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Early years · Childminder inspection (EIF)

Carter, Felicity Marina Jane

Inspected 18 Oct 2023 · published 23 Nov 2023 · URN EY413372

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Summary

Inadequate

Hayley Kiely

What we read, and from where

Click a reading to see it highlighted in the report.

  • Inspection date verified

    18 Oct 2023

  • Inspectors verified

    Hayley Kiely

  • Behaviour and attitudes verified

    Inadequate

  • Leadership and management verified

    Inadequate

  • Overall effectiveness verified

    Inadequate

  • Personal development verified

    Inadequate

  • Previous overall verified

    Good

  • Quality of education verified

    Inadequate

  • Name on report verified

    Childminder report

  • URN verified

    EY413372

Page 1 of 7
Page 1 of the report

Deep dive

What this report says

In plain English

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Grade profile

Hollow rings show the previous inspection, 2018.

  • OverallInadequate
  • Behaviour and attitudesInadequate
  • Leadership and managementInadequate
  • Personal developmentInadequate
  • Quality of educationInadequate

5% of comparable inspections in the last three years were graded Inadequate (17,905 inspections).

Tone of the report

How positive or critical the inspectors' language is, from the words they chose. No AI involved.

−40Criticalmore positive than 42% of reports of this type graded Inadequate
OutstandingGoodRIInadequate

In line with other reports of this type graded Inadequate.

Markers show where typical reports of each grade sit.

Praiseeffectivelystrengthsrobustconfidentpositivelyenjoysuccessfulhappy
Criticismconcernsfailedweaknessesnot effectivetoo manyat riskfailbreaches

How the report reads, start to finish

Every paragraph in order, sized by length. Tap one to see it on the page.

FindingsSafeguardingAbout the inspection positive critical
  • Findings802w−42
  • Safeguarding260w−30

Strengths

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No standout praise found.

Concerns

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Next steps

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What the report dwells on

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Anatomy of the report

How the report is built, against others of the same type and grade.

Pages
7
Words of findings
1,029
about usual (typical 899)
Reading level
Hard
Flesch 48, typical 51
Average sentence
15 words
Next steps
1
typical 1
Hedged sentences
9%
“some”, “not always”, “most”…

Where the words go

Findings 51%Safeguarding 17%About the inspection 33%

Full report text

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

p.1

The provision is inadequate

The childminder does not adequately promote children's safety and well-being. She does not ensure that all adults have sufficient safeguarding knowledge. In addition, the childminder routinely cares for too many children. Children are not supervised well enough to ensure their safety. For instance, during the inspection, a group of children spent time hitting a ball on a string using plastic tubes without an adult present to support them to play with the equipment safely. Therefore, the childminder and her assistants are not able to support children to develop an understanding of when they might be at risk.

p.2

The provision is inadequate

The childminder understands how to plan a suitable curriculum. However, she does not recognise that caring for too many children impacts negatively on the quality of teaching and behaviour management. For instance, when adults read stories to children, the loud noise levels cause some children to put their fingers in their ears. This means that they are unable to fully engage with the story being read to them. This does not promote children's communication and language skills. In addition, during a dancing activity, adults fail to notice when children upset each other. They do not respond to support children to regulate their behaviour and develop their social skills.

p.2

The provision is inadequate

There are some strengths in adult interactions with children. They are friendly, and children respond well when spoken to. For example, some children share their ideas during story time. Overall, children are confident to choose what they want to play with. However, they do not benefit from enough support from adults to build on their interests and extend their learning.

p.2

need to do better?

n The childminder does not ensure that her assistants have the knowledge needed to report any child protection concerns. This includes recognising and taking action to report breaches to the safeguarding and welfare requirements. The childminder does not adhere to the ratio requirements, and she has not considered how this impacts on the welfare of the children and her assistants. n The childminder does not ensure that children are appropriately supervised at all times. In addition to the impact this has on children's learning, this does not adequately promote their safety when children are playing and during mealtimes. The childminder has not assessed how to organise the environment and deploy staff to ensure that children are within sight and/or hearing at all times, as required. n The childminder has failed to inform Ofsted of changes to assistants and household members. This does not enable the required suitability checks to be

p.2

need to do better?

conducted on all those living and working on the premises, as required.

p.2

need to do better?

