Childminder in Bradford

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number EY320879 Inspection date 04 August 2006 Inspector Rachel Ayo

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Type of inspection Childcare Type of care Childminding

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This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

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ABOUT THIS INSPECTION

The purpose of this inspection is to assure government, parents and the public of the quality of childcare and, if applicable, of nursery education. The inspection was carried out under Part XA Children Act 1989 as introduced by the Care Standards Act 2000 and, where nursery education is provided, under Schedule 26 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. This report details the main strengths and any areas for improvement identified during the inspection. The judgements included in the report are made in relation to the outcomes for children set out in the Children Act 2004; the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding; and, where nursery education is provided, the Curriculum guidance for the foundation stage. The report includes information on any complaints about the childcare provision which Ofsted has received since the last inspection or registration or 1 April 2004 whichever is the later.

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The key inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Good: this aspect of the provision is strong Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is sound Inadequate: this aspect of the provision is not good enough For more information about early years inspections, please see the booklet Are you ready for your inspection? which is available from Ofsted's website: www.ofsted.gov.uk.

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

The quality and standards of the care are satisfactory. The registered person meets the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder was registered in 2006. She lives in a town house in the Wilsden area of Bradford. The childminder has one child aged four years. The whole of the ground floor is used for childcare purposes and includes a lounge/dining room and kitchen. Toileting facilities are on the first floor. Children have access to a rear and front garden for outside play. Pets include a cat. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children at any one time and is currently minding two children under five years and one child over five years. The childminder is currently caring for two children over eight years. Children attend

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 a variety of sessions. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. The childminder attends local toddler groups and lives close to local amenities including shops and a park. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children are protected from infection and are appropriately taken care of if they have an accident because the childminder follows appropriate environmental health and hygiene guidelines, policies and procedures. For example, the childminder has devised a written illness policy, suitable drying arrangements are in place and children wash their hands before baking. Children learn to understand simple good health and hygiene practices through discussion, such as how germs can make people poorly. Children are satisfactorily nourished. Children have individual, accessible cups and beakers to ensure that they are not thirsty. The childminder provides a variety of meals and snacks. These are reflected in menu plans, generally promote healthy eating and include raw vegetable sticks, salad and fruit. Children take part in regular physical activity both indoors and outdoors. Children

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Helping children to be healthy

benefit from fresh air and exercise as they go on trips to the park and use the childminder's garden where they access a range of small and large equipment, such as wheeled toys, a cricket and badminton set and balls. Indoors, children can sing and dance to music or roll balls. Children develop their fine motor skills, for example as they hold the spoon to mix the ingredients for the chocolate crispy buns and carefully spoon the mixture into the bun cases.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children are cared for in a sufficiently warm and welcoming environment. Space is organised adequately to meet the needs of the children. However, resources are not organised to support children in becoming confident to make choices, explore and investigate. This is because they are not readily accessible although older children ask the childminder if they want a particular toy or game out of the cupboard. Children use suitable and safe equipment and furniture appropriate to meet their needs and promote their development. Children are helped to stay safe to a satisfactory standard in most aspects. The childminder has some good written policies to promote children's welfare, such as in the event of a lost child, procedures for outings and in the event of a fire. The childminder has identified most risks indoors and outdoors. For example, hazardous cleaning materials and sharp implements are inaccessible, doors are kept locked to

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

ensure that children cannot leave the premises unsupervised and the rear garden is

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 secure. However, the stairs are accessible and although a fence has been erected, which ensures that the front garden is enclosed the gate is not adequately secured. The childminder demonstrates good supervision levels, for example ensuring that younger children do not access inappropriate objects. Children learn to keep themselves safe through explanations from the childminder. For example, the childminder encourages children to tidy toys up so that they don't fall and talks to children about not putting toys in their mouth as they could swallow them. Children are appropriately helped to stay safe on outings as the childminder talks to them about stranger danger, crossing the road safely and not touching dogs. Children are safeguarded because the childminder is aware of her role in child

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

protection. She can identify a range of possible signs of abuse and neglect and knows the procedures to follow in the event of a concern of this nature.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Although on arrival some children are upset, they quickly settle and present as happy after being comforted by the childminder. Children gain good levels of self-esteem because the childminder offers frequent praise and encouragement, for example, as they play a game or help to bake. Children use their imagination as they play with different role play resources. Younger children put the doll in the pram and walk around the lounge. They copy older children who are making a pretend cup of tea for the childminder and inspector with the plastic tea-set. Although basic written plans show that children are involved in a sufficient range of activities the range of resources and activities for children under two years are limited in promoting exploration and discovery. Older children, in particular, enjoy making chocolate crispy buns as they mix the ingredients and put the mixture in the bun

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

cases. Children relate well to others as they wait patiently to take their turn whilst they play the pop-up pirate game or as they play co-operatively with the role play resources. Children respond well to the childminder who demonstrates a warm, caring manner and shows interest in what children say and do. For example, she explains carefully how to make the chocolate crispy buns and asks the children where they need to put the buns once they are finished. When children are unsure about this the childminder explains that they need to put them in the fridge so that the chocolate can set.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children are valued, included and are treated equally and fairly. For example, even the youngest of children have a turn at mixing the baking ingredients. Overall, children have their individual needs met. The childminder works in partnership with parents to promote continuity of care; she finds out about home routines and follows these to help children feel secure. Information is shared before placement to ensure

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Helping children make a positive contribution

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 that parents are fully aware of the childminder's practice and to ensure that parents are in agreement with this. For example, parents are shown a policy file and all necessary paperwork is completed, such as child record forms and appropriate consents. On-going information is shared verbally on a day to day basis. Children are helped to feel a sense of belonging because of positive relationships with the childminder. Children benefit from a sufficient range of activities and resources that help them value diversity, such as books and dressing clothes. Children behave well. They play alongside others and develop good social skills because of encouragement from the childminder. For example, they are encouraged to use good manners, share and take turns. Children learn to respond to appropriate expectations for their behaviour.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

A written policy supports the childminder's practice and reflects a variety of strategies to manage unwanted behaviour, along with positive reinforcements to encourage good behaviour.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children present as confident and are at ease in the childminder's home. The childminder implements appropriate routines to ensure that children take part in a generally satisfactory range of activities and play opportunities indoors, outdoors and on outings. The childminder demonstrates a positive attitude to attending additional training to enhance her childminding practice. Mandatory training has been attended along with two modules of the Birth to three matters course. Children receive appropriate levels of support and attention because adult to child ratios are maintained. The childminder is generally implementing the National Standards appropriately to promote children's care, learning and play and ensure positive outcomes for children. Most policies and procedures work in practice to promote the efficient and safe management of the provision. Record keeping systems are used well to promote

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Organisation

children's well-being and meet their individual needs. For example, the daily attendance record is accurate and kept up to date. Overall, the provision meets the needs of the range of the children for whom it provides.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted since registration. The provider is required to keep a record of complaints made by parents, which they can see on request. The complaints record may contain complaints other than those made to Ofsted.

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Complaints since the last inspection

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

The quality and standards of the care are satisfactory. The registered person meets the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.

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The quality and standards of the care

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • improve the arrangements that promote security in the front garden and ensure that the stairs are inaccessible • plan and provide a suitable range of activities and resources to help children's development in line with the aspects and approach described in the Dfes publication "Birth to Three Matters: a framework to support children in their earliest years" • ensure that resources are organised so that they are readily accessible to children.

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The quality and standards of the care

procedures set out in the leaflet Building better childcare: Compliments and concerns about inspectors' judgements which is available from Ofsted's website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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The quality and standards of the care

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

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