Self Evaluation Audit Tool
and
Quality Improvement Framework (QIF) Category Tool (Jan13)
Childminder’s name …….……………………………………….……………
Date completed by childminder …………..………………………......
Date moderated by childcare advisors …………….………………
Updated / date / date / date / dateBy childminder
By childcare advisor
This Self Evaluation Audit Tool and Quality Improvement Framework (QIF) Category Tool has been created as an aid to help you to self evaluate and will support you with preparing for your Ofsted inspection
(It can be used as evidence during your Ofsted inspection).
The form also provides information needed to evaluate your practice through Quality Improvement Framework (QIF) Tool category system
The form is based on the Safeguard and Welfare Requirements and the Learning and Development Requirements that form part of the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage. You will note within this form there are different headings:
MUSTS: These are specific legal requirements that the setting must be carrying out.
SHOULDS: This is statutory guidance that the setting should be carrying out.
QUALITY IMPROVEMENT FRAMEWORK CATEGORY (QIF): Throughout the form, you will see this term. This is a system that is used to evaluate different areas within your practice. The QIF category information is used to ensure support is targeted to childminders where it is needed. The categories are: “Starting Out” which indicates priority support, “Moving on” which indicates additional support, “Aiming high” which indicates universal plus support, and “Going further” which indicates universal support. It also contributes to suitability decisions such as accreditation and approval.
This form has been designed to be used independently by childminders, and must be shared with your childcare advisor, who will add to it in order to provide support and guidance towards improved practice.
When completing this form please ensure that you include additional information/evidence where appropriate rather than only giving yes/no answers.
(Insufficient information/evidence will prevent us from having a clear view of your setting, which can lead to us giving lower categories than we otherwise would)
If you are also registered on the Childcare Register, please refer to the Requirements for the Childcare Register: childminders and home child carers to ensure you are meeting these requirements as well http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/resources/factsheet-childcare-requirements-for-childcare-register-childminders-and-home-childcarers
There are references throughout this form to a Self Evaluation Audit support pack. This includes information and examples to help you. It is available to download from
http://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/NR/exeres/9A84F670-8682-43DA-A898-46084DEADF95,frameless.htm?NRMODE=Published
If you have any questions about any of the content of this document please contact your Childcare Advisor
FYI: Link to Early Years Foundation Stage Documents
http://www.foundationyears.org.uk/early-years-foundation-stage-2012/
PLEASE RETURN THIS FORM TO YOUR CHILDCARE ADVISOR AFTER COMPLETION / UPDATE
Using this form for ongoing quality improvement:
If you have had this form moderated/returned to you by the childcare advisory team, please refer to the comments (usually in pink) and respond.
Ensure that when you respond you include the date to clearly show that you have updated and improved your practice, and use a different colour to the colour you used initially and a different colour to the advisory team comments.
Also remember to leave all comments in (yours and the advisory team) as this shows your progress through the self evaluation and quality improvement process.
**As you identify areas for improvement, complete a focus/priorities for improvement form to record impact of your quality improvement. This can be kept as evidence in your Quality Improvement Planner
Self Evaluation Audit Tool and Quality Improvement Framework (QIF) Category Tool
Email address:
Childcare Advisor: / Does provider work with an assistant?
Names of assistant(s):
Ofsted registration number:
Registered on the Early Years Register / Childcare Register / Voluntary Register?
(delete as appropriate)
Are you Accredited / Approved?
(delete as appropriate)
Are you interested in becoming Accredited?
Yes / No / N/A / Are you interested in becoming Approved?
Yes / No / N/A
Childminding group attendance: Which group/s and how often?
(Up to date timetable of childminding groups within North Somerset is provided in Self Evaluation Audit support pack)
Ofsted Outcomes
Date of last inspection:
Name of Ofsted Inspector:
Outcome of last inspection:
Ofsted recommendations/actions from last inspection: / Improvements made since last inspection
Ofsted Outcomes / Childminder rating:
Starting out / Moving on / Aiming high / Going further
(circle as appropriate) / Childcare Advisor rating:
Starting out / Moving on / Aiming high / Going further
(circle as appropriate)
Safeguarding and Child Protection
Child Protection / Evidence/Comments:
3.4
How do you ensure that you are alert to any issues for concern in the child’s life at home or elsewhere?
