Childminder in Wirral

Overall effectiveness Inadequate

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

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The provision is inadequate

Children's safety and their well-being are not assured. The childminder failed to meet requirements relating to registers of children's attendance, complaints, confidentiality, risk assessments and mandatory information about children. Although the childminder took action to meet legal requirements following the previous inspection, she has failed to sustain the required improvements. Prolonged and persistent weaknesses in the quality of education mean that children do not receive the support they need to make good progress in their learning and development.

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The provision is inadequate

Children largely occupy themselves within the childminder's home. They receive little support from the childminder to extend their learning. Older children briefly play with the accessible toys but soon lose interest. They are disappointed when their request to watch a film is refused and spontaneously ask the digital assistant to play songs to entertain them. Younger children play quietly with construction blocks or look at books. At times, they wander aimlessly. That said, children receive a warm welcome; they are settled and enjoy a caring relationship with the childminder. Children over three years of age are familiar with the routines. They behave well as they are collected from school and nursery and enjoy talking to the childminder on the walk back to her house. The childminder has a gentle manner and responds kindly, offering reassurance and cuddles when children show signs they may be tired or unwell.

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The provision is inadequate

During the COVID-19 pandemic, opportunities for children to meet and communicate with others have been understandably limited. The childminder is mindful of this and has recently started to take the youngest children to a local toddler group. This helps to build their social and communication skills. However, weaknesses in the childminder's organisation mean children are sometimes unable to attend.

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need to do better?

n Despite making some improvements since the last inspection, there are a significant number of legal requirements that are not met. This compromises children's safety and well-being. n At times, the childminder uses a suitable system for recording some children's attendance, including their times of arrival and departure. However, these records are not completed for all children. This means she does not have an accurate record of all children's attendance to refer to in case of emergency. n The childminder does not keep the required information about each child. For example, she does not record their name and date of birth, their parents' names, address, emergency contact details and information about who has

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need to do better?

23 March 2022 parental responsibility. n The childminder does not maintain a record of all complaints. On occasion, she does not ensure that information relating to children is handled in a way that ensures confidentiality. n The childminder has completed training to improve her understanding of ways children develop their language and communication skills, but this has had little impact on the quality of education. The childminder identifies some suitable activities, such as singing, reading stories and modelling language. However, such meaningful interactions do not happen frequently enough to help the youngest children make progress. The childminder uses children's favourite television programmes to keep them occupied. She explains that she believes these help to extend children's language skills as children repeat words from the programme. n The curriculum is not planned well. Arrangements to support children who are at

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need to do better?

risk of possible developmental delay are limited. Weak assessment and poor planning mean the childminder does not always provide the level of support that children need. n Poor organisation means planned activities do not always take place as intended. For example, the childminder does not ensure she has all the resources she needs for activities to be successful. As a result, children lose interest, for example when they do not have the paint they need to make their handprints on a card for Mother's Day. n The childminder provides opportunities for children to be physically active. Children over three years of age enjoy walking to and from school and nursery and playing in the childminder's garden. Younger children enjoy outings in the local area. They improve their core strength, balance and coordination as they use equipment at the local park and climb on soft-play equipment. n The childminder exchanges information with parents as they drop off and collect

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need to do better?

their children. She also encourages the sharing of information electronically. The childminder gathers information, which she uses to meet children's care and health needs.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

Children's security, safety and well-being are compromised by weaknesses in record-keeping and inadequate risk assessment. While the childminder takes steps to minimise risks to children in the playroom, she does not do enough to remove or sufficiently minimise risks in other areas of her home. The childminder immediately removed hazardous items after the inspector arrived but had failed to do so before caring for children. These include limescale cleaner in the toilet cubicle, a used ashtray full of cigarette butts and a large box of cleaning products in the rear garden. The childminder explained these products had been temporarily removed from a kitchen cupboard and would be returned. However, the safety catch to the cupboard is not secure; this means that these hazardous items would still be accessible.

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Safeguarding

23 March 2022 The childminder is mindful of the potential risks posed by her two very large dogs. A tall safety gate is used to help ensure they are unable to enter the playroom. The childminder explains that the dogs are usually kept in an upstairs bedroom or in a cage in the back room. The childminder implements an effective risk assessment for outings. Children are becoming increasingly aware of how to keep themselves safe when walking back from school. They understand they must hold the pushchair and walk next to the childminder on the busy roads.

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Safeguarding

Since the last inspection, the childminder has improved her knowledge and understanding of child protection procedures. She can identify possible indicators of abuse and understands what she needs to do if she is concerned about a child in her care.

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Due date

take all reasonable steps to manage risk and ensure the safety of children 22/04/2022

p.4

Due date

keep records for each child of their name and date of birth, the names, address and emergency contact details of their parents and information about who has parental responsibility 22/04/2022

p.4

Due date

keep a daily record of the names of the children being cared for on the premises and their hours of attendance 22/04/2022

p.4

Due date

ensure that information relating to children and their families is handled in a way that maintains confidentiality 22/04/2022

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Due date

keep a written record of any complaints and their outcome 22/04/2022

p.4

Due date

ensure all required records are easily accessible and available for inspection. 22/04/2022

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Due date

undertake appropriate training and professional development that will improve the quality of education provided 22/04/2022

p.5

Due date

assess what children know and can do and use this to plan and implement an ambitious, well-sequenced and fully informed curriculum that supports all children to make the best possible progress. 22/04/2022

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Setting details

Unique reference number 306153 Local authority Wirral Inspection number 10206303 Type of provision Childminder

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Childminder

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inspection

Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 7 Date of previous inspection 17 August 2021

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 1990 and lives in Wallasey. She operates all year round, from 8am to 5.45pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided. She assessed the impact these activities had on children's learning. She discussed with the childminder how the curriculum is planned and implemented. n The inspector looked at available documentation. n The inspector spoke to the childminder, the children and their parents at convenient times throughout the inspection.

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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 March 2022 23 March 2022 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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