Childminder in Leeds

Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated. Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 320049 Inspection date 02/07/2009 Inspector Jane Elizabeth O'Callaghan

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Type of setting Childminder This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Introduction

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under Sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of the registered early years provision. ‘Early years provision’ refers to provision regulated by Ofsted for children from birth to 31 August following their fifth birthday (the early years age group). The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children’s learning, development and welfare, known as the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Introduction

The provider must provide a copy of this report to all parents with children at the setting where reasonably practicable. The provider must provide a copy of the report to any other person who asks for one, but may charge a fee for this service (The Childcare (Inspection) Regulations 2008 regulations 9 and 10).

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Introduction

The setting also makes provision for children older than the early years age group which is registered on the voluntary and/or compulsory part(s) of the Childcare Register. This report does not include an evaluation of that provision, but a comment about compliance with the requirements of the Childcare Register is included in Annex B. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Description of the childminding

The childminder was registered in 1996. She lives with her husband, who is a registered assistant, adult daughter who is a registered assistant and adult son on the outskirts of Leeds. The whole of the ground floor of the childminder's house are used for childminding and there is an enclosed garden for outdoor play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and both the compulsory and voluntary part of the Childcare Register. She is registered to care for a maximum of six children under eight years at any one time and is currently providing care for seven children in the early years age group and three in the compulsory childcare group.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder collects and takes children to local schools, visits parks and local places of interest. She has three cats as family pets.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association, is becoming an accredited childminder and holds a Level 3 qualification in childcare.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is outstanding. The childminder provides a wonderfully caring, homely environment where children are very well cared for and make excellent progress across all areas of learning. Excellent knowledge of each child's individual needs, gained from highly effective partnership working, ensures that the childminder promotes all aspects of children's welfare and learning with immense success overall and recognises and values their uniqueness. Robust and in-depth systems to monitor children's learning include starting points, next steps and individual planning for children are very well established and help to ensure they make progress. The childminder has thorough systems in place for evaluating her practice and provision and continually making improvements which have a highly positive impact on the outcomes for children.

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further?

To further improve the high quality early years provision the registered person should consider:

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further?

 continue to attend training to ensure the high standard of care offered to children and parents are ongoing.

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provision

All documentation required for the safe and efficient management of the service provided is maintained and organised extremely well to ensure children's individual needs are met effectively and confidentiality maintained. She is extremely clear This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 about her role and responsibilities, including working with agencies to safeguard children. The childminder ensures she has up-to-date knowledge of the possible signs of abuse and also the correct procedures to follow should she have any concerns. All outings are fully risk assessed by a competent childminder, who fully understands the importance of keeping children safe from harm. The childminder carries out extensive daily safety checks of her home, which ensures children are cared for in a safe environment. She completes and records robust risk assessments which ensures she is fully aware of any risks to children and takes

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provision

immediate action if any risks are identified. The children are not able to access the kitchen unless they are being supervised by the childminder.

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provision

The childminder undertakes thorough self-evaluation using the Ofsted documentation. She finds this a very positive process which helps to target areas for future improvement and development. The childminder ensures she keeps up- to-date through a vast variety of training courses. She has a level 3 in childcare and is currently working towards becoming an accredited childminder through the National Childminding Association. She meets fellow childminders regularly and shares good practice.

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provision

The childminder organises her time effectively to spend with the children. The routines are flexible to ensure children's interest and ideas are incorporated. The involvement of parents is given high priority and the partnership is strong. Parents receive copies of all policies and procedures and built excellent relationships with other agencies and provisions that the children attend. She gives highly meticulous information and has written agreements with these provisions to gain access to the children's progress and this is also returned by the childminder. This ensures that children's progress is monitored two-fold. Parents are encouraged to complete questionnaires; where there comments are full of high praise for the care and education that their children receive.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder ensures that the child's day is full of exciting and enjoyable activities and environment. She does in-depth and very informative planning, that covers every age and stage of a child's development and this is displayed for parents. She completes highly comprehensive profiles and daily diaries of the children's day and activities are linked with the Early Years Foundation Stage and identify children's next steps. Parents willingly contribute to the children's profiles, along with other agencies involved in caring for the children. As a result, children are provided with wide and exciting experiences which enrich their overall development and are making exceptional progress.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The children enjoy a considerable range of adult led and child initiated activities. Younger children are very keen to join in with the older children, as they play with dolls, and the childminder offers the younger child a suitable soft toy. Older children help themselves to large building blocks and make towers, counting confidently when a tower is knocked down, the childminder intervened to encourage children to say sorry. Children are very well behaved and are encouraged to apologise, remember their manners and explain to each other why This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 it is nice to share, be kind to each other and to take turns.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children choose from an excellent selection of toys and activities that children freely and confidently choose from. They cover all areas and children select what they wish to play with and expand on their imagination in various role play activities. For example, children played with a variety of musical instruments, made noises of a horse and then continued to use an artificial grass mat to put the horse on. Younger children access a press button toy telephone and the childminder shows the children how to press the buttons and they get excited when it rings and they pretend to talk to mummy. The childminder ensures that children decide what they want to play with and works around this with planning and adapts accordingly. Children receive daily outdoor play, they access an extensive range of outdoor toys which develops both physical and imaginary skills. For example, children pretend to wash dolls clothes and peg them on the line, ride bicycles and

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

play with various ball games. The children talk confidently to the childminder about experiences of summer holidays as they play in the sand. Children talk about holidays to China on long aeroplane journeys, which the childminder expands on as children improvise with sticks saying 'these are my chopsticks' and they all talk about Chinese foods and how they have eaten noodles. The childminder ensures that children are all included in activities and adapts the in depth planning to meet all their needs and abilities.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder is extremely safety conscious within the setting and ensures that children are also made aware of how to keep safe. She asks them to tidy up prior to snack time, so they do not fall over toys. All children are made aware of evacuation procedures through very regular fire drills practised at different times. Children explained that when they walk to school, they wear wrist straps and when they cross the road they don’t talk as they cannot hear the cars. With lots of safety posters around the home, this enables children to learn about safety and to be aware of various situations. For example, posters about the Green Cross Code.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder has excellent procedures in place to make children aware of staying healthy. For example, older children are given the choice of soap or anti bacterial gel to wash their hands and they then help the younger children to use baby wipes, explaining to them that you have to wash hands to get rid of all germs. Posters in the children's toilet enhance this along with themes about staying healthy that are in the planning. Children also receive healthy meals and snacks, along with access through the day to drinks of water. The childminder gives children opportunities to help prepare snacks and meals and links these with themes. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Annex A: record of inspection judgements

The key inspection judgements and what they mean

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Annex A: record of inspection judgements

Grade 1 is Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Grade 2 is Good: this aspect of the provision is strong Grade 3 is Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is sound Grade 4 is Inadequate: this aspect of the provision is not good enough

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of children in the Early Years Foundation Stage?

How well does the provision promote inclusive practice? 1 The capacity of the provision to maintain continuous improvement.

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Foundation Stage led and managed?

How effective is the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement? How well does the setting work in partnership with parents and others? How well are children safeguarded? 1

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Years Foundation Stage promoted?

How well are children helped to stay safe? 1 How well are children helped to be healthy? 1 How well are children helped to enjoy and achieve? 1 How well are children helped to make a positive contribution? How well are children helped develop skills that will contribute to their future economic well-being?

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Years Foundation Stage promoted?

procedures set out in the guidance available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register are: Met

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are: Met

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