(Consider training, relationships with parents and children, record keeping, partnerships with other agencies involved with your families etc.)
Do you have, and how do you implement your policy and procedures to safeguard children? (must)
Are these in line with the guidance and procedures of the relevant Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB.
(should)
Do your safeguarding policy and procedures include an explanation of the action to be taken in the event of an allegation being made against a member of staff (must)
Do your safeguarding policy and procedures cover the use of mobile phones and cameras in the setting (must)
3.5
A practitioner must be designated to take lead responsibility for safeguarding children in every setting. Childminders must take the lead responsibility themselves.
The lead practitioner is responsible for liaison with local statutory children’s services agencies, and with the LSCB – how do/would you do this?
NSSCB – North Somerset Safeguarding Children Board
The Lead Practitioner must provide support, advice and guidance to any other staff on an ongoing basis, and on any specific safeguarding issue as required – if applicable (e.g. if you have an assistant), how does this happen?
Please provide details of child protection training with attendance dates (must)
All childminders to attend Child Protection: Basic Awareness
In addition Accredited and Approved childminders to attend Inter Agency Child Protection: Introduction Training
(This is a local authority requirement – see North Somerset Child Protection Training Pathway) http://www.n-somersetcsd.org.uk/Training/2011-12%20-%20CP%20Training%20Pathway-2%20FK.doc
3.6
What is your procedure regarding training for yourself and all staff (e.g. assistants) to understand safeguarding policy and procedures, and ensure that you all have up to date knowledge of safeguarding issues? (must)
Are you and your assistants able to identify signs of possible abuse and neglect at the earliest opportunity? (must)
Does this include:
· significant changes in children’s behaviour;
· deterioration in children’s general well-being;
· unexplained bruising, marks or signs of possible abuse or neglect;
· children’s comments which give cause for concern;
· any reasons to suspect neglect or abuse outside the setting, for example in the child’s home; and/or
· inappropriate behaviour displayed by other members of staff, or any other person working with the children. For example, inappropriate sexual comments; excessive one-to-one attention beyond the requirements of their usual role and responsibilities; or inappropriate sharing of images?
How would you respond to signs of possible abuse and neglect?
Please provide details of your whistleblowing policy (this may be part of your Safeguarding policy)
http://www.n-somersetcsd.org.uk/Childcare-Providers/Whistleblowing%20example.doc
3.7
How confident are of your knowledge of the Government’s statutory guidance ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’? (must) http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_4007781 (Executive summary pages 7-21)
If providers have concerns about children’s safety or welfare, they must notify agencies with statutory responsibilities without delay. This means the local children’s social care services and, in emergencies, the police.
Please provide details and contact numbers.
3.8
Registered providers must inform Ofsted of any allegations of serious harm or abuse by any person living, working, or looking after children at the premises (whether the allegations relate to harm or abuse committed on the premises or elsewhere).
Registered providers must also notify Ofsted of the action taken in respect of the allegations.
How do you protect yourself, staff, students and members of your family against allegations of abuse?
Within how many days of an allegation must you notify Ofsted?
(A registered provider who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with this requirement, commits an offence)
Do you have an up to date North Somerset Council Safeguarding Procedure Handbook (01/11)?
How do you use this document?
How often do you read this document and how do you evidence this?
Do you have a form to make a referral on?
Do you have – Guidance For Safer Working Practice For Adults Who Work With Children And Young People? http://www.childrenengland.org.uk/upload/Guidance%20.pdf
How secure do you feel in your knowledge of safeguarding? If you are not feeling secure please explain why.
