Childminder in Leeds

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 319527 Inspection date 10/02/2010 Inspector Kaldip Kaur Chaggar-Brown

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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 0300 123 1231, 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: 0300 123 1231 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 has been registered since 1981 and is registered on the Early Years Register and on both parts of the Childcare Register. The provision is open all year round except for the childminders holidays. The childminder lives in a semi-detached house, the whole of the ground floor and one bedroom is used for childminding and there is a garden for outdoor play. The childminder lives with her husband and two adult children.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for maximum of six children under eight years; of whom three may be in the early years range. Currently she is minding three children in the early years range. She sometimes minds with an assistant. 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 good.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The children's needs are well met through the childminder's knowledge of the children in her care. They make good progress in their learning and development and their welfare is promoted through her effective partnership with parents. The childminder provides an interesting range of activities including regular outings. The childminder has the capacity to make continuous improvement in her provision as she undertakes self-evaluation and seeks to improve what she provides. Documentation is in place and used well, as a result the children are safeguarded.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop further, observations and assessments to link to areas of learning and development  further develop the learning environment to encourage children's understanding of mark-making and pre-writing skills.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a good range of policies and procedures that are shared with parents and ensure that the children's needs are met. These include the safeguarding procedure which the childminder is very familiar with, as a result children are safeguarded. The childminder strives for continued improvement in her provision, for example she has redeveloped her policies and procedures in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage. She seeks the views of parents about the service she offers as well as keeping up-to-date with developments in the childcare field by reading childcare publications. The childminder has implemented the recommendations from her last inspection. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 The childminder ensures that children are well cared for by an adult who is suitable to do so, for example her assistant has been vetted. Risks to children are identified

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the early years provision

and minimised to keep children safe. Toys and play equipment are well used by the children to support their learning and development, although mark-making equipment is not fully accessible in all areas. The childminder also uses her assistant to enable more one-to-one time to be spent with the children.

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the early years provision

The childminder records information from observations about the children's learning, however observations and assessments are not fully clear in identifying all areas of learning and development. Parents have the opportunity to share what children do at home and although they do not take the children's profile records home, they are able to view them at the childminders home. The childminder has appropriate systems in place to promote the children's good health, such as, exclusion periods for infectious illnesses. Risks are identified and minimised effectively by the childminder.

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the early years provision

The children are offered an inclusive service, for example, the childminder cares for children from different backgrounds, she consults with parents to gather information relevant to each child's individual needs. Parents are encouraged to share what they know about their child on a regular basis, such as, they feel their child is ready to start potty training. The children are protected because the childminder seeks the required written permissions from parents, such as, to administer medicines. The childminder is also building relationships with other professionals of the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder knows the children well, she understands their individual needs, such as, why they may not want a mid-day sleep. As a result children make good choices about their care and are supported by the childminder and her assistant in this. The children interact well with the childminder who supports their learning and development through asking questions that make children think. The children's interests are followed as they choose their own toys. Free movement between the different areas within the environment allows children to experience play on their own, with others, or alongside others. The children are welcomed into the setting and seek out reassurance and support form the childminder.

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and outcomes for children

Resources are used well, posters and charts support the children's learning through discussion. The children have some opportunity to develop their pre- writing skills through activities such as drawing and painting, although it is not fully accessible in all areas of play. The children are beginning to learn about pre- reading skills as when the initial letter in their name is pointed out, they are encouraged to look for it in displayed writing. Children chat about what they are doing and share their knowledge of counting and numbers. They are beginning to develop skills for the future such as learning to use a mouse on a computer.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder offers flexible planning of activities to allow for children's interests This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 to be followed. This is also linked to children's next steps in learning for example, she identified that children need more opportunity to settle into new places of interest. She arranged this by providing time for children to settle into new places and by being there to closely support them. The childminder also grasps opportunities for children to take part in new experiences such as, she came across an indoor beach at a shopping centre and to allow children to continue with the fun, they bought sandwiches and enjoyed a picnic. The children enjoy eating healthy snacks and meals together as younger children sit in a high chair close to the others. They are developing their knowledge of what is healthy through shopping for food items.

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and outcomes for children

The children develop their physical skills by running in the park as well as negotiating sitting in a storage box. They attempt to fasten disposables nappies onto a doll and learn to use a screw driver after watching workmen in the street. The childminder links into children's experiences else where. She asks questions about what they did at pre-school and follows through with similar activities such as developing scissor control. The children are learning about their local environment through visits to places of interest such as the fire station and the local children's centre. During recent snow fall, the childminder talks about what happens to the snow when children are upset because the snowman has melted.

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and outcomes for children

The children are developing their independence and self care skills such as using the bathroom themselves and putting on their own coats. They are learning about keeping themselves safe and know what to do when out and about such as, stopping at a junction before crossing the road and knowing where to line up when the smoke alarm goes off. They are learning about the needs of others, for example, they share equipment and pass round plates of food at mealtimes. The childminder talks about being kind and considerate to others, and to think about their actions. The children receive praise and recognition of what they can do. 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 2 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 2 The effectiveness of the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement The effectiveness of partnerships 2 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 2

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Stage

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

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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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