Childminder in Cheshire East

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

The childminder fails to manage her provision safely and effectively. She has not ensured that Ofsted has been able to assess the suitability of the person she uses as an assistant. Additionally, she has not ensured that documents required for the safe management of the setting are readily available and accessible to her. For example, the childminder does not complete a register of children's attendance for her to use in the event of an emergency. Furthermore, some of the childminder's practices mean that children are exposed to the risk of cross-infection and are not learning how to keep themselves healthy.

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The provision is inadequate

The childminder has developed a warm, happy relationship with the children, who are very content, well behaved and kind to their friends. Older children copy the way that the childminder praises the children. They tell their younger friends, 'you are doing fabulous' when they help to tidy up. All children have access to an appropriate range of toys. The younger children are included in general play activities. They are given opportunities to copy and practise songs and dance moves. However, the childminder does not plan how to deliver a carefully sequenced curriculum, that helps all the children make good progress and consistently develop positive attitudes to learning.

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need to do better?

n The childminder has not sustained effective leadership of her provision. She cannot demonstrate that she has maintained required training, for instance in paediatric first aid. Additionally, despite being aware of the documents that she needs to use when she is childminding, she has not ensured that she has access to them. Accident and medication records are not readily available at the inspection for the inspector to see or for the childminder to use. There is no record of children's attendance. The childminder does not have access to children's details, apart from parents and emergency contact telephone numbers. This compromises children's safety and well-being. n The childminder is working with a new assistant. Having worked with other assistants in the past, she understands the requirement to inform Ofsted about new assistants and provide details to enable their suitability to be checked. However, she has not done this for her new assistant. The childminder's failure

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need to do better?

to inform Ofsted that this person is acting as an assistant, means that no suitability checks have been completed. n The childminder understands what she wants children to learn in the broadest terms. She wants children to be 'school ready' by the time they leave her. For example, she wants them to have a good understanding of numbers up to 10, and to understand some letters and the sounds they represent. She also wants children to be physically able and manage their own self-care needs. The

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need to do better?

14 November 2023 childminder builds the vocabularies of older and more vocal children, and introduces them to new concepts and information. She tests out what they can remember and reinforces their learning. Older children are polite, confident, communicative and have a thirst for knowledge. n The curriculum for younger children is less well developed. These children form good social skills and follow the strong routines the childminder has organised. They understand what is going to happen next and are physically able. For example, even quite young children can feed themselves and are happy to join in with group times. However, younger children often learn by joining in with routine activities and watching others, rather than from a carefully constructed curriculum designed to support their next steps in learning. This means, at times, they are not fully engaged in good-quality learning. n Children learn that certain foods are healthy for them. They take part in sociable

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need to do better?

mealtimes and competently feed themselves. However, the childminder does not implement effective procedures to help children to learn about good hygiene and prevent the spread of infection. She does not teach children about the importance of handwashing before mealtimes and the need to keep dummies clean. Children are not learning enough about ways to keep themselves healthy. n The childminder has clear expectations of children's behaviour. Children are encouraged to join in with group activities and be considerate of other people in the group. Older children are asked not to answer questions for their younger friends and they listen respectfully as the childminder explains the reason why. The atmosphere is positive and calm.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

Children's safety and well-being are compromised due to weaknesses in safeguarding and record-keeping. Suitability assessments have not been completed for adults working with children. The childminder knows the signs that may indicate a child is at risk of harm and how to identify and report concerns. However, she does not have an accurate record of children's attendance to be able to identify patterns in their absences which may be a concern. Accident and medication records are not readily available to record accidents and to share the record with parents. The childminder is unable to provide evidence that she has a current first- aid certificate.

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Due date

14 November 2023 provide Ofsted with the required information to check the suitability of anyone wishing to be a childminding assistant 28/11/2023

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Due date

ensure that anyone wishing to be a childminding assistant has their suitability verified by Ofsted before counting them in the adult-to-child ratio 28/11/2023

p.4

Due date

record the names of the children being cared for on the premises and their hours of attendance 15/11/2023

p.4

Due date

ensure required records are available and accessible, for example, records of medication given, accident records, information about each child and paediatric first-aid certificates 28/11/2023

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Due date

improve hygiene standards to prevent the spread of infection with regard to the use of dummies and the cleaning of children's hands before eating 15/11/2023

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Due date

ensure activities are carefully planned and learning sequenced to enable all children to fully access the curriculum. 28/11/2023

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY401415 Local authority Cheshire East Inspection number 10318373 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 22 Date of previous inspection 4 July 2018

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2009. She operates all year round, from 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds an appropriate qualification at level 3.

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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 provision. n The childminder and the inspector discussed the childminder's intentions for her curriculum. n The inspector completed a joint evaluation of an activity with the childminder. n The childminder showed the inspector the premises and discussed how she ensures that they are safe and suitable. n The inspector spoke to children and the person acting as the childminder's assistant at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Inspection activities

14 November 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

14 November 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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