McAllister, Paula Jane

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

p.1

The provision is inadequate

The childminder does not take responsibility for some medicines that children take while in her care. As a result, not all medication is administered, recorded or monitored appropriately. The childminder does not consider the potential risk to children who take or have access to medicines contained within food and drink. Consequently, this puts children's health at risk and the childminder fails to protect children adequately.

p.2

The provision is inadequate

Children access a range of activities. However, children's learning and development is compromised when the childminder exceeds the usual adult-to-child ratios. This means that she is unable to provide attention and high-quality interactions for all children within her care. For example, children are occupied with activities but lack challenge and good-quality teaching from the childminder to extend their learning.

p.2

The provision is inadequate

Children are encouraged to develop good manners. For example, during snack time, they say please and thank you. However, the childminder does not consistently support children in managing their own emotions and behaviour. For instance, when children throw sand or stamp on storage boxes, they are asked to stop what they are doing, but they are not provided with an explanation about why they need to stop. Similarly, children are not supported to understand their own feelings and the feelings of others.

p.2

need to do better?

n The childminder identifies children's next steps in learning and strategies to support development. However, this is not implemented in practice. For instance, the childminder identifies strategies to promote communication and language, but does not use these when communicating with children. n When the childminder exceeds the usual adult-to-child ratios, she is unable to meet all children's needs. The environment is chaotic, and the childminder is unable to provide all children with effective care and education. As a result, the childminder acts mainly in a supervisory capacity rather than facilitating children's learning and development and promoting all children's well-being. n Despite the weaknesses in the childminder's ability to consistently meet children's learning needs, children enjoy being physically active. Outside, they use their core muscles to balance and walk across crates. As children become

p.2

need to do better?

more confident, they run across the crates and smile as they jump off at the end. However, the childminder's interactions with children are minimal. Consequently, she does not support children to extend their skills or challenge thinking. n The childminder maintains strong relationships with parents and carers. She seeks their views on children's development. This helps her to understand each

p.2

need to do better?

3 August 2022 child's interests and overall development. n The childminder identifies that some children need further support to manage their feelings and behaviour. However, she does not actively engage with children to help them begin to understand how they feel or how their actions affect other people. For example, when children begin to throw toys in the conservatory, the childminder does not explore why they are doing this. Consistent expectations are not in place. As a result, children's behaviour is too variable. n The childminder reflects on some aspects of her practice. For example, she acknowledges that practice is negatively affected when working over the usual adult-to-child ratios. However, she can not identify learning points resulting from her decision to care for more children than normal ratios allow, or how this situation may have been managed in a different way. n The childminder assesses risks before taking children outside to play. However,

p.2

need to do better?

she does not consider potential risks to children's health in relation to medications that parents prepare for their children at home, but are administered at the setting. Furthermore, she fails to implement steps to protect and prevent other children from accessing this medication. This places children at risk of harm. n Children have opportunities to learn about the world around them. They plant sweetcorn, carrots and peas. Children develop an understanding of what is needed to help plants to grow. For instance, they learn that plants need sun and water to grow. n Older children use the toilet independently, and younger children are supported with toilet training. Children are eager to develop their independence. For instance, they ask the childminder if they can help to dry the outdoor equipment, which they then do. Nevertheless, children do not always have the opportunity to develop their self-help skills at other times. For example, the

p.3

need to do better?

childminder cuts all children's fruit for them during snack time, including for those who are capable of doing this themselves.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The childminder attends regular safeguarding training. Nevertheless, she does not identify all risks associated with the storage and administration of medication. Similarly, she does not have sufficient awareness of the increased risks when caring for too many children. As a result, appropriate action is not taken to keep children safe from harm. However, she does understand how to identify and respond to child protection concerns. This include the process to follow in relation to allegations of abuse and how to report these appropriately. She is aware of who to contact should she have concerns regarding radicalisation or extremism.

p.3

Due date

implement robust procedures and practices to ensure that all medicines consumed on the premises are safely administered, documented and monitored 04/08/2022

p.4

Due date

carry out thorough risk assessments, particularly in relation to medicines and the variation of ratios, to ensure that measures are in place to keep children safe from harm 04/08/2022

p.4

Due date

ensure that all children's learning and well-being needs are met when exceptions are made to usual ratios 04/08/2022

p.4

Due date

access professional development opportunities to gain skills and knowledge to ensure that children receive high-quality interactions. 28/10/2022

p.4

should:

n improve knowledge and implementation of behaviour-management strategies to support children's well-being and understanding of feelings and emotions.

p.4

Setting details

Unique reference number EY216973 Local authority Leicestershire Inspection number 10130513 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 6 Number of children on roll 17 Date of previous inspection 1 April 2015

p.5

Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2002 and lives in Ibstock, Leicestershire. The childminder operates all year round, from 7.30am until 6pm, Monday to Thursday, except for bank holidays and family holidays.

p.5

Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the childminder received since the COVID- 19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the childminder and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The inspector completed a learning walk of the childminder's provision and discussed how she organises and implements her curriculum. n The childminder took part in a joint observation with the inspector. The inspector considered the quality of education during activities and the impact 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 inspector took account of the views of parents on the day of the inspection. n The inspector spoke with the childminder and the children at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n The childminder provided the inspector with a sample of requested key

p.6

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.

p.6

Inspection activities

3 August 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.

p.6

Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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