Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY319747 Unique Reference Number 15 February 2007 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 2006 and works part-time with another childminder in Pudsey, a suburb of Leeds. The ground floor and first floor bathroom of the property are used for childminding purposes and there is an enclosed garden available for outdoor 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 one child. Children are taken and collected from school and access local groups. 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 learn about good personal hygiene through consistently washing their hands before snacks and meals, and after toileting. Antibacterial hand gel is readily available and regularly used by both the children and the childminder to clean their hands.

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Helping children to be healthy

Mealtimes are a relaxed occasion with children sitting and eating together at the table. The childminder sits with them and develops their social skills through encouraging them to talk about their day. Healthy and varied meals are provided in accordance with the children’s individual dietary requirements and their parents’ wishes. These include vegetable soup, casseroles, vegetables, fruit and yogurts.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have regular opportunities for exercise, fresh air and outdoor activities when walking to school and playing in the garden, where they can practise bouncing on the trampoline, swinging and sliding. Children recognise when they are thirsty and freely access drinks from their individual cups, which they are able to recognise as each child’s cup has a different character on them.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children sleep according to their individual requirements, routines and their parents’ wishes. The childminder makes sleep times a pleasant experience for children. When a young child falls asleep during their lunch, the childminder cleans them, cuddles them until they fall back to sleep and then places them into their pram.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. A first aid box is readily accessible in the home and is always taken on day trips to ensure that any minor accidents are dealt with quickly and appropriately. 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 outings.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Appropriate safety equipment is in place to minimise risks to children, including safety gates and anti-slam devices on the doors. The childminder regularly reviews safety arrangements. She has removed the large fireguard and has protected the actual fire with a small guard and the hearth with cushions. She feels that this is safer as children were climbing on the large fireguard. However, children’s safety is compromised by a trailing wire from the stereo.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

All toys, equipment and furniture are clean, well maintained, suitable for the ages of children using them, and conform to safety standards. Children's independence is effectively promoted as they are able to easily reach the toys and resources stored in low cupboards and drawers in the playroom.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are familiar with the emergency evacuation procedure. It is practised regularly to ensure that they are fully aware of how to leave the home quickly and safely. The procedure

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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 is clearly displayed and a fire blanket is fixed and readily available in the kitchen in case of emergency.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are protected as all parents are made aware, through the written policy, of the childminder’s responsibility regarding child protection. The childminder has literature to refer to and knows the signs, symptoms and procedure to follow in order to keep the children in her care safe.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children share an appropriate relationship with affection and cuddles from the childminder. A range of activities promote children’s language development. When looking at books they concentrate well and enjoy studying the pictures, turning the pages appropriately and holding the book the correct way. Older children learn how to form letters through using worksheets.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

A suitable range of activities appropriately cover the areas of learning and incorporate a combination of child-led activities and planned outings to groups, where children are able to socialise with others of a similar age. Children develop an active imagination and assume a number of roles through dressing up, for example, as firefighters. They enjoy building with a range of bricks and blocks.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children learn basic mathematical concepts through a number of activities including playing with stacking blocks which have numbers, shapes and colours on them. Children learn about the grading of sizes and confidently build the tower, placing the blocks in the correct order. Children are encouraged to express themselves creatively through a number of mediums, such as music, dancing, singing, painting, sticking and drawing.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children’s individual needs are met well as the childminder knows the children, their routines, and their likes and dislikes. She encourages them to make decisions by self-selecting toys, equipment and where they would like to play.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has implemented effective strategies to keep parents fully informed regarding their child’s care and development. These include daily discussions and completing written records regarding the children’s eating and sleeping.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children learn about their community through walks in the area and visiting local groups. They gain an awareness of the diverse world in which they live through daily play and a variety of resources, such as small world play. Children enjoy playing with a person who uses a wheelchair and are learning basic sign language from regularly watching a television programme where it is used. They also develop an awareness of a range of cultures through celebrating festivals, for example, Chinese New Year.

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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 develop an understanding of what is right and wrong through the childminder praising them in their play. The childminder consistently follows the brief behaviour management policy to ensure that children know what is expected of them. She uses suitable methods of managing behaviour and distracts children to favourite activities, such as books. They follow the childminder’s clear boundaries and happily help tidy the toys away.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children are very settled and confident within the childminder’s care and are minded in a child-orientated environment, with a selection of toys available for them to independently access. Space is well organised and enables children to confidently move between the playroom and the living room.

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Organisation

Effective systems protect children from persons who have not been vetted, as they are not left unsupervised. Relevant checks have been completed on all appropriate adults. Parents are appropriately informed about the childcare service as the childminder has implemented brief policies and procedures. The certificate of registration is prominently displayed for parents to view.

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Organisation

The childminder has attended the required training. Most of the necessary documentation is in place and confidentiality is sufficiently maintained as records are only accessible to the childminder. However, the childminder does not keep individual records and the register of attendance is not accurately maintained and does not detail persons caring for the 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.

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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

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 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 trailing wires do not pose a hazard to children • maintain individual records • maintain an accurate record of children's attendance and detail persons caring for them.

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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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