Childminder in Sandwell

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 cannot be assured as the childminder allows unvetted people to have unsupervised contact with children. In addition, at times she exceeds the usual ratios for childminders. During these times, the childminder is not able to effectively meet the needs of all children who are present. This weakness means that all children do not receive the full care and support they require.

p.2

The provision is inadequate

The curriculum is not varied and lacks ambition. In addition, the childminder bases planning on children's interest, rather than on children's needs and development. Furthermore, next steps set for children to achieve are not specific enough. These weaknesses impact on children's ability to make the full progress they are capable of. Despite these weaknesses, most children enjoy playing inside and outside as they explore sensory activities, such as sand play, water play and play dough. The childminder also finds out key information about the children before they start attending her setting.

p.2

The provision is inadequate

The childminder tells children to 'stop' if they are displaying unwanted behaviours. However, she often resorts to physically moving children out of the way. The childminder does not support children to regulate their emotions when they become very upset or support them to learn right from wrong. Consequently, children's poor behaviour is often repeated, and is disruptive to other children.

p.2

need to do better?

n Despite previous enforcement action, the childminder continues to breach requirements relating to suitable people. She continues to allow unvetted people to come into direct and unsupervised contact with children. The childminder fails to demonstrate her understanding of risk as she left an unvetted person in sole charge of the children while both her and her co-childminder left the setting. Furthermore, the childminder has not informed Ofsted of all those who may come into contact with children. Consequently, the required suitability checks have not been completed on these individuals. n The childminder does not maintain sufficient staff to child ratios, despite this being raised with the childminder at two previous visits. During the times that she cares for extra children, some wander or stand around unengaged and some become extremely unsettled and the childminder is unable to support them effectively.

p.2

need to do better?

n The childminder describes some of the aims she has for the children by the time they leave her setting. However, her overall understanding of the curriculum is poor. She is not able to demonstrate how she ensures the curriculum covers all areas of learning or is tailored to the different stages of children's development. In addition, although children have access to some activities, both indoors and

p.2

need to do better?

22 September 2025 outdoors, the childminder is not clear on how these support children to make enough progress in their development. Furthermore, next steps set for children are not targeted enough to help build on what children already know and can do. These weaknesses together do not ensure all children make adequate progress in their development. n The childminder has review meetings with any assistants that she works with and she provides them with feedback. However, the childminder does not ensure that the overall quality of teaching and learning children receive is good enough. For example, she does not make sure those working with children understand how to engage in their play and realise when children require support to use or reach equipment and/or resources. In addition, at times adults resort to over- directing children about where they should play and what they should play with. n The childminder completes some training, such as safeguarding and health and

p.2

need to do better?

safety. She recognises that she requires more support with how to identify gaps in children's learning and how to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). However, the childminder has not placed enough priority on accessing further training for all adults who work with children. Consequently, the knowledge and skills of those who work with children are poor. n Behaviour management strategies are not effective. The childminder shows a lack of understanding of how to support children to learn right from wrong and how to effectively support children to regulate their emotions. Due to this lack of consistent support, some children display poor behaviours, such as stamping their feet, crying or screaming when they want something. At times, children chase their peers for a toy. During these times, the childminder repeats her instructions to 'share' and then she picks children up and brings them elsewhere.

p.3

need to do better?

This does not support children to behave well. n The childminder does not check that her assistants fully understand the setting's procedures for safeguarding. She does not support them effectively to be able to identify indicators of abuse and develop a clear enough understanding of the action they must take if concerns arise about a child's safety. n The childminder informs parents about what their children have played with and any care routines completed. However, she does not ensure that she provides adequate information to all parents about their children's development. This does not support all parents to know how they can continue their child's learning at home. Despite this weakness, parents state that children have formed bonds with the childminder. n Sleep time is a positive experience and is managed well. Children know this routine well as they go over to their mat independently. The childminder

p.3

need to do better?

demonstrates secure knowledge of safer sleeping. She offers reassurance to children as needed during this time. n The childminder talks confidently about the steps taken to identify and remove risks with activities. There are suitable procedures in place to check the suitability of assistants. The childminder keeps accurate records of this.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

p.4

Safeguarding

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

p.4

Due date

ensure adults who have not had their suitability checks completed on them do not have direct and unsupervised access with children 03/10/2025

p.4

Due date

ensure any adult who comes into contact with children is known to Ofsted so that the required suitability checks can be completed 03/10/2025

p.4

Due date

ensure children consistently receive the support and care they need to thrive if any exceptions are made to usual ratios 03/10/2025

p.4

Due date

improve knowledge of how to manage children's behaviour in an appropriate manner with an aim to ensure children are supported to manage their emotions and learn right from wrong 03/10/2025

p.4

Due date

ensure all assistants have secure knowledge of the signs and symptoms of abuse and fully understand local procedures to follow if concerns arise about a child's welfare 03/10/2025

p.4

Due date

22 September 2025 improve training opportunities on offer to all adults who work with children, with an aim to develop their knowledge, confidence and skills of working with children and to improve the overall quality all children receive 03/10/2025

p.4

Due date

improve knowledge of how to support children with SEND to ensure gaps in children's learning are identified and to ensure children receive the early intervention they require. 03/10/2025

p.5

Due date

improve knowledge of the curriculum and ensure that it is ambitious and varied to cover all areas of learning and sequenced to build on children's knowledge 13/10/2025

p.5

Due date

improve the use of planning to ensure that all children have access to purposeful activities that support them to build on their skills and understanding over time 13/10/2025

p.5

Due date

ensure next steps set are targeted to help children build on what they know and can do 13/10/2025

p.5

Due date

improve information shared with parents to ensure all parents have a clear understanding of their child's development and how they can support their child's learning further at home 13/10/2025

p.5

Due date

improve teaching practice for all adults who work with children with an aim to ensure all children have the best possible outcome and receive at least a good standard of education. 13/10/2025

p.5

Setting details

Unique reference number 2693488 Local authority Sandwell Inspection number 10412117 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 12 Number of children on roll 13 Date of previous inspection 3 June 2025

p.6

Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2022 and lives in Rowley Regis. She operates all year round, Monday to Friday, 7am to 7pm, except for bank holidays and the last two weeks of the summer holidays. The childminder works with a co-childminder and assistants. She offers funded early education places for eligible children.

p.6

Inspection activities

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 spoke to assistants and parents and viewed written feedback from parents to take account of their views. n The childminder spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND. 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.

p.6

Inspection activities

22 September 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

22 September 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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