Childminder in Lancashire

Overall effectiveness Inadequate

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

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The provision is inadequate

The childminder does not provide a safe and suitable environment for children. She fails to ensure that children's play areas are clean and free from dangers. Children play and rest close to rubbish and among tall, unsteady stacks of files, stale food and broken toys. Furthermore, the childminder allows other adults to smoke on the premises, close to sleeping babies, despite understanding how unsafe this is. Outdoor areas are overrun with household waste, animal faeces and cigarette stubs. Additionally, the childminder does not always ensure that enough staff are available to meet the needs of all children present.

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The provision is inadequate

Children are, generally, calm and well behaved. However, they spend most of their time wandering aimlessly, not engaging with friends or resources. The childminder does not implement a rich and inviting curriculum. Children are not challenged and so spend time quietly daydreaming or quickly flitting from one toy to the next. The childminder does not support children's personal development well. As a result, children often cry and do not receive the emotional support they need. Children show care for one another. They show concern if others are upset and kindly attempt to rock them off to sleep in their prams.

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need to do better?

n The childminder fails to protect children. She does not provide a safe place for children to explore. Children play among obvious hazards. The environment is cluttered and disorganised. The childminder exposes children to possible harm by not ensuring her premises are suitable. n The childminder allows rubbish to build up and overflow from bins near children's resources. Stale food, cigarette stubs and animal waste litter the children's play areas. Outdoor areas are completely unsuitable for use. The childminder fails to implement effective hygiene routines in order to ensure that the environment is clean, ready for use and does not expose children to health hazards. n The childminder knows that she must not let others smoke on the premises, but permits this anyway. Very young children are exposed to smoke while sleeping, which is particularly dangerous. Although the childminder demonstrates an understanding of how smoking can contribute to Sudden Infant Death

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need to do better?

Syndrome, she chooses to allow smoking to take place near very young, sleeping children, regardless of the risk. n The childminder does not ensure that children have access to a challenging and exciting curriculum. Children are often bored or upset, due to a lack of stimulation. Sometimes, adults overly direct children's thinking and the childminder does not carefully plan what she wants children to learn through the activities she provides. Children are not supported to develop the positive

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need to do better?

23 September 2021 attitudes to learning they need to be well prepared for school. n The childminder does not have a contingency plan for when her assistant is absent or late, resulting in her caring for too many children on her own. Consequently, during these times, children's individual needs are not met. Furthermore, the childminder fails to keep an up-to-date record of children's attendance. This means, in case of an emergency, there is no accurate record of how many children are on the premises. This hinders children's safety and the safe management of the setting. n Children's personal development is not well supported. Children cry and become distressed and they are offered little distraction or meaningful comfort. The childminder and her assistant both offer some words of encouragement to children who are upset, but do not take any active steps to help children to feel happier. They do not acknowledge children's feelings or help them to begin to

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need to do better?

understand their own emotions. Therefore, some children do not ever fully settle throughout the day. n The childminder does not offer her assistant appropriate support or supervision. She is not able to effectively evaluate the assistant's practice or identify when the assistant does not plan captivating activities. She fails to recognise gaps in the assistant's knowledge. This adds to the poor quality of care and education that children receive and hinders the childminder's ability to improve. n Parents commend the childminder. They are especially grateful for her strong communication skills and the frequent outdoor excursions she provides for children. Parents appreciate that their children have regular access to an allotment while with the childminder, as this is a new experience for some of them. This increases children's opportunities to learn about the natural world. n Children have lovely manners. They kindly say please and thank you when

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need to do better?

speaking to the inspector, without prompt. They show real affection for their friends and offer one another small acts of kindness, such as stroking each other's hair. However, children are not supported to develop positive, independent attitudes to learning.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The childminder does not ensure that her assistant has the appropriate knowledge to fulfil her duty to safeguard children. The childminder, as designated safeguarding lead, also does not have a suitable understanding of the procedures she must follow. For instance, neither the childminder or her assistant know the correct procedure to follow if an allegation is made about a member of the household. The childminder fails to adequately risk assess the environment to help prevent harm to children. She does not ensure that obvious dangers to children are rectified. For example, broken safety equipment and other hazards, including animal faeces, rubbish, and smoke.

p.3

Due date

ensure all adults working with the children have a thorough understanding of what to do if allegations are made about any person who lives or works on the childminding premises 21/10/2021

p.4

Due date

ensure there are enough adults working directly with the children at all times, to meet their individual needs and keep them safe 21/10/2021

p.4

Due date

ensure that no smoking takes place on the premises when children are, or are about to, be present, and implement effective measures to protect children from the effects of second-hand smoke 21/10/2021

p.4

Due date

ensure the premises are clean and children are not exposed to items which are hazardous to their health, in particular, dog faeces, stale food and household rubbish 21/10/2021

p.4

Due date

implement an effective risk assessment and ensure children are not exposed to hazards on the premises; including, broken equipment, stacked equipment, access to unsafe items in the kitchen, cigarettes and cigarette stubs 21/10/2021

p.4

Due date

ensure the premises are clean, safe, fit for purpose and suitable for the ages of children attending 21/10/2021

p.4

Due date

ensure that babies are placed to sleep safely 21/10/2021

p.4

Due date

23 September 2021 ensure an effective key-person system is in place which promotes every child's emotional well-being and gives them the individual support they need to feel settled 21/10/2021

p.4

Due date

ensure an accurate record of children's hours of attendance and the name of their key person is maintained at all times. 21/10/2021

p.5

Due date

plan and implement a rich, high-quality curriculum that effectively meets the needs of all children and promotes their engagement and development. 21/10/2021

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY457908 Local authority Lancashire Inspection number 10204968 Type of provision Childminder

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Childminder

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inspection

Total number of places 12 Number of children on roll 11 Date of previous inspection 15 December 2016

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2013 and lives in Accrington. She operates all year round from 7.30am to 5.45pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds an early years qualification at level 6. She employs an assistant, who holds an appropriate qualification at level 2. The childminder offers funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the provider received since the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The childminder and the inspector conducted a joint observation of the assistant and evaluated her practice together. n During a learning walk, the childminder talked to the inspector about the curriculum she offers and how this impacts upon children. n A parent shared their feedback with the inspector, which was taken into consideration. n The inspector observed interactions between the childminder, the assistant and children. She considered the experiences children have in this setting and how this has affected their learning and development. n Leadership and management discussions were held throughout the inspection. The inspector also scrutinised relevant documentation, such as first-aid

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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

23 September 2021 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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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