Reid, Caroline

Overall effectiveness Inadequate

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

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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 employed assistants who work in her home are known to Ofsted. Furthermore, she is not able to verify that she has undertaken Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks for them all. Therefore, their suitability has not been fully checked and children's safety and welfare are compromised. Also, the childminder does not have effective supervision procedures in place to help her to monitor the practice of her staff effectively.

p.2

The provision is inadequate

The childminder holds a relevant qualification in childcare and encourages some of her assistants to undertake qualifications. However, neither the childminder nor most of her assistants have engaged in any recent professional development to enhance their knowledge and skills. This limits the overall quality of their practice.

p.2

The provision is inadequate

Despite this, children demonstrate they feel secure and happy in the care of the childminder and her assistants. Children engage well in active play opportunities both indoors and outside. For example, they have opportunities for sliding, crawling and climbing, which helps them to build strong physical skills. The childminder and her assistants make sure that the toys children are particularly interested in are freely available to them. Young children begin to learn the importance of sharing resources when supported by staff.

p.2

need to do better?

n Children's safety and well-being are compromised due to weaknesses in safeguarding. The childminder has not provided Ofsted with the details of all persons working on the premises. Furthermore, she is not able to provide evidence of DBS checks being carried out for all her assistants. n The childminder has some basic supervision arrangements in place for her assistants. However, these are not consistent or carried out regularly enough to help her to monitor their practice and teaching skills precisely, or help them to improve. Despite this, staff demonstrate they know the children well and provide them with meaningful learning opportunities. n The childminder has attended mandatory training, such as child protection and first aid. However, she does not focus on professional development sharply enough to raise the quality of teaching and learning for children continually. n The childminder gains information on what children can already do when they

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need to do better?

start to attend her setting. She spends time with parents and gains a strong understanding of what early experiences children have had. The childminder tracks children's progress from the outset and identifies what they need to learn next to promote their ongoing learning. n The childminder and her assistants think carefully of how they can promote

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need to do better?

9 December 2019 children's learning further, for example by using their interest in trains. One of the assistants talks about her idea to add resources such as flour to the trains so that children can experiment with making marks and patterns. n The childminder and her assistants use play opportunities to introduce children to mathematical concepts. For example, the assistants model counting as children use a fishing game. At other times, the childminder helps children to understand space and shape as they fit a train track together. n Children enjoy many sensory experiences. For example, babies spend time exploring a range of musical instruments. They watch the adults intently and follow their actions, such as banging on a drum. At other times, children enjoy using paint on salt-dough decorations they have made. They watch with interest what happens when colours mix together. n Parents speak positively about the childminder and her assistants. They say their

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need to do better?

children settle quickly and enjoy attending. Parents say the childminder keeps them up to date with how their children are learning and developing. n The childminder has some effective procedures in place to support safe practice in her setting. For example, daily risk assessments and checks are carried out. The childminder is vigilant in ensuring that children's many different attendance patterns are clearly recorded in her register.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

p.3

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 working on the premises. Furthermore, she has not obtained DBS checks for all of them. The childminder and her assistants have completed safeguarding training. They know the procedures to follow and who to contact should they have concerns about a child's welfare. The childminder also helps her assistants to keep their knowledge of how to respond to any signs of extremist behaviour up to date.

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Due date

ensure Ofsted is provided with the required information so that checks can be completed on the suitability of all adults working on the premises 23/12/2019

p.3

Due date

make sure that a DBS check is completed for all assistants 23/12/2019

p.3

Due date

9 December 2019 implement an effective system for the supervision of staff to monitor their practice more precisely 09/01/2020

p.3

Due date

implement an effective programme of professional development to raise the quality of teaching and practice to higher levels. 09/01/2020

p.4

Setting details

Unique reference number EY398928 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10127201 Type of provision Childminder

p.5

Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Childminder Age range of children 0 to 10 Total number of places 18 Number of children on roll 43 Date of previous inspection 4 September 2013

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2009 and lives in Berkhamstead. She employs eight assistants on a part-time basis. The childminder and one assistant hold a level 3 qualification, and one assistant holds a level 2 qualification. The childminder operates all year round from 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays.

p.5

Inspection activities

n The inspector looked at the areas of the childminder's home that she uses with children and discussed how she operates her practice. n The inspector observed the childminder and her assistants during activities with children and discussed the learning that was taking place. n A sample of policies and procedures was looked at by the inspector, including documents relating to safeguarding and complaints procedures. n The inspector discussed the needs of individual children with the childminder and talked with her about the progress they are making. n The inspector took into account the written views of parents and discussed the childminder's reflections on her practice with her.

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Inspection activities

9 December 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

9 December 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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