Couper, Samantha Catherine

Overall effectiveness Inadequate

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Inadequate Leadership and management Inadequate Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Good

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The provision is inadequate

The childminder is not meeting all of the requirements of her registration. Weaknesses in her recruitment and vetting arrangements compromise children's safety. Despite this, children show that they feel settled and enjoy attending. The childminder and her assistant plan an interesting, ambitious and varied curriculum that supports children's learning well. Children benefit from a welcoming and well- organised environment and show enthusiasm as they play with a range of high- quality resources and toys. The childminder and her assistant have high expectations for children's learning and behaviour. They frequently provide children with praise and encouragement as they play. This boosts children's confidence and helps them to form a positive view of themselves. Children enjoy each other's company and have formed a good bond with the childminder and her assistant. As a result, children behave well.

p.2

The provision is inadequate

Children have fun exploring a winter-themed sensory tray with ice, shaving foam and rocks. As they play, the childminder and her assistant help them to hear new vocabulary, such as 'flurry' and 'sleet'. Children have good language development and enjoy making up stories during their play. It is evident that children make good progress in relation to their starting points.

p.2

need to do better?

n The childminder has failed to ensure that all of her assistants are suitable to work with children. Although the childminder has started the process of applying for a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, she has not been proactive in ensuring that these checks are completed swiftly before allowing new adults to work directly with children. This compromises children's safety. n Despite the childminder having a positive past record of informing Ofsted about any changes to her registration, she has not notified Ofsted about employing one of her assistants. This means that the required suitability checks have not been completed. This oversight potentially places children at risk. n The childminder makes some evaluations of the quality of her provision. However, the arrangements for monitoring her assistants' work and self- evaluation are not fully effective, as she has not taken quick enough action to

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need to do better?

ensure she is meeting the safeguarding and welfare requirements of her registration. Her arrangements for monitoring the ongoing suitability of her assistants also require improvement. n The childminder supports her assistants to complete an induction when they first start working at her setting. They also complete mandatory training, such as first aid and safeguarding, to help them to understand and carry out their roles. n Children benefit from a good range of experiences to broaden their awareness of the wider world. They regularly visit the childminder's allotment to grow

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need to do better?

1 December 2023 vegetables and feed the chickens. This supports children to learn about where food comes from and aids them in understanding the importance of leading healthy lifestyles. n Children enjoy lots of day trips out. For instance, they regularly attend forest school sessions, the local parks and a range of museums. This supports them to lead active lifestyles and to develop curiosity about their local community and places of interest. n The childminder and her assistants know children very well and plan a variety of fun and educational activities based on children's interests or gaps in learning. There are effective systems in place to monitor children's progress and to keep parents updated about any current learning targets or new achievements. Children make good progress and show positive engagement during their time at the setting. n The childminder and her assistants successfully teach children about kindness,

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need to do better?

and children build positive relationships with the adults who care for them. They are motivated to learn and show enthusiasm when trying new things. Despite this, the oversight in the childminder's vetting processes means that children's safety and personal development cannot be assured. n The childminder and her assistants place good emphasis on supporting children's language development and support them to develop a love of storytelling. For instance, children enjoy listening to the story of the 'Three Little Pigs' and act out the story when they play with straw and bricks during imaginative play. n The childminder establishes positive relationships with parents. Their written comments are very complimentary about the setting. Many parents state that the childminder and her assistants create a nurturing and welcoming environment and that the childminder is dedicated to her work.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The childminder's recruitment and vetting arrangements need improving, as there are significant gaps that mean that children's safety cannot be guaranteed. Despite this, the childminder and her assistants have appropriate knowledge about recognising possible signs of abuse. They also understand the steps to take to report any concerns to local safeguarding professionals. Furthermore, they ensure the spaces and toys that children use are suitable, to minimise any hazards.

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Due date

1 December 2023 improve recruitment and vetting procedures and ensure that DBS checks are completed for any adults who have regular contact with children 29/12/2023

p.3

Due date

improve knowledge of events that need to be notified to Ofsted. This is with regard to informing Ofsted about all assistants working with children so that the necessary suitability checks can be completed 29/12/2023

p.4

Due date

improve the arrangements for the ongoing monitoring of the quality of assistants' work and systems to check that all adults working with children continue to remain suitable for their roles. 29/12/2023

p.4

should:

n enhance self-evaluation methods in order to identify and address any areas for improvement more swiftly.

p.4

Setting details

Unique reference number EY337674 Local authority Bromley Inspection number 10308207 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 12 Number of children on roll 13 Date of previous inspection 28 March 2018

p.5

Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2006. She lives in the London Borough of Bromley. The childminder operates her service Tuesday to Friday, from 8am to 6pm, throughout the year, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder works with two assistants. The childminder and one of her assistants hold a relevant level 3 qualification.

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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 setting. n The inspector carried out a number of observations and assessed the quality of interactions and children's engagement in their learning. n The inspector spoke to the childminder and her assistants at appropriate times during the inspection about the curriculum and children's progress. n The inspector viewed a range of documents, including evidence of qualification and training certificates and parents' written feedback.

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Inspection activities

1 December 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

1 December 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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