Childminder in Bradford

Inspection report for early years provision

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302356 Unique Reference Number 05 February 2008 Inspection date Kaldip Kaur Chaggar-Brown Inspector

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Integrated 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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the nursery education are satisfactory.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder was registered in 1999. She lives with her partner and two children in Shipley, West Yorkshire. The whole of the ground floor and first floor bathroom are used for childminding purposes and there is an enclosed garden for outdoor 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 caring for six children aged under eight. Children over the age of eight are also minded.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder takes and collects children from local schools. She attends a local toddler group. The family have a number of pets which include a dog, rabbits, a Chinchilla and Giant African Snails. 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 enjoy a broad range of activities which contribute to their good health. They have daily opportunities for fresh air and exercise as they go out on walks in the locality. Suitable opportunities for rest and sleep are made.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have limited opportunities to learn about good hygiene practices as the childminder does not remind children to wash their hands before eating their snack. The childminder has a suitable understanding of how to prepare food safely as she has completed a food hygiene course. Suitable precautions are taken when changing nappies as the changing mat is cleaned after use.

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Helping children to be healthy

Records related to accidents and any medicines given are adequately kept and include parental signatures. Children are suitably cared for when unwell. The childminder has appropriate written permissions in place. These include permission to apply sun cream to protect children from sun burn.

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Helping children to be healthy

Individual dietary needs are discussed with parents. The childminder provides meals and snacks which contain processed foods. Children are not developing healthy eating choices and are not encouraged to eat fruit and vegetables. Meal and snack times are a social occasion as children sit together at the kitchen table. Children appropriately access regular drinks. They take part in food related activities such as making pancakes.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children are cared for in a warm home that is welcoming, however, piles of books, clothes and other household objects in the lounge and the kitchen give a cluttered appearance. Children move around freely and have sufficient space to play in. The kitchen is used for messy type activities and for meals and snacks. The kitchen sink and the first floor bathroom are used by children to wash their hands, which some do independently. The front garden is used for outdoor play as it is enclosed and gated.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Toys and resources are suitable and safe. Children freely access toys that are within easy reach, however, most toys are kept in the shed outside to which they do not have free access. The childminder plans what toys are linked to the theme being covered and puts these toys within children’s reach. Children make good use of appropriate crockery and beakers at snack and meal times.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are safe and secure as the exit doors are kept locked and they are unable to leave unsupervised. Suitable safety equipment is used such as smoke alarms. Appropriate car seats are used when transporting children following discussion with parents about the most suitable type of car seat for their child. The childminder has a good understanding of the car seat legislation.

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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 Children are beginning to understand how to keep themselves safe. For example, they understand what to do if they have to evacuate the premises because the smoke alarm has been activated. However, the rear exit door is blocked with a number of items which compromises children’s safety as they are unable to exit safely from this door.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has a suitable understanding of the child protection procedures. She understands her responsibility to keep children safe. She has a procedure to put into place if a child becomes lost. The childminder has attended suitable health and safety training and has appropriate documentation such as insurance for childminding and car use and has an appropriate first aid qualification.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children enjoy coming to the childminder's and are making appropriate progress in their learning. They take part in a variety of activities that include local outings and social gatherings. The childminder makes suitable plans of activities that include time for free play. Children have their work recognised, as it is displayed, as picture of the week. Children’s care needs such as toilet training are met following discussions with parents.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children take part in activities which support their language development as the childminder uses appropriate descriptive language and includes colours, shapes and numbers. They are developing their knowledge of number through everyday activities such as counting the stairs when going up stairs. Children are satisfactorily developing their imaginative skills through role play and make believe. They make use of toys such as play food. Good opportunities are provided for them to take part in creative activities include sticking and play dough. Children learn to improvise and they make shakers out of toy storage containers, the childminder reminds them that they made shakers recently.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children have good opportunities to make decisions about their play as they choose where to play. The interaction between the children and the childminder is good. They share toys with each other and play happily together. Children follow simple requests, such as at tidy up time the childminder asks the children to help. She makes a game out of tidying up and encourages children to look for two of the same colour. She gives praise when children are successful in doing this.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The quality of teaching and learning is satisfactory. The childminder has attended Foundation Stage training and makes suitable plans which include long, medium and short term planning. She includes colours, letters and numbers of the week. Activities are evaluated on a weekly basis and the next step in children’s learning is planned. The childminder keeps records that are linked to the 'Birth to three matters framework'. Parents have suitable access to children’s records.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children separate from their carer with confidence and find toys to play with. They are beginning to understand the care needs of others such as, other children may want their special blanket

