Childminder in Leicestershire

Overall effectiveness Inadequate

The quality of education Inadequate Behaviour and attitudes Inadequate 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 as the childminder has not shared the required information with Ofsted regarding a new assistant and additional household member to enable the relevant suitability checks to be completed. The childminder does not consider the safe recruitment of persons working with children. Additionally, she does not maintain smoke alarms in working order to minimise potential fire risks to children. The childminder and her assistant do not have a secure knowledge of how to protect children in the event of a safeguarding concern. Children's good health is not fully assured as the childminder does not consider the nutritional value of the meals and snacks she provides.

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The provision is inadequate

Children do not benefit from a well-planned curriculum. Although the childminder knows the children well and understands what they need to learn next, she and her assistant do not use this information to plan activities and tailor their support to help children make the best possible progress. Gaps in the childminder's knowledge and understanding of the learning and development requirements results in limited support for children's communication and language development. Children struggle to understand what is expected of them as the childminder and her assistant do not manage their behaviour well enough. The childminder does not identify gaps in her knowledge or carefully consider the coaching and support her assistant needs to improve the delivery of the curriculum.

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The provision is inadequate

Nevertheless, children do enjoy their time with the childminder and her assistant. They approach them for comfort and support and demonstrate they feel secure. Children enjoy being outside and immersing themselves in water play, where they pour, fill and splash. They use rollers to flatten play dough and cook it in the pretend microwave. Children create pictures using pens, pencils, and scissors.

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need to do better?

n Although the childminder can explain the necessary changes she needs to notify Ofsted about, she has neglected to share information about a new assistant and a change to the adults living on the premises. This is a breach of legal requirements and potentially impacts on children's safety. n The childminder and her assistant do not have a secure knowledge of safeguarding. They do not understand how to respond to an allegation about themselves or anyone living or working on the premises. The childminder and her assistant do not understand the 'Prevent' duty. These gaps in their knowledge potentially place children at risk of harm. n The childminder has not maintained smoke detectors in the setting. All those within the main house have been removed, and the smoke detector in the playroom does not have a working battery fitted. This has the potential to

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need to do better?

9 August 2023 impact on children's safety in the event of a fire. n The childminder does ensure the safe recruitment of her new assistant. She has not obtained references or completed identification checks to ensure her assistant is suitable to work with children. This means she cannot fully assure the children's safety. n The childminder does not recognise weaknesses in her practice or keep her own professional knowledge up to date. This impacts on the quality of her provision and her support for children's learning and development. n The childminder and her assistant provide a range of activities and experiences they know children will enjoy. However, they do not plan a curriculum to challenge children's learning or help them to build on what they need to learn next. Consequently, children are not supported to make the best possible progress. n Children do not consistently benefit from sustained support to help them develop

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need to do better?

their communication skills. The childminder and her assistant do not always spend time interacting and talking to children to ensure they hear a rich variety of words and develop their conversational skills. n The childminder promotes children's good hygiene as she ensures they know how and when to wash their hands. However, she does not provide a healthy and balanced diet for children. At mealtimes, children are often served foods which are high in salt and sugar. This does not support children's good health or help them understand the importance of healthy eating. n Children's behaviour is not managed effectively. The childminder and her assistant talk to children about aspects of unwanted behaviour. However, they offer conflicting messages and are not consistent in how they help children learn right from wrong. n The childminder develops good partnerships with parents and carers. She takes time to get to know children and their families. This helps children to form

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need to do better?

secure emotional attachments with her. Parents provide written comments on the good quality of service the childminder provides for their children. They say their children are happy and supported well by the childminder. n The childminder has informal meetings with her assistants to discuss the activities she intends to provide each day. However, she does not provide ongoing training, support or coaching to help improve their knowledge and practice. Consequently, they do understand how to support children's learning.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

Children's safety is potentially compromised. The childminder has not notified Ofsted of changes to persons living or working on the premises. She does not ensure fire detection equipment is in place or maintained in good working order. The childminder has not carried out safer recruitment checks for her new assistant to ensure she is safe and suitable to work with children. The childminder and her assistant can name the signs and symptoms of abuse. However, they are less sure of the steps to take should they have concerns that an adult has harmed a child.

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Safeguarding

9 August 2023 Furthermore, neither of them understands the 'Prevent' duty and how to identify if a child is being radicalised. The childminder checks areas children use for play, both indoors and outside, to ensure they are suitable for use.

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Due date

ensure the safeguarding policy and procedure are understood appropriately by all those working with children, including what to do should an allegation be made against someone living or working on the premises 29/08/2023

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Due date

develop a secure knowledge and understanding of the 'Prevent' duty guidance to identify children who are being exposed to extreme behaviours or radicalised views 29/08/2023

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Due date

ensure that all fire detection and control equipment, such as smoke detectors, are in place and maintained in working order 29/08/2023

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Due date

ensure safer recruitment procedures are followed to ensure all those working with children are safe and suitable 29/08/2023

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Due date

improve knowledge and understanding of the learning and development requirements of the early years foundation stage to raise the quality of teaching 05/09/2023

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Due date

plan and implement a curriculum that reflects the individual needs of every child and offers meaningful and challenging learning experiences 05/09/2023

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Due date

interact more effectively with children to help them develop better speech and language skills 05/09/2023

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Due date

9 August 2023 ensure children are consistently provided with a balanced, healthy and nutritious diet 29/08/2023

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Due date

manage behaviour more effectively to help children learn to understand what is expected of them 29/08/2023

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Due date

provide appropriate coaching and support to identify the assistants' poor teaching and further help them develop a thorough understanding of how children learn and the best ways to support them. 29/08/2023

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY493743 Local authority Leicestershire Inspection number 10289600 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 12 Number of children on roll 9 Date of previous inspection 29 November 2017

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2015 and lives in Markfield, Leicestershire. She operates all year round, from 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder has early years professional status. She regularly works with at least one assistant. The childminder provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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 The inspector observed the interactions between the childminder, the assistant and the children. She spoke to the childminder and the children at appropriate times during the inspection. n The childminder and the inspector completed a tour of the setting to view the areas used for childcare and discussed how the childminder organises her early years provision. n The childminder and her assistant spoke to the inspector about children's learning and development. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n Parents shared their views of the childminder through written feedback. The

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Inspection activities

inspector took into account their views during the inspection. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of people living and working at the premises.

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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.

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Inspection activities

9 August 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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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