18 October 2023 n Generally, children behave well and respond positively to adult interactions. The childminder encourages them to work together, such as feeding the animals in the garden, and children enjoy poking hay through the guinea pig cage. However, due to weaknesses in the supervision of children, adults are not consistent in their behaviour management. Adults do not provide clear messages to help children understand what is expected of them, and unwanted behaviour sometimes goes unnoticed. This does not help children to develop an understanding of the impact of their behaviour. n The ineffective organisation of the environment does not meet children's needs. For instance, the childminder has not considered children's safety when they sit at the table. Children also eat their food without appropriate supervision from adults. This demonstrates that the childminder has not performed effective risk

p.2

need to do better?

assessments of the arrangements for mealtimes. n There are weaknesses in the quality of teaching due to the number of children attending. This does not support children to make the progress of which they are capable. However, when teaching is successful, children engage in these learning opportunities. For instance, the childminder plays 'What's the time, Mr Wolf?' with children. She encourages them to count the correct number of steps towards the 'wolf', which promotes children's understanding of mathematical concepts. Children demonstrate their understanding of the rules of the game as they run around excitedly when the 'wolf' calls 'dinnertime'. n The childminder provides her assistants with some support to promote their professional development. They feel that they benefit from the information leaflets that she gives to them to help improve their practice. However, children's well-being is potentially compromised, as the childminder has not

p.3

need to do better?

assured herself that her assistants have robust safeguarding knowledge to be able to report concerns in a timely manner. n There are some strengths in the arrangements to work in partnership with parents. They say that their children are happy and have settled in well with the childminder. Parents appreciate the regular updates regarding their child's day. This keeps parents informed about their child's routines and what they have been learning.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The large number of children present impacts on the childminder's ability to deploy her assistants effectively to ensure that children are appropriately supervised. Children engage in risky play without any adults present to support them to play safely. The childminder has not implemented effective risk assessments, such as with regard to children's eating routines and seating arrangements. The childminder and her assistants recognise the signs and symptoms of abuse. The childminder recently failed to notify the appropriate agencies of a significant event. She has since worked with the local authority to improve her knowledge, and she now knows the procedures to follow when a safeguarding incident occurs. However, her assistants are not able to demonstrate a secure understanding of

p.3

Safeguarding

18 October 2023 how to escalate child protection concerns. This does not help to protect children from harm.

p.3

Due date

ensure all adults working with children have secure safeguarding knowledge, including the procedures to follow to raise child protection concerns 03/11/2023

p.4

Due date

ensure requirements regarding ratios are met to promote children's safety 19/10/2023

p.4

Due date

ensure that staff are deployed effectively so that children are supervised appropriately 03/11/2023

p.4

Due date

review and improve the organisation of the learning environment to promote children's care and learning more effectively 03/11/2023

p.4

Due date

ensure adults provide children with the support they need to manage their behaviour 03/11/2023

p.4

Due date

ensure there are robust risk assessments in place in order to keep children safe from harm 03/11/2023

p.4

Due date

ensure that Ofsted is provided with all the information necessary to complete the required suitability checks for household members and assistants. 03/11/2023

p.4

Setting details

Unique reference number EY413372 Local authority East Sussex Inspection number 10313862 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 18 Number of children on roll 24 Date of previous inspection 12 July 2018

p.5

Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2010 and lives in Lewes, East Sussex. She operates for most of the year. Operational hours are Monday, 9am to 1pm; Tuesday and Wednesday, 8.30am to 6pm; and Thursday, 8.30am to 3pm. She holds qualified teacher status and works with two assistants, one of whom holds a level 2 qualification in childcare. The childminder provides funded early education for children aged two-, three- and four-years-old.

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 We carried out this inspection as a result of a risk assessment, following information we received about the childminder. n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n Assistants spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this has on children's learning. n The childminder and the inspector carried out a joint observation of an activity. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of suitability of adults associated with the childminder's registration.

p.6

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.

p.6

Inspection activities

18 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.6

Inspection activities

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p.7

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.7

Inspection activities

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p.7

Inspection activities

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

p.7

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