Do you have the current publication ‘What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused’ – Summary. Published by DCSF(2006)? (should) http://cscb.org.uk/downloads/What%20To%20Do%20If%20You’re%20Worried%20A%20Child%20Is%20Being%20Abused/dfeschildabusesummary.pdf
(Example Safeguarding Procedure and Social Care referral form provided in Self Evaluation Audit support pack)
Safeguarding + Child Protection / Childminder rating:
Starting out / Moving on / Aiming high / Going further
(circle as appropriate) / Childcare Advisor rating:
Starting out / Moving on / Aiming high / Going further
(circle as appropriate)
Organisation and Staffing
Suitable People
3.9 / 3.10 Providers must ensure that people looking after children are suitable to fulfil the requirements of their roles. Providers must have effective systems in place to ensure that practitioners, and any other person who is likely to have regular contact with children (including those living or working on the premises), are suitable (To allow Ofsted to make these checks, childminders are required to supply information to Ofsted, as set out in Schedule 1, Part 2 of the Childcare (Early Years Register) Regulations 2008, amended by the Childcare (Early Years Register) (Amendment) Regulations 2012. The requirements relating to people who live and work on childminder premises are in Schedule 1, Part 1.)
Ofsted is responsible for checking the suitability of childminders and of persons living or working on a childminder’s premises, including obtaining enhanced criminal records checks and barred list checks.
• works directly with children;
• lives on the premises on which the childcare is provided; and/or
• works on the premises on which the childcare is provided (unless they do not work on the part of the premises where the childcare takes place, or do not work there at times when children are present).
How have you met the requirement detailed above (include children aged 16+,anyone who regularly visits or stays at your house, e.g. partner, children’s friends over the age of 16, relative staying for prolonged visits) Please give details. / Evidence/Comments:
3.11 If you have assistants/students, how do you make sure that they know that they are expected to disclose any convictions, cautions, court orders, reprimands and warnings which may affect their suitability to work with children (whether received before or during their employment at the setting)? (must)
How do you ensure that people, whose suitability has not been checked, including through a criminal records check, don’t have unsupervised contact with children being cared for? (must)
(consider friends and family visiting/staying with you)
3.12 Providers other than childminders must record information about staff qualifications and the identity checks and vetting processes that have been completed (including the criminal records disclosure, reference number, the date a disclosure was obtained and details of who obtained it). For childminders the relevant information will be kept by Ofsted.
For assistants and students, how do you evidence that this has happened?
3.13 Providers must also meet their responsibilities under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006.
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/47/contents
Disqualification (all registered providers)
INFORMATION ONLY
3.14 In the event of the disqualification (In accordance with regulations made under Section 75 of the Childcare Act 2006.) of a registered provider, a person living in the same household as the registered provider, or a person employed in that household, the provider must not continue as an early years provider – nor be directly concerned in the management of such provision. Where an employer becomes aware of relevant information which may lead to disqualification of an employee, the provider must take appropriate action to ensure the safety of children. In the event of disqualification of a person the provider must not continue to employ that person.
3.15
· The provider must give Ofsted the following information when relevant:
· details of any order, determination, conviction, or other ground for disqualification from registration under regulations made under section 75 of the Childcare Act 2006;
· the date of the order, determination or conviction, or the date when the other ground for disqualification arose;
· the body or court which made the order, determination or conviction, and the sentence (if any) imposed; and
· a certified copy of the relevant order (in relation to an order or conviction).
3.16
The information must be provided to Ofsted as soon as reasonably practicable, but at the latest within 14 days of the date the provider became aware of the information or ought reasonably to have become aware of it if they had made reasonable enquiries.
Staff taking medication/other substances / Evidence/Comments:
3.17
· Practitioners must not be under the influence of alcohol or any other substance which may affect their ability to care for children. How do you ensure this is met?
· If practitioners are taking medication which may affect their ability to care for children, those practitioners should seek medical advice. How do you record this initially and ongoing?
(Providers must ensure that those practitioners only work directly with children if medical advice confirms that the medication is unlikely to impair that staff member’s ability to look after children properly.)
Staff medication on the premises must be securely stored, and out of reach of children, at all times. Please provide details of where and how you store medication.
Qualifications, training, support and skills, key-person and adult: child ratios
3.18 The daily experience of children in early years settings and the overall quality of provision depends on all practitioners having appropriate qualifications, training, skills and knowledge and a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities.
Explain how you ensure that all staff receive induction training to help them understand their roles and responsibilities. (must)