Childminder in Leeds

Inspection report for early years provision

p.1

319519 Unique Reference Number 15 February 2007 Inspection date Ann Webb Inspector

p.1

Childcare Type of inspection Childminding Type of care

p.1

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

p.1

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.

p.2

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

p.2

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.

p.2

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

p.2

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.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder has been registered since 1988. She lives with her husband in a house in the inner-city area of Headingley and are within walking distance of schools, shops and parks. The kitchen, dining room and lounge are all used for childminding. Toilet facilities are on the first floor. There is a rear garden available for outdoor play.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

There is currently one child on roll. The childminder has a small dog as a family pet.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder regularly attends the local carer and toddler clubs. She is a member of the National Childminding Association.

p.2

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

p.2

Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. The children have a good understanding of healthy eating. For example, they help to prepare homemade vegetable soup for lunch and try fruit for their snack. Additionally, during the summer they pick strawberries. The childminder talks to the children about healthy ingredients and introduces them to tastes, such as lychees as part of the Chinese New Year celebrations.

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

There are good opportunities for fresh air and exercise. The children benefit from outdoor play in the childminder's garden, walking to and from school and visiting the park. During indoor activities the children are able to dance to recorded music.

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

The children have a good understanding of the importance of personal hygiene. They know that they need to wash their hands after visiting the toilet and before they eat. The childminder is a positive role model for the children and ensures that she maintains the home to a good level of cleanliness. For example, she keeps the work surfaces and areas used by the children clean.

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

The children's health and well-being is further promoted through an effective sickness policy and the management of children's illnesses. For example, children with an infectious illness are required to remain at home. The children are able to rest and to sleep in accordance with their own sleep patterns and routines.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The children's safety is given a high priority by the childminder. All risks to children are greatly reduced because she undertakes a full risk assessment for all activities inside and outside the home. The children are able to contribute successfully toward their own safety through practising emergency evacuations and following the Green Cross Code. Additionally, the home is fitted with smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, the childminder ensures that they remain in full working order and records the dates of all battery tests.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has a current first aid certificate which enables her to respond to minor injuries. She keeps a fully stocked first aid kit in the home and has an additional kit which she takes on outings. The children's safety is further promoted through the use of recommended car and booster seating when travelling by car and the use of safety harnesses when out walking.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has an up to date understanding of the Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures. She ensures that she informs parents of her role and responsibilities with regard to the protection of children and she provides a written child protection statement. Additionally, she records and reports all concerns.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The children have access to a good range of safe and suitable furniture and equipment which is appropriate for their ages and stages of development. Resources are well maintained, stored

p.3

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 safely and are in good condition. This enables the children to make safe and independent choices.

p.3

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The children have access to a good variety of play and learning experiences. For example, they bake their own bread and cakes, enjoying the opportunity to decorate buns with chocolate. They feed the wildlife in the garden and can recognise some of the birds on the feeding table, identifying them as robins. The childminder skilfully extends their interest with a craft activity making nests from twigs which the children collect.

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder has a good understanding of the 'Birth to three matters' framework and this enables her to recognise the children's developmental stages and to respond to their interests. She plans a good variety of activities including art and craft, swimming, outings to wildlife centres and role play. Additional activities, such as making musical instruments from boxes and collecting leaves for printing, further develop the children's ideas and suggestions.

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children learn to count and recognise colours through familiar, everyday activities. For example, they count the cars during their walk to and from school and identify the colours of toys and shapes. The childminder has a singing sack, the children feel inside the sack and guess which song the items inside relates to. Additionally, the childminder uses finger puppets to illustrate stories and capture the children's interest in stories and books.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The children are involved in a meaningful range of activities which significantly promote their understanding of the diversity of the world in which they live. For example, they have celebrated Chinese New Year with food tasting and making lanterns. They access a very good range of resources which positively reflect race, gender and disability through books, dressing up, small world figures and jigsaws. They learn effectively about their local community through frequent visits to the local park, toddler groups and wildlife centres. They visit local shops to choose what they will have to eat and during themed activities they look at where people live.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

The children are well behaved. They respond well to the childminder who uses words of approval and praise to promote positive behaviour. The childminder has a written behaviour management policy which she shares with parents, however, the policy does not include how incidents of bullying will be managed. There are suitable systems in place to care for children with learning difficulties and disabilities. For example, the childminder works closely with parents and attends relevant training in order to support individual needs.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

The children's individual needs are well understood by the childminder, she has established professional relationships with parents and ensures that she receives, shares and maintains all information needed to meet all children's individual needs. The childminder works closely with parents to ensure that they are fully involved in all aspects of their children's care. For example, parents are required to sign accident and medication records.

p.4

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 Additionally, written policies and procedures, contracts and daily verbal and written details of children's care and progress are available for all parents and carers.

p.4

Organisation

The organisation is good. The environment for the children is extremely well organised and child centred, and consequently the children are happy, settled and very confident in their surroundings.

p.5

Organisation

All policies and procedures are well written and shared with parents. They are used as working documents and are reviewed regularly to ensure that they successfully promote the care, welfare and learning of all the children. For example, the childminder reviews her self-assessment of the provision on a regular basis which enables her to successfully develop the care that she offers.

p.5

Organisation

The childminder is highly committed to improving the service she offers to children and their families. She frequently attends training courses, for example, 'Birth to three matters' child protection, sign language and first aid. She has a good understanding of the National Standards and recent legislative changes, such as implementing a complaints procedure. Overall, the provision meets the needs of the range of the children for whom it provides.

p.5

Improvements since the last inspection

Since the last inspection the childminder has attended child protection training and maintains a written record of medication administered to children. This has significantly improved the safety and welfare of children in her care.

p.5

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. 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.

p.5

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

p.5

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.

p.5

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):

p.5

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 • develop the behaviour management statement with regard to bullying.

p.5

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

p.6

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

p.6