Childminder in Bradford

Inspection report for early years provision

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302169 Unique Reference Number 08 September 2006 Inspection date Rachel Ayo 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 1998. She lives in a semi-detached house situated in the Great Horton area of Bradford and has five children over eight years of age, including three adult children. The whole ground floor of the childminder's house is used for childcare purposes and includes a conservatory, lounge, kitchen-diner and toilet. There is a garden available for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children at any one time and is currently minding two children under five years during the day and two children over five years before and after school and during the holidays. The childminder is currently caring for four children over eight years of age. The childminder uses her vehicle or walks to local schools to take and collect children. The childminder attends local toddler groups and is close to local amenities including a library, nature reserve and parks. The family has a hamster and fish.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder 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 are adequately protected from infection because the childminder follows most current and appropriate environmental health and hygiene guidelines, policies and procedures. For example, she uses disposable gloves when changing nappies, washes her hands before preparing the morning snack and excludes children who have an infectious illness. However, children use the same towel to dry their hands, which does not effectively prevent cross contamination. Children learn to understand simple good health and hygiene practices as they are involved in appropriate daily routines and discussion. For example, the childminder encourages children to wash their hands after making dough, explaining that now their hands are clean they can eat their toast. Appropriate procedures ensure that children are taken care of if they have an accident or become ill.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children take part in regular physical activity to help them stay healthy. They benefit from fresh air and exercise as they go on a variety of planned outings and access the childminder's garden and the park. They use a wide range of equipment, such as a trampoline, wheeled and push-along toys, swings and slides, which helps children to develop confidence in their physical skills and learn how their bodies work. Older children go on bike rides and engage in skipping competitions with the childminder and learn that exercise can be fun. Children show good hand-eye coordination as they mix the dough and use the rolling pin and cutters, with support, to create animal shapes.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are helped to be well nourished. The childminder demonstrates a good understanding of promoting healthy eating. She limits children's intake of sugary foods and does not provide convenience foods. Children are offered a variety of foods to widen their experience and promote their good health including salad. Children are involved in making choices about what they want to eat. They take turns to make a list of everyone's requests and if some of these do not promote good health the childminder compromises with a similar, but healthier alternative. A variety of drinks are offered regularly to younger children, including milk. Older children are able to help themselves to a pre-prepared bottle of diluted juice.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children learn about healthy eating through good discussion and activities. They make 'healthy food' collages as they cut and stick pictures of foods that are good for them, such as brown bread and fruit. Children learn where food comes from as they pick fruit off of the tree in the childminder's garden and previous vegetable plot or help to cook a variety of meals, such as shepard's pie and Cornish pasties.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children are cared for in an adequately welcoming environment. Children's artwork, along with posters, are displayed to help children feel a sense of belonging, and resources are organised so that they are readily accessible, which promotes children's independence. Children use

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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 suitable and safe equipment and furniture, which promotes their development and welfare. Toys and resources provided meet the needs of most age groups.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home is suitably risk assessed in most aspects to help children to stay safe; children learn safe practice through explanations from the childminder, such as being careful when walking down the outdoor steps. Although there are systems in place to promote the security of the outdoor area and home and to prevent access to the pond, these are not robust in promoting children's welfare. Additionally, garden tools present a hazard to children in the garden. Effective arrangements are in place to help children stay safe on outings. The childminder demonstrates an excellent awareness of car safety, in particular the forthcoming new regulation regarding booster seats and ideas on how to introduce this requirement to children in a fun way.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are safeguarded sufficiently because the childminder understands her role in child protection. She has attended training to develop her knowledge and understanding to ensure that she is able to respond appropriately to any concerns of this nature.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children present as happy and are well settled in the setting. Children who are clingy, due to the inspector's presence, are warmly reassured with the hold of a hand and explanation until they are confident enough to help the childminder show the inspector where they play. Children gain good levels of self-esteem because the childminder listens and values what they say and do and involves them in making choices. For example, what they would like for their snack or lunch, or what they would like to play with.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children over three years of age are involved in a suitable range of informally planned activities and spontaneous events that support their development and learning. For example, they count the cups of flour and salt as they make dough, see how many letters the postman has delivered and butter their own toast. Children happily explore and investigate the dough as they mix it with their hands, flick it into the bowl or squeeze it through their fingers. They develop creativity and imagination as they access a range of arts and craft materials, use role play resources, such as dolls, play food and cooking utensils or create a snake shape as they roll the dough in their hands. However, the childminder demonstrates a limited knowledge and understanding of the Birth to three matters framework. This means that the range of planned activities and resources, including natural play materials, are limited in supporting very young children's development.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children relate well to the childminder, who shows interest in what they say and do. She demonstrates a warm, caring manner as she involves herself in children's learning, including asking them questions. The childminder encourages children to ask questions and talk about what they are doing, for example, as she helps them to make the dough. When children compare the activity to making buns, the childminder explains that eggs, sugar and milk are used to make buns so they can be cooked then eaten. She explains that the dough has got a large amount of salt in, thus it can not be eaten. The childminder asks children what they are going to make with the dough. Children enthusiastically respond by telling her that they are going to make a giraffe with a long neck.

