01/2020

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Due date

implement effective systems to observe, assess and monitor children's progress to accurately plan for their next stage in learning, and help all children to make progress and gain the skills needed for their future learning. 26/01/2020

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should:

n improve the effectiveness of self-evaluation to identify areas for improvement and address professional development needs to support children's care, learning and development fully.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY265774 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10067202 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 7 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 9 Date of previous inspection 21 June 2016

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2003 and lives in St Albans. 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.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector viewed all areas used for childminding and made observations throughout the inspection of children's experiences. n The inspector spoke to children at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector discussed with the childminder how she evaluates her provision to bring about improvements and assessed her knowledge of the children's development. n The inspector looked at a sample of documents. She checked evidence of the suitability and training of the childminder and the suitability of those living on the premises. n The inspector took account of the views of parents through the information provided.

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Inspection activities

19 November 2019 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

19 November 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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