Childminder in Leeds

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY333799 Inspection date 12/10/2009 Inspector Jane Elizabeth O'Callaghan

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Type of setting Childminder to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It rates council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 08456 404040, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may copy all or parts of this document for non-commercial educational purposes, as long as you give details of the source and date of publication and do not alter the information in any way.

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Royal Exchange Buildings St Ann's Square Manchester M2 7LA

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T: 08456 404040 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk 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.

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Introduction

Please see our website for more information about each childcare provider. We publish inspection reports, conditions of registration and details of complaints we receive where we or the provider take action to meet the requirements of registration. 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 2006. She lives with her husband and two children aged seven and five years on the outskirts of Leeds. The whole of the ground floor of the childminders house is 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 parts of the Childcare Register. She is registered to care for a maximum of four children under eight years at any one time and is currently providing care for six children in the early years age group and one child over five years.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder collects and takes children to local schools and visits parks and places of interest.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association and holds a level 3 qualification in childcare.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is outstanding.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

All aspects of the provision for children's welfare, learning and development are highly effective, which ensures children's individual needs are met exceptionally well. The childminder's strong commitment to ongoing self-evaluation and training and her pro-active approach to implementing changes ensure she is constantly improving the outcomes for children. Children thrive in the stimulating and nurturing environment provided by the childminder and make significant progress in their learning and development. The strong partnerships with parents and other agencies ensure that the needs of all children are met and that children progress very well.

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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 identify and record children's next steps in learning.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a very secure understanding of the safeguarding procedures and her responsibility to protect children from harm. She is pro-active in accessing training to further her knowledge and holds useful reference material on file in case concerns arise. The childminder completes thorough risk assessments and This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 daily safety checks to keep children safe as they grow and develop, and she has a very informative file for children to access which helps protect them from danger. For example, laminated cards of how to cross the road in stages. Robust safeguarding policies and procedures are shared with parents to ensure children's welfare. Children's well-being is significantly enhanced by exceptional organisation and planning for continuous improvement. The childminder carries out extensive monitoring and evaluation of her practice, which take account of the views of

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the early years provision

parents and children, to ensure priorities for development are accurately targeted to improve outcomes for all children.

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the early years provision

The childminder provides easy access to essential information and very clear and precise policies to keep parents fully informed about the day. All documentation is clear, well organised and easy to follow. The childminder ensures that parents can access their children's daily diaries along with extremely informative profiles and are able to contribute to these when ever they wish. Parents praise the childminder via letters and verbally for the excellent care their children receive. The childminder has built up extensive links with outside agencies that children also attend. She considers what children do elsewhere when planning for their development, avoiding repetition and extending topics when children wish to do so. Plans for further links exist, in order for the childminder to make sure children cover all aspects of the curriculum equally; however, not all children's next steps are clearly recorded. The childminder has fully identified all recommendations from

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the early years provision

previous inspection. For example, children have their own separate towels in the toilet and these are clearly identified to them; younger children have a picture on the peg where they are situated for them to recognise and more-able children have their towel peg with their own name on. Towels are changed daily and also children have access to wipes which they use independently, prior to and after snacks, which ensures that children are at less risk of cross-infection.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a strong commitment to equality and diversity. She makes sure all children are able to access resources and activities. For example, all resources are clearly labelled and pictured and are all at children's height. The childminder has a very good selection of toys to reflect all areas of equal opportunities that children play with throughout the day. For example, books, small world toys, jigsaws and role play resources. She has a well written policy, accessible to parents, which explains how all children are treated equally whilst in her care regardless of age, gender and background. This ensures that children are cared for in a fully inclusive environment.

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and outcomes for children

Children relate very well to the childminder and are highly involved in their activities, having fun, enjoying challenge and making choices. They make exceptionally good progress in their learning given their starting points because the childminder knows individual children well and uses the Early Years Foundation Stage effectively. She makes high quality documented observations in children’s journals and supports this with photographs. For example, the childminder has photographs of the children playing with cornflour and water, pretending to hold This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 the Olympics, planting seeds and baking. Children of all ages and stages of development independently access the vast range of age-appropriate toys. More- able children choose to crayon; they hold them confidently and are proud to show how they write their name and that it has the letter 'L' in it. They join in with the

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and outcomes for children

childminder when singing action rhymes. Younger children access a wide selection of electronic baby toys, play with the toy kitchen and, with assistance from the childminder, operate the 'doll in the box' and chuckle as the doll jumps out.

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and outcomes for children

Children get lots of opportunities to learn about the local community and the wider world. They are taken regularly to the local library where they are encouraged to choose books to put in their own story sacks. Children go on daily walks to the local park, farms and places of interest. The childminder celebrates a wide variety of festivals and encourages children to choose different countries to learn about and then cook foods themselves from the country. For example, children choose Mexico and cook fajitas, India and cook chapattis and Italy and cook a pasta meal. Children also develop their social skills through going to local toddler groups, where they mix with other children and adults.

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and outcomes for children

Children feel safe as they learn how to protect themselves as the childminder is highly skilled and responsive to their needs. She ensures that children learn about all aspects of safety through an excellent and varied amount of laminated pictures. For example, laminated cards of safety in the car, which show pictures of different car seats and how to wear them and safety at the park teaching children safety and how to behave. The childminder also encourages children to wear identity bracelets on outings in case they get lost. The childminder is extremely safety conscious both in the home and out of the home. For example, in the home, regular fire drills are practised and recorded with all children and evacuation plans are displayed which are pictured so children understand the procedure. The childminder also has a specific risk assessment picture book of how to prevent risks in and out of the home for children to look at, to enable them to avoid

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and outcomes for children

accidents and to be made aware of the dangers around them.

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and outcomes for children

Children find out about healthy lifestyles as they are offered an excellent menu of nutritious home-cooked food and learn through topics about healthy foods and pictures of foods that are good for you. Children are also encouraged to help prepare meals; for example, children are excited to explain all about the carrots and swede that they put in the soup for dinner and how nice it is. The childminder has a successful and trusting relationship with parents and works well with them to encourage children to benefit from a healthy diet both in the home as well as at the childminder's home. Children enjoy copious amounts of fresh air and exercise, which helps them to keep very fit and develop physical skills using balls, ride-on toys, a slide and a climbing frame. They go on walks within the local community and to places of interest.

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and outcomes for children

The children listen well to what the childminder says and they respond appropriately. Some children protest at some of their peers wanting to break up their completed jigsaws and are encouraged to share, take turns and be kind to each other. At mealtimes, children are encouraged to wash their hands with their individual towels and sit to the table, where for all children it becomes a very This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 sociable time. The childminder is an excellent role model, ensuring that all children learn from her example. 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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children in the Early Years Foundation Stage?

The capacity of the provision to maintain continuous improvement

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and managed?

The effectiveness of leadership and management in embedding ambition and driving improvement The effectiveness with which the setting deploys resources 1 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 1 The effectiveness of the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement The effectiveness of partnerships 1 The effectiveness of the setting’s engagement with parents and carers

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Stage

The quality of the provision in the Early Years Foundation Stage 1

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 1 The extent to which children feel safe 1 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 1 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 1 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 1

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Stage

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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