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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. The childminder demonstrates a positive attitude to equal opportunities and creates an inclusive environment where all families and children are welcomed into the setting. Children have their individual needs met because the childminder works in close partnership with parents. Information is exchanged before placement and records are maintained of any individual care needs or specific requirements, including cultural. Information is exchanged verbally at the beginning and end of the day to keep parents informed about what their children are doing. Children benefit from a satisfactory range of resources and activities that help them value diversity, including books, dolls and play people. Because the childminder cares for children from a variety of family backgrounds, children learn to value and respect the similarities and differences of others.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children learn to respond to appropriate expectations for their behaviour because the childminder sets clear boundaries and house rules. These are shared with parents before placement to promote consistency, which helps children feel secure. Good systems are in place for encouraging good behaviour, for example the end of the week special treat. Children develop good levels of self-esteem because the childminder offers frequent praise and encouragement. For example, when children count how many pieces of toast they have got left, the childminder tells them how clever they are.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children benefit from a good amount of space that is organised well to enable them to move around freely and make independent choices about their own play and learning. The childminder ensures that mandatory training, such as first aid, is kept up to date to promote children's welfare along with attending some additional training, such as child protection. Children's care, learning and play is positively supported; they receive good levels of attention because the adult to child ratio is maintained well. The childminder implements effective routines and manages her time well to ensure that children experience a varied range of activities and play opportunities indoors, outdoors and through different outings, for example to a museum or on a picnic.

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Organisation

Policies and procedures generally work in practice to promote satisfactory outcomes for children. Overall, record keeping systems are used appropriately to promote children's well-being, meet their individual needs and ensure the safe and efficient management of the setting. For example, appropriate written consents are maintained along with written agreements. However, the daily attendance record and accident book lack detail and the system in which accidents are recorded does not maintain confidentiality. Additionally, Ofsted have not been informed of a significant event, which is a breach in regulations.

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Organisation

Overall, the provision meets the needs of the range of children for whom it provides.

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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

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder received one action relating to the administration of medication and several recommendations relating to keeping records, knowledge and understanding of child protection and activities and resources that promote equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Written parental permission is now obtained from parents before administering medicines and the childminder has attended child protection training and demonstrates an increased awareness, which promotes children's safety and welfare. However, other safety issues were identified on inspection and are reflected in the report. Children's awareness of diversity is increased because the childminder has extended the resources that promote equality of opportunity to include books, dolls and play people. The childminder now has systems in place to record existing injuries, significant issues and incidents of physical intervention. This enhances documentation to promote the efficient and safe management of the setting. However, some record keeping systems were identified on inspection as not being effectively maintained and are reflected in the report.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since the last inspection, Ofsted received one complaint relating to National Standard 11: Behaviour Management. This involved an allegation made about a child running away from the childminder's care. The childminder was contacted by Ofsted who concluded that the childminder had already taken appropriate actions to ensure that a similar incident could not occur. The provider remains qualified for registration.

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Complaints since the last inspection

The childminder 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): • improve the arrangements in place in relation to children drying their hands • improve the current arrangements in place which prevent access to the pond and promote the security of the premises, including the outdoor area, and ensure that gardening tools are inaccessible

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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 • plan and provide a suitable range of activities and resources to help very young 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" • improve the procedures for recording accidents, include times of children's arrival and departure in the daily attendance record and ensure that Ofsted are notified of future significant events.

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The quality and standards of the care

set out in the leaflet Complaints about Ofsted Early Years: concerns or complaints about Ofsted's role in regulating and inspecting childcare and early education (HMI ref no 2599) 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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