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 Inadequate

p.1

The provision is inadequate

Risk assessments are ineffective. Children are exposed to a risk of harm. The childminder does not supervise children sufficiently when, for example, changing their nappies, during outings, and when children eat and drink, to ensure their safety. The childminder does not ensure that she can respond appropriately should a child have an accident while on an outing. Hygiene procedures are not effective to prevent the spread of illness and germs. The childminder does not ensure that children wash their hands before they eat. Areas where the childminder prepares food are not hygienic.

p.2

The provision is inadequate

The curriculum is poorly designed and does not meet the needs of all children. The childminder is not clear on exactly what she wants the children to achieve in their learning and development. For example, she identifies that some children need support in their communication and language but is unable to provide targeted support that helps to close gaps and supports children to achieve.

p.2

The provision is inadequate

Children demonstrate that they are curious about how things work, and the childminder follows the children's interests. However, learning is incidental. The childminder does not use language that helps children to understand and follow instructions.

p.2

need to do better?

n The childminder has not addressed all of the breaches to requirements raised at her last inspection. Further to this, there are more weaknesses identified that continue to place children at risk. The childminder has not improved her knowledge and understanding well enough to help children make good progress in their learning and development. n The childminder is unable to accurately assess risks to children. She changes children's nappies on a changing mat on top of a work surface at waist height. She leaves them unattended on this surface while she goes outside into the garden to put the dirty nappies in a bin. The childminder overly relies on her view that children's safety is not at risk because she knows them well. She has not considered the potential that a child may roll off the surface and fall a considerable height onto the floor. n The childminder does not adequately supervise children while on outings. This is

p.2

need to do better?

despite this being previously identified as a weakness in her practice. When collecting children from a local school, she leaves early years children under the supervision of primary-aged children. All of these children are alone on the playground while the childminder goes to collect other children. This is despite the childminder describing the pick-up time as 'madness'. While unsupervised, children have access to more than one exit onto the road. The childminder

p.2

need to do better?

9 October 2023 believes this arrangement is suitable because she knows she can trust them. She does not take into consideration the full range of risks for the children left unsupervised. n The childminder does not adequately supervise children while they are eating, which significantly increases their risk of choking. Again, this has been raised as a weakness at the previous inspection. The childminder empties the dishwasher with her back to the children while they eat their lunch. She then leaves the children completely unattended and goes into the hallway to answer the front door. The childminder does not keep children within sight and hearing while they eat. n The childminder does not ensure there is a first-aid kit always accessible, including when taking the children outside of the setting. This was previously identified as a weakness. The childminder is unable to administer first aid to children should they have an accident or injury, as she does not have suitable

p.2

need to do better?

equipment with her. n The childminder does not implement procedures to promote children's good health, including ensuring they wash their hands, when needed, to prevent the spread of infection. Children use their hands to eat their snacks and lunch, without washing them beforehand. The childminder does not believe it necessary for children to wash their hands before eating because her house is 'not dirty'. Children cough throughout the day. While they cover their mouths with their hands, the childminder does not support them to wash their hands afterwards. Children continue playing with toys that others then play with. n The childminder does not provide hygienic areas to prepare the children's food, meaning children are at an increased risk of ill health. The childminder's pet cat walks and sits on the kitchen work surfaces. Later, the childminder prepares the children's food for their lunch on the surfaces without cleaning them first.

p.3

need to do better?

n The childminder does not provide an ambitious communication and language curriculum. For example, she reads a storybook to children with long and complex sentences that are too advanced for them to understand. The childminder does not build effectively on what the children can already do and what they need to learn next. This leads to children becoming bored and disengaged, and they do not develop their listening or speaking skills sufficiently. n Children begin to learn about emotions. For example, the childminder uses a puppet with them and talks about how the puppet likes to be kind. However, she does not do enough to support children to follow instructions and respond appropriately to her, to further their personal, social and emotional development. For example, when using the puppets, she repeatedly tells children to 'sit down', even when they are already sitting. This confuses children, and they struggle to understand or follow her instructions.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The childminder does not take steps to reduce or eliminate risks. She does not supervise children adequately in her home and while on outings to keep them safe.

p.3

Safeguarding

9 October 2023 However, the childminder knows the signs and symptoms of possible abuse or neglect. She knows what to do and which agencies to contact in the event of an allegation made against herself or a household member.

p.3

Due date

improve the procedures for assessing risks and take steps to ensure children are kept safe at all times 13/10/2023

p.4

Due date

ensure children are adequately supervised at all times, including when eating and drinking, when on outings and when having their nappy changed 13/10/2023

p.4

Due date

ensure there is a first-aid kit always accessible, including while on outings with children outside of the setting 13/10/2023

p.4

Due date

implement procedures to promote children's good health, including ensuring that children wash their hands, when needed, to prevent the spread of infection 13/10/2023

p.4

Due date

ensure areas where food is prepared are hygienic. 13/10/2023

p.4

Due date

implement an ambitious communication and language curriculum that builds on what the children can do already and need to learn next, to further their listening and speaking skills effectively 03/11/2023

p.4

Due date

9 October 2023 improve interactions with children, ensuring they can follow instructions and respond appropriately, to develop their personal, social and emotional development sufficiently. 03/11/2023

p.4

Setting details

Unique reference number EY311322 Local authority Plymouth Inspection number 10311241 Type of provision Childminder

p.6

Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Childminder

p.6

inspection

Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 10 Date of previous inspection 6 June 2023

p.6

Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2005 and lives in Plymouth. Care is available each weekday, for 47 weeks of the year, from 7am until 6pm. The childminder offers places for early education funding for children aged two, three and four years.

p.6

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 The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The childminder and the inspector discussed how the childminder organises their early years provision, including the aims and rationale for their early years foundation stage curriculum. n Children communicated with the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector observed the interactions between the childminder and children. n The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The childminder provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation on request.

p.6

Inspection activities

9 October 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.

p.6

Inspection activities

9 October 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.

p.7

Inspection activities

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspection activities

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.8

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspection activities

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

p.8