Childminder in Southend on Sea

Overall effectiveness Inadequate

The quality of education Inadequate Behaviour and attitudes Inadequate Personal development Inadequate Leadership and management Inadequate Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

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The provision is inadequate

Children's safety and welfare are compromised. Risk assessments do not ensure that all hazards, including the equipment and resources in the garden, are safe for the children to use. For example, children playing with coloured beads that expand in water are not continually supervised. Children's progress in relation to their starting points is hindered by the poorly organised educational programmes. Children do not have access to a wide range of resources to enable them to use their imaginative skills and lead their own play. Activities are very adult-led and do not take into account children's different ages and stage of learning. For example, each child is given a 'colour-by-number' worksheet without any consideration for their age or ability.

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The provision is inadequate

Children do not learn good eating habits. They do not have a table to sit at while having their snacks or meals as the childminder uses the same tray for activities. This is not wiped before children sit down. In addition, the childminder and/or assistant are unable to tell if children have eaten sufficient food or what they have consumed as they allow children to wander off while still eating. The television is often on and, at times, what children can see and hear is unsuitable.

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need to do better?

n The childminder has failed to ensure that risk assessments identify and minimise all hazards to children, particularly in the garden. A see-saw is located close to the concrete path. The childminder does not supervise children, especially the younger ones, while they play with water beads. In addition, children ride on small cars and train toys perilously close to the edges of concrete paths. This compromises children's safety and welfare. n Mealtime arrangements do not help children learn the benefits of healthy lifestyles and about keeping themselves safe while eating. Children help themselves to sandwiches and sausage rolls. However, they do not have their own plates. Therefore, children place their food down onto the unclean tuff tray surface, or replace their half-eaten sandwiches back on the main plate. Children get up and go outside. However, they continue to graze on crisps and fruit, coming back indoors to pick up more food, without washing their hands.

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need to do better?

Children are, therefore, at risk of cross-infection or choking on food as neither the childminder nor her assistant encourage children to sit back down. n The educational programme for children does not support their learning and development. Activities available are adult-led and restrict children's creativity. The childminder provides lots of opportunities for children to engage in physical play but does not adequately consider how to cover the other areas of learning. This means that children are not developing a wide range of skills to support the next stage in their education.

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need to do better?

22 July 2022 n The childminder does not ensure that she gives clear and consistent messages in relation to screen time. She fails to ensure that programmes on the television are suitable for the ages of children present. The childminder puts the television on over lunchtime, but does not check what programme children are exposed to. The content of the programme, including the graphics, are inappropriate as the subject matter relates to unsafe online activity and the dangers of grooming. This is not appropriate content for children under five years of age. n Arrangements to administer medication to children are inadequate. The childminder has suitable written permissions in place. However, she does not have suitable procedures for gathering important information about a child's needs for medicines and keeping these details current. Children's welfare is not assured. n Children are unable to independently access a wide range of resources. The

p.2

need to do better?

childminder has resources available, but these are generally above children's reach or tidied away in fabric boxes. This means that children cannot see what is available to make their own choices and lead their play. Children have to climb on furnishings to freely access books, which restricts the opportunities they have to enjoy stories that are on offer. n Parents are able to speak to the childminder when they drop off and collect their children. This helps them to understand how their children have been during the day. Parents spoken to during the inspection were happy with the care their children receive.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The childminder does not demonstrate a good enough understanding of her role to safeguard children. Records of child protection concerns are not efficiently kept and maintained. This does not enable her to promptly share information to ensure that children's needs are met. The childminder has failed to follow guidance in the government's statutory publication 'Working Together to Safeguard Children'. She does not follow her local safeguarding partner procedures to help protect children's welfare. The childminder has not taken account of information published in 'Safeguarding children and protecting professionals in early years settings' to keep children safe online, including appropriate screen time.

p.3

Due date

22 July 2022 improve knowledge and understanding of the statutory guidance 'Working Together to Safeguard Children' to act and respond to any concerns consistently without delay 18/08/2022

p.3

Due date

take account of the government publication 'Safeguarding children and protecting professionals in early years settings' to keep children safe online, including appropriate screen time 18/08/2022

p.4

Due date

ensure that all possible hazards to children, especially outside in the garden, are identified and minimised to keep them safe 18/08/2022

p.4

Due date

take action to promote the good health of children, taking all necessary steps to prevent the spread of infection 18/08/2022

p.4

Due date

ensure up-to-date information is obtained about children's medical needs, including procedures for administering medication. 18/08/2022

p.4

Due date

ensure that educational programmes and the curriculum are ambitious and well designed to support all children's progress in relation to their starting points 18/08/2022

p.4

Due date

take action to enable children to independently access resources to encourage their curiosity, imaginative skills and develop their own ideas in their play. 18/08/2022

p.4

Setting details

Unique reference number EY549230 Local authority Southend-on-Sea Inspection number 10173994 Type of provision Childminder

p.5

Registers

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

p.5

inspection

Total number of places 12 Number of children on roll 9 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2017 and lives in Southend On Sea, Essex. She operates all year round from 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays agreed in advance.

p.5

Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the provider received since the COVID-19 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 completed a learning walk together to discuss the childminder's intentions for children's learning. n Children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The childminder and inspector discussed how the curriculum had been implemented and the impact that this had on children's learning. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The childminder provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation on request.

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Inspection activities

22 July 2022 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

22 July 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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