Childminder in Leeds

Inspection report for early years provision

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320836 Unique Reference Number 04 February 2008 Inspection date Dawn Bonica Brown 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 2000. She lives with her husband and two children aged 12 and nine years in the Yeadon area of Leeds. The whole of the ground floor of the childminder's house is 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 three children under five years on a part time basis. The childminder attends the local childminder drop-in group and parent and toddler group. The family has a rabbit and a guinea pig.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is a member of an approved childminding network.

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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 have a suitable awareness of healthy practices. For example, hand washing hygiene is maintained through children using separate towels for hand drying, and there are appropriate resources to support their independence.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children remain healthy because the childminder consistently follows suitable hygiene practice to prevent the spread of infection, such as using antibacterial hand wash and medicated soap. Their health is maintained in most areas through the adequate maintenance of the required records. However, the childminder does not obtain prior written permission to seek medical attention and to administer medication.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's health is protected through verbal agreements about children who are sick. For example, children who are contagious do not attend. This helps to prevent the spread of contagious ailments and acts in the best interest of children to protect all those being cared for. Their welfare and well-being are further protected because the childminder holds a current first aid certificate. This means that she is able to administer first aid promptly in the event of an accident.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are adequately nourished and receive suitable access to drinks. Children drink only water. Some parents provide their own lunch for children and all children are offered snacks which include raisins or fresh fruit. Those children receiving lunch are offered an adequately balanced diet. There are currently no children with allergies being cared for, however, the childminder is aware of how to manage allergies.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children take part in regular physical activity outside through walking to school on a regular basis. They also visit parks, parent and toddler groups, children's indoor play centres and, in good weather, they play in the garden on wheeled toys.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children enjoy a range of stimulating activities in a safe environment. The premises are well maintained and space is used well to encourage children's independence and to promote their all round development.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children use good quality equipment which meets the developmental needs of young children and access a wide range of books to suit various ages. Risks to children are minimised through good risk assessments in the home and on outings. Children gain an awareness of how to keep themselves safe through learning about the hazards of traffic on their regular walks and use of public transport, such as the train.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are well protected from abuse through the childminder's very good understanding of child protection. She uses the Local Safeguarding Children Board's guidelines and has attended an in-depth course since the last inspection.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder is knowledgeable about the potential signs and symptoms that would cause concern and understands the reporting procedures. Children are protected further because the childminder retains the child protection contact details and is aware that she must record injuries

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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 that children arrive with from home. This means that she can act quickly in the child's best interest to safeguard their welfare.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are happy and settled in the childminder's care and have good relationships with her. They are supported to settle in by visiting her home as many times as parents want to before the children start, and are left with the childminder for increasing periods of time. Their needs are met because the childminder finds out about their individual preferences and talks about children's routines and comfort habits with parents.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are involved in a wide range of planned activities and spontaneous events, which include outings to feed the ducks, visits to the library to listen to story time and meetings with other childminders to help children learn to socialise and to share toys. At the childminder's home, children listen to stories, enjoy painting, gluing and sticking, and listen to music tapes, such as nursery rhymes and dancing.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are confident and make decisions as they know where the toys are and select them easily. They respond to adults' interest and interact well with the childminder, who encourages them to develop their vocabulary and language skills through a range of activities including the use of hand puppets. Children under three enjoy interactive games that help them to relate to others, such as peek-a-boo.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children benefit from the childminder's approach to extend their learning during activities. For example, they learn about the weather using a weather chart, and young children play with mobile phones, pressing numbers and pretending to make phone calls. They enjoy putting shapes into shape sorters and get plenty of attention from the childminder. She encourages children to try different approaches to solve a problem and gives them praise and encouragement to achieve.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Parents are happy with the provision. The childminder talks to them about her provision and finds out about any concerns they may have, as well as finding out if there are any improvements they would like to see in her practice. She uses the appropriate paperwork to maintain a professional relationship and to help parents understand how her provision works.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are treated with respect so that they learn to be polite and are well behaved. The childminder informs parents of her behaviour management policy and explains the strategies she uses, such as distraction techniques. The childminder understands the reasons why children misbehave and how to prevent inappropriate attention seeking. She explains the rules to children so that they understand the impact their behaviour may have on others and helps children learn to take turns using games. Children's good behaviour is promoted by using praise.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are confident and happy and feel a sense of belonging as the childminder knows them well and values their individuality; promoting their interests and valuing their achievements by displaying their artwork. There are no children with disabilities or learning difficulties currently being cared for, however, all children are included in the activities provided.

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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 Children learn to value the differences in society through resources that reflect positive images of cultural diversity, disability and gender. However, there are insufficient resources reflecting positive images of disability.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children are suitably protected and benefit from supervision which helps them to feel secure and confident. Their welfare is promoted because the documentation required for the efficient and safe management of the provision is suitably maintained in almost all areas.

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Organisation

Children are appropriately cared for through the childminder's knowledge of child development and her commitment to keep herself abreast of new developments in childcare. Suitable organisation of the day follows children's individual routines to ensure they have sufficient rest and play throughout the day.

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Organisation

The childminder puts the needs of children first, and space and resources are organised in a manner which provides a warm, welcoming, child-orientated environment. Overall, the provision meets the needs of the range of the children for whom it provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder was required to establish a written agreement with parents about how she cares for children, to ensure that an emergency evacuation procedure is in place and to provide smoke detectors on each level of the home. The childminder was also required to obtain prior written consent forms to administer medication and to attend child protection training.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Children's welfare has improved because the childminder provides appropriate information for parents about the care of their children. Their safety has improved through regular fire evacuation practises and there is a smoke detector on each level of the childminder's home. Their well-being has improved because the childminder has undertaken significant child protection training. However, the requirement to obtain prior written consent to administer medication has not been addressed.

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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

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

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 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): • obtain prior written parental permission to administer medication and to seek emergency medical attention • continue to develop resources reflecting positive images of 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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