Childminder 313874

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

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The provision is inadequate

Children's safety is compromised due to weaknesses in the childminder's risk assessment procedures. She is not vigilant enough in identifying and removing items that pose potential hazards to children.

p.2

The provision is inadequate

Despite these concerns, children demonstrate that they are happy and settled in the childminder's care. She is warm and caring, and children form close bonds with her. There is plenty of praise and encouragement to boost children's self-esteem. The childminder supports children who sometimes struggle to regulate their behaviour by providing clear guidance about what she expects of them. This helps children to understand why their actions may not be safe or how they might make their friends feel sad.

p.2

The provision is inadequate

Children choose from a wide range of resources, both indoors and outside. There is a lovely atmosphere when younger children play with their older friends after school. They devise different challenges for each other, such as throwing balls into containers. However, the childminder has not yet established a curriculum that is matched well enough to individual children's ages and stages of development. It does not always enable children to build on their existing knowledge and skills. This has an impact on the progress children make and does not fully prepare them for their next stage in learning.

p.2

need to do better?

n The childminder's checks of the areas she uses for childminding are not robust enough. On the day of inspection, she had not noticed that several items that could be hazardous to children were left within their reach. This included cleaning products and a staple gun. Furthermore, a wheelbarrow had been left propped up in the garden. This could have been pulled over by children, causing injury. The childminder was quick to respond when these risks were pointed out to her. However, failure to identify and remove hazards does not ensure children's safety. n The childminder's curriculum is not planned precisely enough to promote children's progress. She sets out activities and describes very generally what she wants children to learn. However, this does not always take account of individual children's interests nor the skills they need to develop or to practise. As a result, children often lose interest in what they are doing and wander off. Learning is

p.2

need to do better?

incidental rather than planned for. This does not support children's development and progress sufficiently. n Children benefit from many opportunities to explore the local community. They regularly attend playgroups, where they socialise with larger groups of children. On shopping trips, the childminder explains how she provides challenges to find

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need to do better?

2 April 2025 different items. Children learn about healthy food choices. Visits to parks and nature reserves help children to develop their physical skills, as well as their knowledge and understanding of the world around them. n The childminder has established strong links with local schools. She helps prepare children for school by supporting them to do things for themselves, such as putting on their own shoes and using the toilet independently. Furthermore, she reminds children who also attend school nursery about how they are expected to sit at school when listening to a story. This provides children with consistent messages. n The childminder is aware of the importance of promoting children's communication and language skills. When children are completing a craft activity, she gives them time to respond to her questions. Some children enthusiastically join in with the words of familiar songs. When children struggle

p.2

need to do better?

to say some words clearly, the childminder sensitively repeats what they are trying to say, using the correct pronunciation. n The childminder forms effective partnerships with parents. Parents provide positive feedback about the care their children receive. If the childminder identifies that children may need additional support, she liaises with parents to ensure that other agencies become involved, if appropriate. n Since her last inspection, the childminder has ensured that all mandatory training has been completed. However, she has not accessed any professional development opportunities to improve her knowledge and understanding of the early years curriculum and of how young children learn. This does not ensure that the learning opportunities provided are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

There is not an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

p.3

Due date

implement and carry out robust risk assessments on a daily basis, to ensure all potential hazards are identified and minimised to keep the premises safe for children. 10/04/2025

p.3

Due date

plan and implement a curriculum to ensure that all children engage in purposeful learning, which meets their individual needs 01/05/2025

p.4

Due date

prioritise training and professional development opportunities to improve knowledge and understanding of how to promote children's learning and development. 01/05/2025

p.4

Setting details

Unique reference number 313874 Local authority Durham Inspection number 10379646 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 6 Number of children on roll 5 Date of previous inspection 12 November 2024

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 1992 and lives in West Auckland, County Durham. She operates all year round from 7.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder provides government funded places for childcare. She holds an appropriate qualification at level 3.

p.5

Inspection activities

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 The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n Children spoke with the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The childminder provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation on request.

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Inspection activities

2 April 2025 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

2 April 2025 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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