Childminder in Leeds

Inspection report for early years provision

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320045 Unique Reference Number 28 January 2008 Inspection date Jane Elizabeth O'Callaghan 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 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 was registered in 1992. She lives with her husband and one grown up child in Cookridge on the outskirts of Leeds. The whole of the ground floor and upstairs bathroom of the childminder's house are used for childminding and there is an enclosed garden for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children at any one time and is currently minding five children all on a part time basis. The childminder takes children to and collects them from the local school. The childminder attends the local toddler group and is a member of the local childminding group.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. The children are provided with an excellent range of activities both in the home and outside that promote their well-being. There are daily activities that support and develop the children's

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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 physical needs. For example, the children have access to music and movement and regular walks and visits of interest in the local area.

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Helping children to be healthy

The children are made aware of positive hygiene practices through the effective and detailed hygiene routines and facilities provided. The children have access to disposable paper towels and, although the children cared for are quite young, they are encouraged to wipe their own hands. The childminder explains to the children that they need nice clean hands to eat their dinners and this will make sure that they do not get poorly stomachs. Through this children's knowledge and understanding of looking after their bodies and being healthy are developed. The childminder has a very robust verbal nappy procedure, which is discussed with prospective parents. There is ongoing monitoring of equipment and toys to ensure they are kept clean, especially with the younger children. There are clear details for the care and exclusion of sick children to prevent cross-infection.

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Helping children to be healthy

All children have regular drinks, are aware of the importance of drinking, and have access to drinks and fresh fruit throughout the day. The childminder offers an excellent variety of regular healthy and nutritious meals and snacks for some children. Parents of some children provide their own meals, which are stored and prepared correctly to prevent any illnesses. Meals and snacks that are provided by the childminder are home cooked and all include fresh vegetables and fruit. The childminder offers a very good variety of meals and meets the children's needs and requirements. For example, children are given cheese, fish, yogurts and mince. She always discusses these with parents, including any allergies children may have, and she records them. This ensures individual children's likes, dislikes, dietary needs and parents' requests are met.

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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 an environment which offers well-planned areas, with very good facilities to actively meet the children's needs in a positive manner. The childminder has a very good understanding of safety both in the home and when on outings. For example, the childminder has a fixed fireguard, fire extinguishers, smoke alarms are tested and she has an evacuation plan which is regularly practised and recorded. She takes all positive steps with the children to promote safety and prevent accidents in their play, through safe access to the resources. The children have an excellent awareness of the safety limits, which ensures they have freedom to take risks whilst learning effectively of dangers and ways to protect themselves. For example, the children always wait for the childminder before going upstairs. The childminder also educates the children in road safety as they get older. She ensures that she has written

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

permission from parents for using all forms of transport. The childminder also carries with her photographs and addresses for all children in her care in case of an emergency, for example, should she have an accident whilst out with minded children. This ensures children are cared for in an exceptionally safe environment.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The children are encouraged to develop their independence through accessing the toys and activities and exploring their surroundings. Risks are carefully assessed to reduce potential hazards and the childminder has written risk assessment sheets. The quality and range of toys and equipment are extremely good and appropriate to the ages and levels of children's development.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are extremely well protected by the childminder who has a good understanding of child protection. She has attended all relevant training and has written policies. There are detailed procedures in place to ensure children's welfare is paramount at all times.

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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 are extremely happy and relaxed and they thoroughly enjoy their time with the childminder and her family. The children relate well to each other and they are able to extend their social, physical and learning skills through regular visits to groups in the community and further afield, for example, they visit local parks, farms and childminding groups. These provide the children with an excellent range of experiences and challenges in interesting settings.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children are eager to participate. The childminder is sensitive to their individual needs and offers a flexible child-led approach to the activities and resources they want to access. She skilfully adapts what she offers to ensure all the children take part. This enables the younger children to be involved with a variety of creative resources, for example, paints and play dough, and experience tactile and sensory materials. The children play well together, with interaction from the childminder when appropriate, for example, the childminder sits with the children and goes through the book that relates to the tape that is playing. The children also have an excellent range of books suitable for their age and stage of development, for example, some hardback books, some pictures and also stories, which the children handle confidently. This fosters the children's listening skills and helps them recognise things that are familiar to them.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder has individual children's profiles referring to 'Birth to three matters' information and these show photographs of children participating in enjoyable activities, for example, visiting the farm, feeding the animals, sticking and painting. The children enjoy making pretend meals whilst on visits and cut out healthy food and stick them onto paper plates. The children are very keen to show each other what foods they have made and give each other lots of praise. This develops children's social skills as well as their creative development.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

There are positive, caring relationships established, which promotes children's confidence and communication skills. The children develop a strong sense of self, which is evident within the ages of the children present.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The childminder offers the children a range of meaningful resources and activities which promote a positive insight into the wider world and an awareness of differences. For example, the children celebrate a selection of festivals and access a range of resources available which depict all areas of equal opportunities. The children have regular access to the community, which supports children's knowledge and understanding of the local area. The childminder takes account of all the children's individual needs and these are shared through detailed registration forms. These are completed with parents to ensure both their needs and the children's needs are continually met.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Behaviour is managed in a caring and sensitive way which ensures the children have a good awareness of the boundaries in place, as the childminder is consistent in her approach. The children learn to negotiate and take responsibility for their behaviour. Children share, take turns and care for each other by being encouraged to make choices in their play. This develops their independence and ability to have a kind and caring nature.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder does not care for any children with learning difficulties or disabilities. However, she explained that if she was able to meet the needs of all children and parents she would

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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 willingly care for children with any disabilities and difficulties. She has very little information and no policies relating to this type of care and this is a particular area that requires enhancing

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Helping children make a positive contribution

There are good relationships with parents which contribute to the children's well-being. Parents' views are valued and they are encouraged to visit the childminder before their child starts, so that they can make an informed choice in the care offered. Profiles are complied of the children and these are given to parents regularly as well as verbal feedback. This ensures that a good relationship between parents and childminder is achieved and children are in a happy and caring environment. There are policies and procedures in place which extend the information on the support and care provided. Contracts of agreements are used effectively and reviewed regularly. The childminder also has an area in the kitchen where she displays documentation for parents, for example, her registration certificate.

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. The childminder is well organised and efficient in all aspects of her provision. The children are welcomed into a safe and well-resourced environment that benefits their well-being. This enables the children to be confident and happy, to initiate their play and learning, and to develop accordingly.

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Organisation

There are policies and procedures in place that support the quality of the childminding offered. All documents and records are kept and completed correctly, are stored securely and confidentiality is always maintained.

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Organisation

The childminder has attended training to enhance her skills and knowledge in areas of childcare, for example, Early Years Foundation Stage, level 3 in childcare and the 'Birth to three matters' framework. She is keen to attend more training through her local childminding group. She has received a lot of advice and support from other childminders, which she has accepted. She maintains a professional approach to her role as a childminder.

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Organisation

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 childminder's last inspection she was asked to increase equal opportunities resources in all areas. The childminder now has a vast amount of resources covering all ages, for example, jigsaws depicting people with learning difficulties and disabilities, dolls and jigsaws depicting people from other cultural backgrounds, and the children get opportunities to celebrate different cultural festivals. This ensures children gain knowledge and understanding in all areas of equal opportunity.

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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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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 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 policy which relates to caring for children with learning difficulties and disabilities.

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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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