Childminder in Plymouth

Overall effectiveness Inadequate

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

p.1

The provision is inadequate

Children's safety and welfare are compromised due to the childminder's poor understanding of risk assessment and ineffective procedures for vetting the assistants she employs. This puts children at risk of harm.

p.2

The provision is inadequate

The childminder provides a limited curriculum of activities that does not support children's all-round development. She does not plan their learning well and, as such, children do not make good progress in all areas, including their communication and language development. The childminder teaches children some new words, such as naming colours and animals. However, she provides children with few opportunities to speak and learn new skills.

p.2

The provision is inadequate

Children form warm and loving relationships with the childminder and her family, who they play with and cuddle. They behave well and learn how to share and help when asked. Children move around freely to choose toys, and lead their own play. For example, they find balls to throw and kick, and play with imaginative toys, such as cars and play food. The childminder creates some spontaneous activities, such as singing action rhymes with the children, some of whom join in laughing. While this helps to create a happy environment, the lack of an effective curriculum means that children are not progressing sufficiently.

p.2

need to do better?

n The childminder has a poor understanding of her role and responsibilities to keep children safe and secure in her care. Processes to recruit assistants are not robust and do not ensure that only those suitable to care for children are employed. Significant weaknesses remain in her risk assessment procedures, and she continues to fail to monitor all areas of the premises ensuring any new hazards are removed. For example, there is pile of rubbish and broken tools in the garden, which could injure a child. In addition, there is no lock on the top gate that leads to public space. As a result, unauthorised persons are able to enter the premises and children can leave unsupervised, placing children at risk. n The quality of teaching is poor. The childminder joins in children's play to supervise them and help them to have fun. However, she provides limited challenge and does not build on what children already know and can do. She

p.2

need to do better?

fails to successfully develop their communication and language skills. She does not instigate discussions, ask questions or model language correctly. n The childminder assesses aspects of children's learning. However, she does not plan or provide activities to support their all-round development and next steps for learning. As such, children enjoy their play, but do not make good enough progress in all areas. n Children enjoy finding and playing with their favourite activities to support their

p.2

need to do better?

16 August 2022 personal interests. Most join in the few activities the childminder does organise, such as doing the actions to the rhymes she sings and chasing bubbles to pop. Children create their own games and ideas independently, such as making marks with water outside. n The childminder does not keep accurate records of children's attendance. This does not allow her to safely monitor the welfare of children in her care. n The childminder does not follow robust hygiene routines. She changes wet and soiled nappies directly on the playroom carpet where children play and eat their lunch. She does not wash her hands afterwards and does not encourage children to wash their hands before meals. These practices fail to help prevent the spread of infection or support children in learning good personal hygiene routines. n The childminder obtains information from parents regarding children's needs when they start and keeps them informed of their children's day-to-day

p.2

need to do better?

activities. However, she does not ensure parents give consent for her to leave their children in the sole care of her assistants as required. n The childminder reflects on some aspects of her provision to make changes, such as providing new toys to support children's interests. She welcomes support from the local authority early years team who have helped her to improve her procedures for outings. However, despite this support, the childminder has not made sufficient improvement and does not have a good enough understanding of her role and responsibilities.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The weaknesses in the childminder's understanding of safety and her risk assessments compromises children's welfare. She has not notified Ofsted of the new assistants who work for her. The childminder does not ensure assistants undergo suitability checks, including a Disclosure and Barring Service check. On at least one occasion, an unvetted assistant was left in sole charge of children. The childminder has completed some safeguarding training. This has helped her to understand different child protection issues and the correct procedures to follow if she is concerned a child is at risk of abuse or neglect.

p.3

Due date

16 August 2022 ensure suitability checks are completed for all assistants, including a Disclosure and Barring Service check 19/08/2022

p.3

Due date

ensure people whose suitability has not been checked do not to have unsupervised contact with children being cared for 19/08/2022

p.4

Due date

gain permission from parents to leave children in the sole care of an assistant 19/08/2022

p.4

Due date

ensure that risk assessments are robust and help to ensure that the premises are safe and suitable for children to use, particularly in the outdoor play area 19/08/2022

p.4

Due date

keep an accurate daily record of children's attendance 19/08/2022

p.4

Due date

ensure robust hygiene routines are followed to promote children's good health and to prevent the spread of infection 19/08/2022

p.4

Due date

improve knowledge and understanding of risk assessments and how to maintain safe and secure environments for children. 02/09/2022

p.4

Due date

improve the quality of teaching to build on what children know and can do and to ensure all children make good progress in their communication and language development 12/10/2022

p.4

Due date

plan and provide a broader curriculum to support all areas of children's development and help them achieve their next steps for learning. 12/10/2022

p.4

Setting details

Unique reference number EY370757 Local authority Plymouth Inspection number 10247594 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 10 Date of previous inspection 17 March 2022

p.5

Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2008 and lives in Plymouth, Devon. She works with an assistant on occasion. The childminder offers care Monday to Friday, from 7am to 5pm, all year round.

p.5

Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with the childminder and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n We carried out this inspection as a result of a risk assessment, following information we received about the childminder. n The childminder completed a tour of her home with the inspector and explained how she uses it to meet children's needs and deliver the curriculum. n The inspector observed activities and the quality of the childminder's interactions with the children. n The inspector sampled the childminder's documentation and discussed her knowledge of the requirements of the early years foundation stage.

p.5

Inspection activities

16 August 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.

p.5

Inspection activities

16 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.

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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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