Childminders

Congratulations on your registration with Ofsted.

Once you get your registration certificate, the Early Years Specialist will contact you. They will take you through Oldham’s Induction for new Childminders, called ‘Welcome to Oldham’. You will get information about local pathways, like Safeguarding and SEND. You'll also get information about local processes and useful contact numbers.

Your support can start with an Early Years specialist, commissioned to support you while you prepare for your first inspection. The support is tailored to deepen your understanding of your new role.

• Email: early.years@oldham.gov.uk

We are committed to supporting the best early years and childcare for our children and their families. As a result, we provide fully funded support to all childminders.

Oldham’s Universal Offer (for all childminders)

Childminders working in Oldham have access to the following support at no cost.

• general support, advice and guidance by telephone and email on 0161 770 1857 or early.years@oldham.gov.uk or oldhamchildminders@gmail.com
• funding advice and support through the LA Free Entitlement Team on free.entitlement@oldham.gov.uk - including the Working Parent Entitlement for eligible children aged 9 months to compulsory school age; Early Learning for eligible 2-year-olds receiving additional support; and the Universal Entitlement for all 3 and 4-year-olds.
• Early Years Local Authority Network (2 per year)
• Safeguarding Network (2 per year)
• designated safeguarding leads training
• role of the SENCO training
• access to advice, support and training from speech and language specialists through the better communication team
• access to many local self-assessment and guidance tools. For example, Journey to Excellence (JtoE) and Early Years Personal Education Plan (PEP). They will help you with your ongoing action planning.
• Regular update emails
• Quarterly Ofsted trends
• Childminder network meetings

Category 2 Intervention Pathway ('Needs Attention' Ofsted Judgement)

In addition to the Universal Offer, Ofsted-judged childminders who need improvement can get a bit of extra, time-limited support. This support is to help them address actions that Ofsted says need improvement. The targeted offer includes:

• access to the universal programme
• support to complete a Focused Improvement Plan (FIP). The plan will address areas Ofsted said need improvement.
• support visits to monitor progress against the FIP prior to re-inspection by Ofsted (usually 12 months)
• six monthly or annual monitoring visits until re-inspection

Childminders must engage with this part of the quality improvement programme if they are delivering, or intend to deliver, funded early education and childcare places under any of the statutory early years entitlements. This includes the Working Parent Entitlement for eligible children aged 9 months and above, Early Learning for eligible 2-year-olds, and the Universal Entitlement for 3 and 4-year-olds.

Category 3 Intervention Pathway ('Urgent Improvement' Ofsted Judgement)

In addition to the universal offer, Ofsted requires urgent improvement judged childminders to accept intensive support. They need to address actions that Ofsted identify as needing urgent improvement. The targeted offer includes:

• support to complete a Focused Improvement Plan (FIP). This will ensure rapid progress in addressing all actions identified by Ofsted as urgent improvement.
• support visits to monitor progress against the FIP prior to re-inspection by Ofsted (usually 6 months)

Childminders getting or planning to get Funded Early Education and Childcare Entitlements must engage in this part of the quality improvement programme. It is mandatory for them. Where a childminder receives an Ofsted judgement of Urgent Improvement, the Council will not approve new funded places under any of the statutory childcare entitlements, including places for eligible children aged 9 months and above, eligible 2-year-olds, and 3 and 4-year-olds. Funding arrangements for children already attending the provision will be reviewed in accordance with the Council's funded childcare procedures and statutory guidance following publication of the Ofsted inspection report.

This level of support may also be provided to childminders who have not been recently inspected and the Council has evidence that suggests a less expected standard is likely at the next inspection. The amount and nature of this support will be agreed with the childminder, within the resources available to the Council.

Inactive childminders will not be required to take part in the IP (Intervention Pathway). Contact will be made on an annual basis to check status.

Where a childminder has been judged as 'not met' the Ofsted standard, they will not be asked to participate in the IP. However, they must tell the Council Family Information Service when they are about to take a child on to roll. They must also join the programme.

If a childminder is inspected during the IP period and gets an expected standard, strong standard or exceptional Ofsted grade, they can leave the programme.

If a childminder is inspected during the IP and gets an needs attention or urgent improvement Ofsted grade, they must take part in the Intervention Programme (IP).

The Council will only consider approving a childminder with a "Needs Attention" judgement to deliver funded childcare where there is insufficient accessible higher-quality provision available locally and the childminder is actively engaging with the Intervention Pathway and demonstrating sustained improvement. This will be considered in line with the requirements of the statutory early education and childcare guidance.

We may visit expected standard, strong standard or exceptional childminders if issues are found. Or, if it is anticiapted that a less than expected judgement may be achieved at the next inspection. The visit would be to discuss concerns and points for improvement in action plans.

NB: A childminder who is judged as "Needs Attention" or "Urgent Improvement" and refuses to engage with the Intervention Pathway, or who demonstrates little or no progress, may be removed from the Council's list of approved providers for funded early education and childcare places, including the Working Parent Entitlement, Early Learning for eligible 2-year-olds, and the Universal Entitlement for 3 and 4-year-olds.