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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 for reassurance. Children know how to wash their hands and understand about their own needs, such as wanting to use the toilet. Children have a positive approach to new activities, such as making pancakes. They show a willingness to tackle problems, such as when tidying up they look for the toy digger to help scoop up small play equipment. Children use familiar phrases in songs and when looking at books. They use appropriate and descriptive language when communicating with the childminder about making a batter for pancakes or when building with reels talking about big and tall. Children respond positively to their own name and they understand that using pencils and crayons to make marks communicates their name to others.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

When on outings children show good interest in looking for numbers on car plates and on lamp posts. They understand about routines, such as when the dustbin lorry comes to collect the waste, children look out for the wagon as they know that the bins are lined up waiting to be collected. However, children have limited discussions about significant events that have happened to them outside of the childminder's care. Children make appropriate movements when moving around the premises. They use the stairs safely and can thread large buttons onto laces. However, children have limited opportunities to challenge themselves physically. Children are beginning to develop their small scale movements as they use small equipment such as a knife and fork successfully. They are beginning to use their bodies to explore textures through finger painting. Children show good interest in making noises and they enjoy playing with

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Overall children make satisfactory progress towards the early learning goals given their capabilities and starting points.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Partnership with parents is satisfactory. Parents receive suitable information about the educational provision. The childminder has good systems in place for information sharing with parents for example, she uses a display board on which she places items of interest and newsletters. The childminder is effective at gathering information from parents, this results in her being fully informed of home and personal situations which may affect the child and helps her evaluate the next stage in children's learning. A suitable complaints policy is in place and the childminder is aware of what to record. Children’s individual needs are met following discussions with parents. They receive cuddles and reassurance when they awake, as well as when they are generally playing. Younger children have suitable opportunities to develop their tactile and sensory experiences with items from treasure baskets, such as natural materials.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is fostered as they play with and see a good range of positive images within the toys and resources. These include dual language books, festival information, dolls and play figures that portray people from different cultures and of differing abilities. The childminder has a suitable understanding of issues affecting children’s learning which she discusses with parents. The behaviour of children is good. The childminder manages behaviour well using appropriate methods such as, involving children with another activity. Parents are informed of how the childminder manages behaviour. Children are learning the difference between right and wrong.

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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

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children are cared for by the childminder who is suitable to do so. The childminder is committed to attending training courses to keep herself up to date with changes in the child care field. Courses attended include Diversity Planning, Boys in the Foundation Stage and Child Protection. The childminder has a suitable first aid qualification.

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Organisation

The childminder has informed Ofsted of changes to her household. A record of children’s attendance is kept up to date. The childminder's organisation of nursery education ensures that children are making progress. The assessment and recording of children's progress is satisfactory, identifying what children know and their next steps of learning.

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Organisation

The childminder has a good understanding of records that are required to be kept and of maintaining confidentiality. Children make good use of the space available to them and they are happy and settled in the care of the childminder. Overall, the provision meets the needs of the range of children for whom it provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder was asked to give parents access to the complaints procedure and to seek parental signatures to seek emergency medical treatment for children. Parents now have access to the complaints procedure and the childminder has obtained parental signatures to seek emergency medical treatment for children.

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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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the nursery education are satisfactory.

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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):

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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 • develop ways to encourage children's personal hygiene practices • develop ways to encourage children to participate in healthy eating • ensure that the emergency evacuation procedures can be carried out effectively • ensure that the premises are welcoming to children and parents.

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The quality and standards of the nursery education

To improve the quality and standards of nursery education further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • further develop opportunities for children to talk about significant events • provide opportunities for children to develop their physical skills to move in a range of different ways.

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The quality and standards of the nursery education

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 nursery education

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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