Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY333799 Unique Reference Number 12 October 2006 Inspection date Ingrid Szczerban 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 2006. She lives in a semi-detached house in the Calverley area of Leeds, with her husband and two children aged four and two. The ground floor rooms, with the exception of the kitchen, are used by children and a fully enclosed garden is available for outdoor play. She lives close to transport links, amenities and shops. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of four children at any one time and is currently minding two children. She walks to a local school to take and collect children. The childminder attends story sessions at the library and toddler groups with younger children each week. She is a member of a local childminding group.

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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 simple good health and hygiene practices as part of their daily routine. For instance, they wash hands after using the toilet and before eating. Children stay healthy because the childminder follows appropriate health and hygiene guidelines. The home is clean and tidy thereby protecting children from infection. However, children are not provided with individual hand towels exposing them to the risk of cross infection. The childminder acts in the best interest of children when they are sick and does not care for children when they have any contagious diseases.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are provided with regular drinks and food, in adequate supply, in order to meet their needs. These include healthy and nutritious foods, such as fresh fruit for snacks. Children's health benefits from having their need for regular meal times and rest times met and receiving home cooked meals.

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Helping children to be healthy

Robust physical activity is enjoyed by children. Each day they walk to and from school which helps to build their stamina and develop a sense of control and co-ordination over their bodies. Children learn to climb, pedal and balance on visits to parks and when playing in the garden. If the weather is inclement, children exercise indoors moving their bodies to music and movement DVDs, with the childminder's support.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children have lots of space to move around freely in a secure and safe environment in the home. They are able to choose to play indoors or outside when the weather allows. The risk of accidental injury to children is minimised as all necessary precautions are taken to keep children safe on and off the premises. The garden is fully enclosed and safety gates are used. Children have free access to their toys which are well organised, stored at child height and attractively displayed. This promotes independence, creates a welcoming atmosphere and enables children to initiate their own play.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Ample good quality toys and resources are provided for children, these are appropriate for their ages and safe to use. All children are encouraged to help to keep themselves safe. They know the fire drill routine, and when the smoke alarm is sounded they stop playing immediately and go to the door. Children are learning how to keep themselves from harm. The childminder teaches them about road safety and implements effective procedures on outings, such as using appropriate restraints in the car.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has a sound understanding of child protection issues. She has written procedures to follow provided by the Local Safeguarding Children Board with contact telephone numbers to use should the need arise. Therefore, children's welfare needs are fully addressed.

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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

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children are confident in their warm relationships with the childminder. They are happy and settled, deriving benefit from established routines planned around their needs which contributes to their emotional well-being. Daily outings are undertaken and children have regular times for snacks, meals and rest.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children express themselves creatively and use their imaginations well. They enjoy role play and making dinner and cups of tea in the play kitchen. Children love baking sessions thereby developing their social, manipulative and mathematical skills. Older children are provided with suitable challenges to extend their learning in literacy. The childminder organises games, such as giving each child the letters of their name jumbled up and the children then rearrange them in the correct order. Books are enjoyed by the children. Young children's pre-literacy skills are being developed as they show pleasure pointing at familiar objects.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children communicate effectively to make clear their wishes. The childminder listens to them and responds appropriately to the gestures and simple sounds made by young children. Children develop their listening skills when they are taken to weekly story time sessions at the library, this fosters good communication.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children begin to appreciate similarities and differences and develop positive attitudes to others, because a selection of toys and books, that promote aspects of diversity, is provided. Children eat food from other countries, and they attempt to eat Chinese food with chopsticks. Suitable arrangements would be made to care for children with learning difficulties should the need arise.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are well-behaved and polite, in response to the expectations of the childminder. Children are given choices to select their preferred activities and learn how to share and take turns. Good use of praise and encouragement builds children's self-esteem and they as such are confident and self-assured.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children benefit from the positive partnerships that are established with parents. Children are happy and settled with the childminder. The childminder records full details about children before they start, thereby promoting continuity of care and ensuring that children are cared for according to parents' wishes. Written policies and certificates of training are shared with parents in a well organised file so that they are reassured about the service which is provided for their child. Daily chats with parents ensure that they are informed about their child's progress. The complaints procedure is discussed with parents but there is no system in place for recording any written complaints that may be made parents.

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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 good. Space is effectively organised to meet the needs of the children so that they are able to initiate and extend their own play and learning. Routines are organised effectively around the needs of children so that their needs are met. The childminder is committed to ongoing training. Since becoming registered she has attended further training and has enrolled on additional courses to enhance her awareness of child protection and to develop her childminding practice.

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Organisation

Children are kept safe due to the childminder's good awareness of vetting procedures for adults and adult child ratios are maintained appropriately. Children receive excellent levels of individual support, time and attention from the childminder. The childminder organises documentation meticulously, keeps up to date records and has sought all necessary written permissions from parents regarding the care needs of children. The childminder holds a current first aid certificate which enables her to take appropriate action in case of any accidents involving children. 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. 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): • provide separate hand towels for children • devise a system for recording any complaints that may be made by parents.

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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 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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