Audrey Wright
Recorded Key Question grade range: 3–4 — Adequate View on Care Inspectorate
Key Question scores
Requirements & recommendations
1. To support children's play in a clean and tidy space and enable them to help take responsibility for the environment, the childminder should further review volume of toys, resources and other items in the living room and lobby and reduce these. This would increase play space, further facilitate easy cleaning and improve children's choices and concentration in their play. This is to ensure that care and support is consistent with the Health and Social Care Standard (HSCS) which state that: 'I experience an environment that is well looked after with clean, tidy and well maintained premises, furnishings and equipment' (HSCS 5.24).
1. In order to ensure children's safety and wellbeing and reduce their risk of harm, the childminder must review the storage and management of potentially hazardous items and materials within the home and garden by 1 October 2025. This includes ensuring; alcohol and other items such as boxes of matches and any cleaning materials are out of reach and that all hazardous materials are stored out of children’s reach at all times. The garden area must also be safe for children to use at all times. Written risk assessments for the home and garden should be reviewed to support maintenance of a safe environment and close supervision of children maintained at all times. This is to ensure that care and support is consistent with the Health and Social Care Standard (HSCS) which state that: 'My environment is secure and safe' (HSCS 5.19). It is also necessary to comply with Regulation 4(1)(a)2. In order to ensure the cleanliness of the environment and reduce risk of infection, the childminder must ensure the space and resources accessed are hygienically improved and maintained by 1 October 2025. This should include regular cleaning and systems to ensure the maintenance of a hygienic environment. This should include improved management and storage of soiled laundry out with children’s access, reducing cluttered surfaces to support cleaning and enhance children’s play space, and improved management of pet feeding areas to reduce children’s possible access to pet food. This is to reduce children’s risk from cross infection and maintain their wellbeing. This is to ensure that care and support is consistent with the Health and Social Care Standard (HSCS) which state that: 'I experience an environment that is well looked after with clean, tidy and well maintained premises, furnishings and equipment' (HSCS 5.24). It is also necessary to comply
1. To support children's healthy eating habits, the childminder should ensure food provided for lunch is reviewed to reduce the amount of processed foods and ensure nutritional balance. The childminder should work with families to encourage healthy packed lunches and promote healthier drink options. They should make reference to the guidance document ‘Setting the Table’ available on the hub section of our website. This is to ensure that care and support is consistent with the Health and Social Care Standards (HSCS) which state that: ‘I can choose suitably presented and healthy meals and snacks, including fresh fruit and vegetables, and participate in menu planning’ (HSCS 1.33); and ‘I can drink fresh water at all times’ (HSCS 1.39).
2. The childminder should ensure that personal plan information is reviewed and updated with families at least once every six months or sooner if there is any change to a child's health and wellbeing. This is to ensure that care and support is consistent with the Health and Social Care Standards which state that: 'My personal plan (sometimes referred to as a care plan) is right for me because it sets out how my needs will be met, as well as my wishes and choices' (HSCS 1.15).
3. The childminder should develop personal plans to ensure they record identified additional support needs. These should record strategies for support in place and be used to enable children to achieve. These should also include recording children's achievements and identify relevant and meaningful next steps. This information should be regularly reviewed and updated with parents to support children's progress. This is to ensure that care and support is consistent with the Health and Social Care Standards which state that: 'My personal plan (sometimes referred to as a care plan) is right for me because it sets out how my needs will be met, as well as my wishes and choices' (HSCS 1.15).
1. The childminder should ensure they carry out ongoing self evaluation of the service throughout the year to support improvements needed for children’s health and safety. Reference should also be made to the 'Self evaluation toolkit for childminders' available on our website. This would help provide evidence of progress. This is to ensure that care and support is consistent with the Health and Social Care Standards which state that: 'I benefit from a culture of continuous improvement, with the organisation having robust and transparent quality assurance processes' (HSCS 4.19).