Childminder in Leeds

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number 319939 Inspection date 05 October 2005 Inspector Jane Elizabeth O'Callaghan

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Type of inspection Childcare Type of care Childminding

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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 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 has been registered since 1994. She lives with her partner and two children aged 18 and 14 years. The childminder occasionally works with her daughter, who is a registered assistant. They live in Yeadon, on the outskirts of Leeds. There is a tarn, park, shops, primary school, toddler groups and play groups, within walking distance. The whole of the ground floor are used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The family have two dogs and some goldfish. The childminder attends local toddler groups on a regular basis. She is a member of

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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 the National Childminding Association. She currently has 15 children under 8 years on full and part time basis and six over 8 years old on roll, attending on a part time basis.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. The children enjoy a wide range of activities, both indoors and outdoors. For example, the children can access sit and ride toys, trampolines, a climbing frame, trips to parks and places of interest. This contributes to the development of children's good health and physical skills. The children are beginning to learn about a healthy and nutritious diet. They are encouraged to eat fresh fruit and vegetables, also to help choose their snacks. The children have explained to them how healthy the food is for them and the importance of having drinks. For example, when it is warm and children have been busy, the need for frequent drinks. The childminder displays a menu for parents and older children to see daily, ensuring that all children's needs are met in a healthy and nutritious way. Children learn about the importance of washing their hands after outdoor play and before meals. For example, the children explained that they wash hands to get rid of

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Helping children to be healthy

any nasty germs, before snacks and after going to the toilet.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. The children are cared for in a spacious home where risks are identified and minimised. This ensures that children are in a warm, very welcoming and safe environment. The children are able to move around safely, freely and independently. They are able to choose from a very safe and clean extensive range of toys, equipment and activities. The children are beginning to understand how to keep themselves safe both within the home and on outings. For example, the children practice fire drills and the childminder has a extensive regime when walking to school and nurseries. The childminder has all required documents and procedures in place, ensuring children's welfare is safeguarded at all times. For example the childminder ensures she has parents' signatures for photographs, outings and travelling in the car. The childminder has an extensive fire drill procedure, which is practised and recorded

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

every six weeks. She is extremely safety conscious. For example attending courses relating to safety, advanced child protection courses and daily recorded risk assessments. This ensures the children's welfare is paramount.

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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 outstanding. The children settle extremely well at the childminder's house, freely moving around and choosing from an excellent range of toys, equipment and activities. These are easily accessible and encourage the children to develop in all areas of learning with the very good, extensive range. For example, outside there is a trampoline, a rocker, push a longs and a climbing frame. Children can easily access the vast selection of toys, equipment and activities inside, and these meet all ages and stages of development. For example, extensive dressing up, jigsaws, books, creative play, construction and much more, developing the child's imagination. The childminder does extensive creative and baking activities for all children. For example, the children explained how they had recently made gingerbread men. There is also a vast range of displays of the children's work of painting, collage and

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

crayoning. The childminder has attended several courses in order to enhance children's development through play, for example, persona and equal opportunity training. The childminder is also on the next training course for Birth to three matters. Children are also encouraged to recognise colours and numbers through excellent interaction and leading questions and responses from the childminder. Children are developing very well in their mathematical area, by learning about different shapes, numbers and colours, again through excellent interaction from the childminder. For example, the childminder asked the children present "what colour is the roof jigsaw piece?", which the children recognised as red. The childminder also has a photo album which shows the children doing other enjoyable and extensive activities such as making their own dough, baking and sticking, thus developing the children's creative style.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children respond extremely well to story time, joining in and choosing from a superb range of books all easily accessible by children. Children are very happy and having a lot of fun choosing from the extensive range of toys and equipment and activities that are available for them. These meet the extensive range of children's needs and stages. Children are learning about the wider world through trips to parks, places of interest and also through toys and activities. The children join in activities enthusiastically, explaining about the way rainbows are made, also about gingerbread people through story sacks, creative and general talk. They discuss how to make them and cut them out and what colours are in a rainbow. This ensures that all areas of children's development are continually being met.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The children have access to a very good range of activities and resources to promote

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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 a positive awareness of the wider world. For example, the children can access books on different cultures, jigsaws, dressing up clothes and dolls. Children learn about the environment that they live in through visits to places of interest. The childminder has a very good working relationship with parents, offering daily diaries if requested, daily feedback and a file full of relevant information. For example, there are written policies on behaviour, child protection, safety, lost and uncollected children. However the complaint policy is not fully complete regarding information and accessibility for parents. The children show care and concern for each other as they are encouraged to take turns and share. Positive behaviour and praise is given by both the children and also

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Helping children make a positive contribution

the childminder as a good role model. For example, the children are heard to say thank you and please, ensuring that children play together harmoniously and behave well in a good atmosphere. The childminder would care for children with special educational needs if required and has had training in this area. She feels she would be able to meet needs wherever possible, for example, she has good access, a downstairs toilet and is aware of the importance of working closely and confidentially with parents and other agencies where necessary.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The children move around the organised environment with ease and feel at home. This means that children are confident in extending their own play and learning. All information is kept in a confidential manner and shared with parents regularly. Parents are kept informed about the service offered to their child, promoting their welfare and activities. For example, correct completing of registers, accident forms, medication forms etc, ensure the continuity of care for all children. The childminder attends lots of training and has certificates of proof and also has written policies and procedures to show both parents and inspectors, offering a professional approach to childminding. The childminder is fully aware of all the legal requirements, such as notifying Ofsted of any changes, the completion of documentation and keeping it for a period of time. Overall the provision meets the needs of the children who attend.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder was asked to obtain written consent from parents, allowing an assistant to be left in sole charge of their children. The childminder now has an area on children's registration forms, that parents read and sign giving permission for their children to be left in sole charge of the assistant.

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Improvements 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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Complaints since the last inspection

There are no complaints to report. 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 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 a complaints procedure that includes all contact details and information that parents require.

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The quality and standards of the care

procedures set out in the leaflet Building better childcare: Compliments and concerns about inspectors' judgements 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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