Childminder in Leeds

Inspection report for early years provision

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319987 Unique Reference Number 15 May 2007 Inspection date Linda Filewood 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 1995. She lives with her husband and three children in Yeadon, a suburb of Leeds. The dining room, hallway, kitchen and downstairs toilet are used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden available 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 at any one time and is currently minding seven children, all on a part-time basis. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children are beginning to learn the importance of good hygiene and become independent in their personal care. The childminder puts into practice satisfactory hygiene procedures to protect them from becoming ill. However, cross-contamination is not fully considered as all

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Helping children to be healthy

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 use only one towel. Parents are verbally informed of the childminder's sickness policy which helps to prevent the spread of infection between minded children. Children are suitably protected if they become ill or have an accident whilst in the childminder's care. She has maintained her first aid qualification and most appropriate permissions and registers are in place to record accidents, obtain emergency treatment and administer medication. However, written permission is not sought from parents before administering each medication nor is the register completed with sufficient details to ensure the safety of the children.

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Helping children to be healthy

The food provided by the childminder promotes the children's good health and ensures that they enjoy a variety of fruit and vegetables for their snack. Parents provide all the children's meals and these are stored and heated up appropriately. Children help themselves to drinks from their own bottles throughout the day and are offered a choice of water or juice.

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Helping children to be healthy

Garden play and regular visits to the local park and playground improve the children’s physical skills. They enjoy, for example, the big slide and being able to ride their scooters and bikes long distances in the nearby park. Children have daily opportunity for fresh air as they walk to school and back in all weathers. They have regular routines for rest and sleep after discussion with parents and the childminder allows them to wake up naturally if possible.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. The childminder minimises risks to the children by ensuring that appropriate safety precautions are in place. For instance, plug sockets are covered and a safety gate is used to prevent young children from accessing the stairs. Children are learning to keep themselves safe as they regularly practise the fire drill so that they know what to do in the event of an evacuation. The childminder maintains children’s safety outside the home by ensuring that young children are securely fastened into a pushchair and older ones know to hold onto the handles, especially when crossing the road.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children use a sufficient range of toys and equipment to ensure they can play and eat together. The childminder carefully rotates toys to make sure they are safe and appropriate for their age and stage of development. Organisation of the areas used for minding allows children to move safely, freely and independently. Children play in a secure environment where doors and garden gates are locked. The childminder has attended further training on child protection so that she is fully aware of her duty in safeguarding the children's welfare. Parents are confident in the knowledge that the childminder only releases children to those people authorised to collect them.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children are comfortable in the childminder's home. They enter confidently after walking back from nursery and make themselves at home by sitting on the settee for a rest before resuming the morning's activities. Warm relationships are evident between the childminder and minded children. She is aware of their individual developmental needs and offers appropriate encouragement and praise to raise their self-esteem. Children become independent as they choose between a sufficient variety of toys, books and activities which appeal to them. Older children bring toys from home, play outside or relax after a structured day at school by watching television in the short period before going home. However, there is limited choice in resources for the under fives to play with during the day. For example, there are very few jigsaws and no

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 games. Some resources, such as musical toys and a baby walker are available for babies and younger children to stimulate their learning and support their developing physical skills.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children enjoy stories and the childminder encourages their communication skills by asking appropriate open questions. She uses mathematical language in her play with the children to promote the children's understanding of number and size. For example, discussion whilst children are drawing helps them learn about the colour of the crayon they are using as well as the size of it compared to another one. Children have sufficient opportunity to express their imagination as they play with dolls, taking them on holiday and feeding them a bottle to stop them crying. Children who do not go to nursery in the afternoon have good one to one attention which often includes extra enjoyable visits to the playground.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children learn about their local community during routine outings to the local park and other amenities and they discuss what they see on the walks to and from nursery and school. However, they play with a limited range of resources which help support their understanding of others. Children are valued and their individuality respected. The childminder discusses their daily routine especially for sleep and babies' feeds with their parents to ensure that she follows these as closely as possible. Children behave well and any inappropriate behaviour is managed consistently taking into account their level of understanding. They are supported in their understanding of sharing and taking turns and this is re-enforced regularly by the childminder.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder makes sure that children benefit from continuity of care by obtaining sufficient information from parents about their child before they start attending. Daily verbal exchanges of information keep parents informed of their child's day. The childminder works well with parents to help children settle in her care and is happy for parents to phone during the day to check on their child if they wish. Parents are verbally informed about the service the childminder offers but the procedure for making a complaint, should they need to do so, is not clearly explained to them.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The children are comfortable in well organised routines and a secure environment. The childminder makes suitable use of her space and resources to encourage children to become independent and confident. Children are well supervised at all times and older children are given time to do their homework, such as reading after school if they wish. Outings are planned effectively into the structured daily routine of school and nursery runs and enjoyed by all.

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Organisation

Most records, policies and procedures satisfactorily support the children's safety, care and welfare. Records and registers are confidentially maintained and easily accessible when needed. However, the register of attendance only shows contracted hours not actual arrival and departure times. Ratios are constantly maintained within the conditions of registration and give the children a good level of adult support and interaction. Parents are sufficiently informed of the care their children receive and the service the childminder offers. Overall, the provision meets the needs of the range of the children for whom it provides.

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Organisation

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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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection it was recommended that the childminder ensured that children have an appropriate range of activities and resources that promote equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice. The range of resources has not yet improved sufficiently to support the children's understanding of others and this continues to be a recommendation as a result of this inspection.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder was also asked to ensure that the fire blanket was easily accessible in the event of a fire, to ensure that the register included the hours of children's attendance and to complete it daily. Children's safety has now been improved as a fire blanket is now positioned to allow it to be accessed quickly in the event of an emergency. The attendance register is now completed daily but only with the children's contracted hours. It does not show children's actual times of attendance and a further recommendation has been made to reflect this.

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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

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): • improve hygiene practices, particularly with regard to hand drying • obtain permission from parents before administering each medication and keep a full written record of medicines given to children • continue to build on the range and variety of play equipment for under fives • improve knowledge and develop systems for the recording of complaints, in line with regulations • continue to improve the range of resources that promote the positive image of culture, ethnicity and disability • ensure the attendance register shows children’s actual times of arrival and departure.

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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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