Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY307086 Unique Reference Number 26 September 2006 Inspection date Liz Whitehead Inspector

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Childcare Type of inspection Childminding Type of care

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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

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The key inspection judgements and what they mean

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 2005. She lives with her husband and two children aged two and seven, in Pudsey, Leeds. The whole of the ground floor and the first floor bathroom are used for childminding purposes and there is an enclosed garden for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of four children at any one time and is currently caring for five children all on a part-time basis. She takes and collects children from school and attends local groups. She is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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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

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children learn about the importance of good hygiene practice through the childminder consistently applying effective hand washing routines. Both the childminder and the children clean their hands after nappies have been changed and the children immediately wash their hands after playing outdoors. The childminder has written literature and information from environmental health to refer to, which ensures that children are cared for in a suitable environment that promotes their positive well-being.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are learning about the needs of their own bodies and are able to recognise when they are thirsty. They independently access drinks in their colour-coded cups. When a young child picks up the wrong colour cup the childminder quickly gives her the correct one reminding her of the colour of her cup.

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Helping children to be healthy

Mealtimes are a social occasion with everyone sitting and eating together at the table. Younger children in high chairs are seated close to the table to ensure that all children feel included and are able to socialise and talk with their friends.

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Helping children to be healthy

All children have daily opportunities for exercise and fresh air in all weathers, with the exception of fog. This includes younger children exercising in a baby walker and playing with the play gym and older children playing in the garden, at a soft play gym and at the park. They have opportunities to swing, climb, ride, bounce and run, and learn about the effects of exercise on their bodies.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children sleep according to their own routines and their parents’ wishes. Individual sheets and bedding are used for each child to reduce the risk of cross infection.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. The childminder has a basic written child protection policy. This clearly informs parents of her responsibility to report any concerns in order to protect the welfare of the children in her care. The childminder has attended a child protection awareness programme to further enhance her understanding.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Smoke alarms are fitted on each level of the home and the childminder instigated an inspection from the fire department to ensure that they are appropriately sited. These are tested weekly to ensure that they are in correct working order at all times. However, children’s awareness of the fire safety procedure is limited as they do not regularly practise evacuating the home in an emergency.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

To ensure that parents can be contacted at all times both a landline and mobile telephone are available and written contact details are taken on all outings. Exterior doors remain locked whilst the children are present to ensure that they cannot leave the premises unaccompanied.

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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 Children develop a suitable awareness of safety issues around the home. For example, the childminder gently reminds them not to climb on the furniture as they will fall and hurt themselves. Children are closely supervised when playing outdoors and the childminder helps them to use the swing and the slide safely. When younger children choose to use the swing the childminder ensures that they are appropriately restrained to maximise their safety.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Hazards to children are minimised as the childminder implements appropriate safety measures through the use of equipment, such as a fireguard and safety gates. To further protect children, all interior doors are fitted with anti-slam devices to prevent children trapping their fingers. Toys and equipment are well maintained and suitable for their purpose.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children benefit from suitable interaction with the childminder. She supports their play and also observes the children playing independently and with each other, which develops their confidence and social skills. They have regular opportunities to socialise with children of similar ages through attending local groups and visiting other childminders.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children enjoy investigating and exploring sensory toys, such as a talking telephone, stacking beakers, and shape sorters. They have many opportunities to re-visit activities to practise and extend their skills and knowledge. The childminder encourages children to take pride in their achievements. They are really proud when they successfully make the toys work, for example, persevering and pressing the elephant's back a number of times until it moves across the floor.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder encourages children to become positive decision makers. They confidently self-select toys from storage boxes on the floor and those in low cupboards and drawers. When the children look out into the garden the childminder follows their interests and asks if they would like to play outside; they do and choose to play on the slide and the swings.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

An appropriate range of activities promotes children’s learning in all areas of development. Photographs show children engrossed in creating a painting, using a range of different sized brushes, and also using a range of musical instruments. These activities develop children’s creativity and imagination. They also enjoy dressing up for Halloween and pretending to be witches and ghosts.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder promotes children’s learning of new words through pointing out a spider. They talk about this and about how he spins a web. Hearing an aeroplane in the sky prompts a discussion about a forthcoming trip, which encourages the children to think about future events. During everyday play activities the childminder instinctively encourages the children to learn basic mathematical skills. They count the two bobbles in the baby’s hair and the three steps up to the slide.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are developing an interest and awareness of the natural world and living things through gardening activities. They plant bulbs and then are responsible for caring and watering them.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

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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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children’s differing needs are effectively met. The childminder spends time with them together when playing outdoors, and individually looking at books and playing with the toys indoors. She ensures that she spends time with babies when the other children are sleeping. Older children are learning to take care of others through helping the childminder look after the babies. They enjoy talking and share age-appropriate toys with them and they respond by giggling in delight when children repeatedly make a sound book crackle.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children learn about their community through walking in the area and through activities, such as attending the nativity play at the local school. They develop an awareness of the wider world through celebrating a range of festivals, such as Japanese children’s day and Saint George’s day. To ensure that she is fully informed and giving children correct information, the childminder uses the internet to research these. However, the toys and resources do not promote positive images of disabilities, although dolls and play people reflect gender and a range of cultures.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children behave appropriately for their age and stage of development. The childminder quickly intervenes when one child takes a toy from the other child. She suggests a similar toy if appropriate and distracts them to another activity that she knows the children like, such as the toy elephant. Children learn appropriate manners as the childminder is courteous and says 'please' and 'thank you' to them.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Effective systems keep parents fully informed of their child’s care and development at all times. The childminder ensures that she is available for discussions with parents. They share details regarding when the child requires lunch and a bottle of milk to ensure that all personal needs are fully met. In addition to daily discussions each child has a day book where the childminder records key information and activities that the child has enjoyed.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder demonstrates a commitment to increasing and updating her knowledge and skills. She has attended a number of relevant courses, including an introduction to the 'Birth to three matters' framework, in addition to the required courses. She has compiled a file of relevant information which details to parents the service that she provides. This includes her unique policies and procedures, course certificates and public liability insurance document. The certificate of registration is also available in the file; however, this is not displayed.

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Organisation

In order to protect the children in her care the childminder ensures that they are never left alone with unvetted persons. All relevant adults have completed appropriate checks, copies of which are available for the parents to view.

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Organisation

Most of the required documentation is in place to promote children’s health and well-being. However, the childminder does not maintain a daily record of children’s attendance, or obtain parental signatures on accident records. All documents are stored appropriately to ensure that they are only accessible to the childminder, in order to fully maintain confidentiality.

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Organisation

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 The childminder’s home is very warm and welcoming to children. Toys are readily available in the brightly decorated playroom, which appeals to children’s senses. They share a warm relationship with the childminder, enabling them to feel happy, settled and secure within her care. Space within the home is organised well, with lots of floor space available to enable children to spread out and to extend their play. Children are able to move freely between the living room and the playroom, which they do with confidence. They enjoy this freedom and happily move toys from one room to the other. 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

Since registration there have been no complaints made to Ofsted that required the provider or Ofsted to take any action in order to meet the National Standards.

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Complaints since the last inspection

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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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): • develop children's awareness of emergency evacuation procedures • provide resources that promote positive images of learning difficulties and disabilities • display the certificate of registration • implement a system to record children's daily attendance and to obtain a parental signiture on accident records.

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The quality and standards of the care

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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