Childminder in Staffordshire

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 Good

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The provision is inadequate

Children's safety is not assured by the childminder because she fails to take action to keep them safe. For example, she does not discourage them from putting small items in their mouths, such as buttons and sorting bears, which increases the risk of choking. The childminder does not always reflect on the experiences she provides young children to ensure they are always able to join in with activities. This negatively impacts children's engagement as their developmental needs are not always met. Despite this, the childminder encourages children to be independent. For example, children have opportunities to sweep up after activities using a dustpan and brush. Older children place the picnic mat on the floor, and they sit patiently for their snack. They help to get the nappy changing mat for the childminder to assist their personal needs.

p.2

The provision is inadequate

The childminder displays positive relationships with children and promotes friendships among peers. For example, she encourages children to share resources and explore them together. This helps children to learn to cooperate, which they later demonstrate in their play. For instance, they say, 'there you go' as they take it in turns to play a musical instrument. The childminder helps children to recognise when they have done well. For instance, children receive a 'high five' when they try hard. They feel proud and cheer, 'I did it'.

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need to do better?

n The childminder does not always recognise the potential risks to children. This means young children put small objects in their mouths which have not been specifically designed for them to chew on. The childminder is not vigilant enough in dealing with these possible choking hazards. As a result, children's health and safety cannot be assured. n Although the childminder knows what to do in a first-aid situation and policies and procedures reflect this, on the day of the inspection, the childminder was unable to provide the required paediatric first-aid certificate. As a result, her compliance to this statutory requirement cannot be assured. n The childminder strives for all children to develop their knowledge and skills through play. However, she does not always reflect on young children's experiences. For example, at times, she talks to children with dummies in their mouths, which negatively impacts their speech. On occasion, activities are

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need to do better?

placed too high, meaning young children need to stand on their tiptoes to join in. Additionally, not all activities are planned well enough to include young children right from the start. This does not help children to make the progress they are capable of. n The childminder, at times, is self-reflective. She identifies some personal strengths and areas for improvement. As a result, she recently attended some

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need to do better?

18 July 2023 training to promote older children's learning through play, and to enhance their language development. This positively impacts how she plans the curriculum to incorporate children's interests. n The childminder knows to seek advice from other professionals to support any child that may be falling behind in their learning. This includes working with teachers to support children's transition to school. The childminder uses early years guidance, including language resources, to assess children's learning and plan their next steps. n The childminder encourages parents and carers to share what they know about their children's achievements when they first start. This involvement continues throughout the child's time at the setting. Parents are kept up to date with their children's learning using online communication tools. Parents are happy. They say they openly talk to the childminder about their children's learning and

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need to do better?

behaviour. n The childminder helps children to select healthy food first to promote their understanding of healthy food choices. She ensures the environment and equipment is clean to reduce the risk of cross-contamination and assists older children to wash their hands using water and soap. This helps to increase children's understanding of self-care and hygiene practices. n Older children enjoy listening to stories which enhance their descriptive language with phrases such as 'too hot' and 'too cold'. They spontaneously finish the end of sentences and confidently retell parts of the story using small-world props to demonstrate their understanding.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

Ineffective risk assessments compromise children's health and safety. For example, the childminder does not always identify risks, which increases the likelihood of a child choking. That said, she demonstrates knowledge of the correct procedures to follow should she have concerns for a child's welfare, including first-aid procedures and medication requirements. She discusses the signs and symptoms that might indicate a child is at risk of neglect or abuse, including changes in behaviour and marks to non-mobile babies. The childminder shares relevant information with parents as part of a 'welcome pack' to ensure they understand the childminder's expectations for safeguarding and complaint procedures.

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Due date

18 July 2023 take all reasonable steps to ensure children are not exposed to risks 01/08/2023

p.3

Due date

ensure all required documentation is available for inspection, including paediatric first-aid certificates 15/08/2023

p.4

Due date

reflect on the environment and the experiences younger children receive to continuously promote their learning and engagement. 15/08/2023

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY495176 Local authority Staffordshire Inspection number 10301735 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 8 January 2018

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2015 and lives in Cannock, Staffordshire. She operates all year round from 7.30am until 4.30pm, Monday to Thursday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds qualified teacher status. The childminder provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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 childminder. n Children spoke to the inspector about their time with the childminder. n The childminder and the 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 Parents and carers shared their views of the setting with the inspector through feedback forms. n The childminder provided the inspector with some documentation on request.

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Inspection activities

18 July 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

18 July 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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