Childminder in Leeds

Inspection report for early years provision

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320214 Unique Reference Number 03 October 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 1997. She lives with her husband and three children aged 20, 18 and 12 in Morley, Leeds. The whole of the ground floor and first floor bathroom are used for childminding purposes and there is an enclosed garden for outside play. The family have a dog.

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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 caring for five children. She takes and collects children from school and they attend local groups.

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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 personal hygiene through regularly washing their hands throughout the day, particularly after toileting and before meals. They have daily opportunities for fresh air and exercise as they walk to and from school. They also regularly visit the park and play in the garden where they are able to practise running, riding bicycles, sliding and playing basket ball, whilst exploring the outdoor environment. Children are beginning to understand the effect that exercise has on their body and they rest and sleep as necessary.

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Helping children to be healthy

Mealtimes are a social occasion with everyone sitting and eating together at the table. This enables children to talk to the childminder and their peers and encourages the development of good table manners. Children learn about the benefits of healthy eating through trying new foods, such as kiwi fruits. Activities, such as playing with play food develops children's awareness and enables them to learn the names of vegetables, for example, broccoli and cauliflower.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are able to recognise when they are thirsty and independently access drinks. These are available in colour coded sports bottles to reduce the risk of cross infection through children drinking from the wrong bottle. Children confidently tell the childminder when their bottle is empty and ask for more.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. To ensure that parents can be contacted at all times both a landline and mobile telephone are available and written contact numbers are always taken on outings. The premises are secure to ensure that children cannot leave them unaccompanied and that unwanted visitors cannot enter. The exterior doors remain locked with the keys to hand and the garden gate is always fastened with a bolt whenever children are playing in the garden.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Some safety equipment is in place, however, the fire and hearth pose a hazard to children as they are unprotected. Children are not familiar with the procedure for evacuating the home in an emergency as this is not practised with them. Children are able to play safely as all the toys and equipment are very clean, well maintained and meet relevant safety standards.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

In order to protect the children in her care the childminder has a basic awareness of the signs, symptoms and procedure to follow if she has any concerns regarding a child in her care.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children benefit from positive interaction with the childminder. They share a warm relationship with lots of kisses and cuddles which develops a positive self-esteem for children and gives them a sense of belonging. They are very vocal and enjoy familiar action songs, such as 'Row, row, row your boat', where they scream in delight and in anticipation of the words. Young

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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 children are becoming familiar with their bodies and confidently join in with the actions to 'Head, shoulders, knees and toes'.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children continually and confidently make decisions and self-select activities from the appropriate range available. These include, role play, small world animals, musical instruments, dressing up and a selection of books. However, painting and sticking activities are mostly limited to being available at groups that they attend. The childminder instinctively uses everyday play activities to extend children's learning. They count and talk about the colours on the xylophone and count the pieces of play food which helps develop children's mathematical skills.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children enjoy experimenting making a range of noises with a rain-maker, drum and xylophone. They listen carefully to the range of tones that are made when they bang the drum and xylophone with each end of the stick. Children develop a keen imagination and are able to assume a range of roles through playing with a doctor's kit, tea set and dressing up clothes. They have many opportunities to play and socialise with children of similar ages through attending local groups and visiting the park.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children's individual needs are effectively met through the childminder gathering relevant information from parents, discussions with children and encouraging them to make decisions. The childminder encourages children to feel pride in themselves and lifts them up to look in the mirror when they dress up. The children respond by laughing proudly. When children struggle to cut up the play food the childminder encourages and helps them. They feel a sense of achievement when they successfully manage it and are praised by the childminder.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are developing a sense of belonging to their community through walks in the area, visiting the park and attending local groups. They have an awareness of the wider world through positive images in books, jigsaws, dolls and dressing up. Some activities portray people with learning difficulties or disabilities, such as watching television programmes which include sign language, but resources are limited.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children know what is expected of them and behave well as the childminder sets clear and consistent boundaries. To promote good behaviour she distracts children to alternative activities and explains to them why the behaviour is inappropriate. She develops children's self-confidence through using positive encouragement and praise.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder ensures that she is always available to talk to parents. Daily discussions keep them fully informed of their child's care and development, such as what they have played with, how much they have eaten and if they have slept. The childminder verbally informs parents of the procedure to make a complaint but does not have a system in place to record these.

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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

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children are cared for appropriately as the childminder obtains relevant information from parents and completes contracts and registration details. All records are stored to ensure that they are only accessible to the childminder. The written confidentiality policy is consistently implemented to enable discussions to take place confidentially and privately. The certificate of registration is available in a file of information and is not displayed.

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Organisation

Effective systems are in place to protect children from unvetted persons as they are not left alone and all identity cards are viewed. All appropriate checks have been completed on relevant adults.

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Organisation

Children are cared for in a warm and welcoming environment with toys available for them to freely access. The furniture is organised well to provide children with plenty of floor space to spread their toys out on. They enjoy reading books, sitting on the couch cuddling up to the childminder. Overall, the provision meets the needs of the range of the children for whom it provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Since the last inspection the childminder has improved children's safety as she has completed a first aid course and has made electrical sockets inaccessible.

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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. Since 01 April 2004 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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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): • ensure that the fire and hearth do not pose a hazard to children • raise children's awareness of emergency evacuation procedures

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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 • implement a system to record complaints made by parents • display the certificate of registration.

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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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