Childminder in Bradford

Inspection report for early years provision

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302328 Unique Reference Number 24 October 2006 Inspection date Dawn Bonica Brown 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 good. 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 two children aged 15 and 11 years in Baildon, near Bradford. The ground floor and first floor are used for childminding and there is a fully 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 six children. She is currently minding seven children under eight years, on a part time basis, one of whom is over eight and three are under five years. The childminder walks to the local school to take and collect children. She is a member of the local childminding network and supports children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The family has a number of pets which include three cats, a mouse, a gerbil, a hamster and some fish.

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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 gaining a suitable awareness of appropriate personal hygiene. They understand that they must wash their hands at the correct times in order to prevent the spread of infection. They remain healthy because appropriate procedures are followed to maintain their good health. For example, children wash their hands before preparing food and wear aprons, surfaces are kept clean and the childminder is knowledgeable and careful about preventing the cross contamination of food.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children benefit from suitable procedures to protect them from ailments. For example, those who are contagious do not attend. This helps to prevent the spread of contagious ailments and acts in the best interests of all children to protect all those being cared for. Their welfare and well-being are closely protected because the childminder holds a current and relevant first aid certificate. This means that she is able to administer first aid promptly in the event of an accident.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are suitably nourished. They have appropriate access to fresh drinking water and receive a balanced diet that includes fresh fruit and vegetables daily. Children develop a positive attitude to food through eating meals and snacks as a social event and through opportunities to prepare their own snacks and lunches.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are encouraged to be active. They take part in regular physical activities through walking to and from school, visits to places of interest, including the park and the local woods, and using the play provision in the garden.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are well stimulated. They enjoy activities in a safe environment that is well maintained. Their all round development is promoted well, in almost all areas, through good use of space and resources. Children use good quality equipment and are protected from harm through effective risk assessments. For example, safety equipment, such as covers for electrical sockets, stair gates and fireguards are all in place. They gain further benefit from good safety procedures on outings and good liaison with parents to ensure that both the parents and the childminder are aware of changes in routines.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children have a good understanding of how to keep themselves safe. For example, they walk or use public transport so that they practise road safety daily. They know how to evacuate the premises safely in an emergency and children learn how to use a mobile phone to call the emergency services if the need arises.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are well protected from abuse because the childminder has a very good understanding of child protection procedures. She is knowledgeable about the potential signs and symptoms that would cause concern and knows the correct reporting procedures. A copy of the local child protection contact numbers for reporting is retained. This means that the childminder can act quickly in the child's best interest to safeguard their welfare.

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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 good. Children are friendly and curious because they are happy and well settled. They play well together in joint games that promote cooperation and sharing. They are highly involved in a broad range of planned activities and spontaneous events that foster their imagination. For example, a box modelling activity inspires the building of a spaceship which is then painted.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are confident and make decisions about all aspects of their care, from playing with dough, collage and painting to choosing whether they go out to lunch or to stay in and what to eat. They know where the resources are kept and help themselves to most of them independently. They benefit from child led activities, such as swimming, sport and cooking. This helps them gain confidence as the childminder helps them to follow their individual pursuits effectively.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children gain in confidence as they are allowed to explore their environment and resources independently and at their own pace. They benefit greatly from the childminder's approach to extend their learning during activities. For example, a walk in the woods leads to finding natural materials and looking for animals, such as hedgehogs, squirrels and frogs. Children examine the miniature world of animals as they experiment with a spider's web to watch the spider catch the food on its web and gather up a wasp.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children's interests are well promoted as the childminder develops her knowledge of childcare effectively. For example, training in the ‘Birth to three matters’ framework helps her to ensure that care for children aged under three years fosters their independence, promotes their creativity and develops their communication skills.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are valued and included because the childminder listens to them, gives them choices and encourages them to solve their own problems. For example, children aged under three are encouraged to put on their own coats and shoes and to pour drinks for themselves, so that they gain independence quickly. All children learn to be polite and considerate towards each other because they are treated with respect and their concern for each other is noticed and praised.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Parents are very happy with the care their children receive. They are very positive about the childminder and the activities she provides. Parents feel that their children's good behaviour is well fostered through the childminder's positive methods, which include working with parents to ensure continuity of approach. There is a good exchange of information between the childminder and parents, which promotes children's all round development and boosts their confidence and self-esteem.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are very well behaved. Their good behaviour is promoted well because it is noticed and praised. Children understand the boundaries, which are consistent with those set by parents, so that they know what is right and wrong. For example, caring for others is highly valued. Children have their individual needs met because the childminder works closely with parents to establish children's individual preferences. This means that children are included well and feel a sense of belonging.

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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 Children with special needs benefit from inclusive provision because the childminder makes sure that all the activities are suited to the differing ages and stages of development of all the children. She is pro-active in developing her awareness of inclusive provision through training in specific areas of special needs. Children benefit from activities which help them to value diversity. For example, they explore a variety of cultures through looking at festivals, cooking with the help of parents and engaging in activities, such as Mendi hand painting.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children learn to value the differences in society through play with resources which reflect positive images of cultural diversity and positive gender roles. For example, they enjoy dressing up in ethnic costumes, playing with dolls of different nationalities and using jigsaws reflecting cultural diversity. However, their awareness of disability is not sufficiently well fostered due to a lack of resources which promote positive images. Children's access to books reflecting positive images of cultural diversity is hindered through poor accessibility and presentation.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children are suitably protected because the adults who care for them are suitable to do so. They feel secure and confident because they receive sufficient adult support to provide them with appropriate individual attention. Children's overall development is promoted through the good use of space and resources in almost all areas.

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Organisation

Children's welfare is promoted through the accurate maintenance of almost all documentation. The exception to this is the certificate of registration which is not adequately displayed for parents to see. Documentation relating to the care and learning of children is shared effectively with parents, which promotes children's safety and fosters their well-being.

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Organisation

Children's needs are given first priority by the childminder who demonstrates a suitable sense of commitment to improve the care she provides for children. For example, children's enjoyment of the setting is enhanced because the childminder puts into practice elements of relevant training, such as the ‘Birth to three matters’ framework and training in the care of children with special needs. 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

At the last inspection the provider was recommended to ensure that children have an appropriate range of activities and resources that promote equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice, including disability.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Children's opportunities to use a range of resources that promote equality of opportunity have improved through the provision of activities which promote cultural diversity and resources promoting positive gender images. However, children do not use resources which reflect positive images of disability and their access to books reflecting cultural diversity is limited.

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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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Complaints since the last inspection

Since the last inspection 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

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 good. 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 resources reflecting positive images of disability and improve children's access to books reflecting positive images of cultural diversity • ensure that the certificate of registration is appropriately displayed.

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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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