Childminder in St Helens

Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

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

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The provision requires improvement

Children are happy and very well settled in the childminder's care, despite some children being very new. They have formed lovely bonds with the childminder and seek her out for comfort and reassurance when needed. Children clearly feel safe and secure in the setting.

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The provision requires improvement

Overall, the curriculum is not planned or implemented well enough. Children have a lot of free choice and tend to flit between activities. Learning is not always purposeful or focused on what children need to learn next. At times, expectations of what children can do are too high. Consequently, they lose interest and, on occasion, demonstrate negative behaviour. This does not help children to extend their skills and develop a positive attitude to learning.

p.2

The provision requires improvement

Older children have a lovely time in the outdoor area. They use large chalks to make marks and learn to recognise lines and circles. The childminder helps children to name different colours and use them to draw a rainbow. Children practise their physical skills as they learn to play hopscotch. However, there are less opportunities for younger children to extend their learning in the outdoor area. They are often held by the childminder or given limited resources to explore.

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need to do better?

n The childminder has some ideas of the different things she wants to teach children. However, on the whole, the curriculum is not sharply focused on what children need to learn next. Children's next steps in learning are not sequenced correctly. For instance, they are taught to count before they are able to communicate clearly and confidently. This means children become frustrated easily and lose the motivation to learn. n Children explore the environment freely and have open access to all of the resources. They make choices about their play and decide when they want to do something else. This helps children to lead their own learning. However, at times, there is too little adult direction. Activities lack focus and learning becomes incidental. Furthermore, activities are not adapted to ensure all children can take part, particularly younger children. This prevents children from making the progress they are capable of.

p.2

need to do better?

n The childminder spends a lot of time talking to children and narrating what she is doing. She introduces some new words, such as 'hop' and 'jump'. This helps children to hear a wide range of vocabulary. However, she does not consider the effect that background noise, such as music, has on children's listening skills. Furthermore, children do not consistently hear the correct pronunciation of words. This hinders their emerging speaking skills. n Children are beginning to develop relationships with each other. They work

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need to do better?

16 January 2023 together for short periods to complete tasks. For instance, when stacking beads to make a tower, children show some patience when waiting for their turn. They are in the early stages of learning how to regulate their own emotions and follow the rules and boundaries. n Children spend a lot of time out in the local community. They visit the library to explore different types of books and attend local playgroups. Children meet a wide range of different people. They learn about people in the community who are different from themselves. This helps children to understand about similarities and differences and prepares them for life in modern Britain. n The childminder works hard to teach children about what constitutes a healthy lifestyle. She provides children with healthy snacks, such as a wide variety of fruit, and ensures they drink lots of water. The childminder shares information with parents about healthy packed lunches and supports them to make healthy

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need to do better?

choices for children. Good hygiene practices are well embedded. Children know they need to wash their hands before eating and after playing outside. This promotes children's overall good health. n The childminder has completed some mandatory training, such as paediatric first aid and safeguarding. However, she does not have a robust programme of professional development in place. She does not seek out and access opportunities to help improve her knowledge and skills further. Consequently, there are inconsistencies in the quality of education.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The childminder has a clear understanding of the signs and symptoms of abuse. She knows the procedure to follow if she has concerns about a child's welfare. The childminder is alert to safeguarding issues, such as the 'Prevent Duty' and female genital mutilation. She understands what to do of an allegation is made against herself or a member of her household. The childminder completes checks of her setting and the outdoor area before children access them. This helps to protect children from hazards in the environment.

p.3

Due date

plan and implement an ambitious and balanced curriculum that builds on what children already know and can do 20/02/2023

p.3

Due date

identify accurate and achievable next steps in learning for children 20/02/2023

p.3

Due date

16 January 2023 ensure that activities are consistently adapted to support the learning needs of all children, particularly the youngest children 20/02/2023

p.3

Due date

implement an effective programme of professional development to help raise the quality of education to a good level. 20/02/2023

p.4

should:

n consider how children's communication and language development can be promoted more effectively.

p.4

Setting details

Unique reference number 2604497 Local authority St Helens Inspection number 10265233 Type of provision Childminder

p.5

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 8 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

p.5

Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2020 and is situated in St Helens. She operates all year round from 7am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, except bank holidays and family holidays.

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 childminder and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the setting. n The childminder gave the inspector a tour of the setting and discussed how the curriculum is planned and implemented. n Discussions were held with the childminder and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection. Written feedback from parents was considered. n The inspector observed the quality of education indoors and outdoors and evaluated the impact on children's learning. n A leadership and management discussion was held with the childminder. Documentation relating to the suitability of people living and working on the premises was checked. The inspector looked at paediatric first-aid certificates.

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Inspection activities

16 January 2023 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

16 January 2023 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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