Childminder in Leeds

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 319941 Inspection date 02/12/2009 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 1994. She lives with her husband and adult daughters, aged 19 and 18, and adult son, aged 15, on the outskirts of Leeds. The whole of the ground floor of the childminders house and upstairs bathroom 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 parts 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 four children in the early years age group and two in the compulsory childcare group and when working with an assistant, may care for no more than eight children under eight years; of these, not more than five may be in the early years age group, and of these, not more than one may be under one year at any one time.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder collects and takes children to local schools and visits parks. She has four dogs and a cat as family pets.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is satisfactory.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The childminder provides a caring home for all children, which ensures they are happy and secure in most areas. However, risk assessments are not recorded for any outings undertaken with children. Children make satisfactory progress in their learning and development through the provision of a good range of activities and resources. The childminder works with parents to ensure children are settled in her care. The childminder has a positive attitude to improvement and has identified areas for development, and is beginning to self-evaluate her provision to maintain continuous improvement.

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further?

To further improve the early years provision the registered person should:

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further?

 update the record of risk assessment to include any assessments of risks for outings and trips  develop children's profiles to ensure parents can contribute children's starting points and planning for next steps. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

The childminder has a sound awareness of safeguarding procedures and the symptoms of child abuse; this ensures that children are protected from harm. She verbally shares her responsibilities regarding the safeguarding of children's welfare with parents and has all relevant information to hand. All household members have been appropriately vetted to ensure they are suitable. Children are cared for within a safe environment as the childminder conducts risk assessments to identify and minimise hazards within her home and garden. However, risk assessments of outings undertaken are not currently included in the record.

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the early years provision

The childminder provides a welcoming and inclusive setting. She helps children to understand diversity and learn to celebrate people’s differences. The children have access to a variety of resources, jigsaws, role-play and books that display positive images. The childminder builds effective relationships with parents, which contributes to children's individual needs being met appropriately, and there are many positive measures that keep parents well-informed about her setting, their children's well-being and what they have been doing. Children enjoy a secure and accessible environment that encourages their independence as many resources are stored low so that children can select what they want to play with. The childminder is aware of the importance of building links with other settings to share the delivery of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework.

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the early years provision

The childminder is aware of her key strengths and the areas she needs to work on to ensure that all aspects of the EYFS are fully implemented. She has implemented strategies to enable her to work on her areas for development. Recommendations from the previous inspection have been satisfactorily addressed. For example, she practises and records fire drills with all children, displays a fire evacuation plan on the wall in the kitchen, and checks and records smoke alarms regularly.

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and outcomes for children

Children are happy and well-settled in the childminder's comfortable family home, where they enjoy an appropriate balance of child-initiated and adult-led activities which provide challenge and enjoyment. The childminder plans a range of well- organised activities which reflect children's interests and capabilities. As a result, children are eager and motivated to learn. The childminder makes systematic observations of children's interests. However, she does not seek information from parents on children's starting points and their next steps of learning. All children choose from a good selection of clearly-labelled activities and children confidently select toys to play with. Children develop their numerical skills. They enthusiastically thread shapes onto strings, and confidently count and identify the shapes. Children of all ages are keen to play with the pretend cooker, offering the adults pizza, cakes and cups of tea. More able children stress to the adults to 'blow

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and outcomes for children

the tea as it might be hot'. Children all play well together and interaction from the childminder and assistant is appropriate. The children sit together at the table, This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 playing with a post box and reading the letters before pretending to post them; they recognise the colours of the envelopes and receive lots of praise from the childminder. Younger children sit with the childminder and sing action songs, copying the childminder as they sing 'Wind the bobbin up'. The childminder ensures that children get regular opportunities to develop their physical skills, through access to an outdoor area to play on a swing, climbing frame and various sit-and-rides. Children also go on visits to other childminders' homes, where they get the chance to socialise with other children.

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and outcomes for children

Children's health is suitably promoted as the childminder provides healthy snacks for them, including fruit. Children always have easy access to drinks so they can respond to their own health needs appropriately. Children follow sound hygiene procedures, such as hand washing, and they use wipes or liquid soap and a clean towel daily to prevent cross-contamination. Children are learning how to keep themselves safe as they participate in emergency evacuation drills from the home, and understand what to do when crossing the road. Children feel safe in the childminder’s care; they demonstrate this by readily approaching her for help and support, and include her in their play. Children's behaviour is managed well due to the childminder and assistant's consistent approach in promoting positive behaviour. Children are polite, take turns and share, and are happy and content in the setting. 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 3 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 3 The effectiveness of the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement The effectiveness of partnerships 3 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 3

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 2 The extent to which children feel safe 3 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 3 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 3 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 3

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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: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The registered provider does not meet the requirements of the compulsory and or voluntary part/s of the Childcare Register.

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 implement a safeguarding children policy and share this with parents (Providing information to parents) (also applies to the voluntary part of the Childcare Register) 22/12/2009

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 take action as specified in the compulsory part of the Childcare Register section of the report (Providing information to parents) 22/12/2009

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