Childminder in Leeds

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number EY233099 Inspection date 23 February 2006 Inspector Jane Elizabeth O'Callaghan

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Type of inspection Childcare Type of care Childminding

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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 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 good. 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 has been registered since February 2003. She lives with her husband and two children aged seven and one years. They live in a semi-detached house in the Yeadon area of Leeds. Shops are within walking distance. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. She is currently has four children on roll, all on a part time basis. She drops off and collects from local schools, visits nearby places of interest and regular trips to the

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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 library. The childminder is a member of the National and local Childminding Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. The children are provided with an excellent range of activities both in the home and outside that promotes their well-being. There are daily activities that support and develop the children's physical needs. For example, the children have access to music and movement and regular walks and visits of interest in the local area. The children are made aware of positive hygiene practices through the effective hygiene routines and facilities provided. They have access to disposable wipes towels and the childminder has a verbal procedure for changing nappies, which are discussed with prospective parents. There is ongoing monitoring of equipment and toys to ensure they are kept clean, especially with the younger children. There are clear details in the care and exclusion of sick and ill children to prevent cross infection. All children have regular drinks and are aware of the importance of drinking, and

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Helping children to be healthy

have access to drinks and fresh fruit throughout the day. The childminder offers a variety of regular healthy and nutritious meals and snacks for the children. This ensures individual children's likes, dislikes, dietary needs and parents requests are met.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The children are cared for in an environment which offers a well planned area, with good facilities to actively meet the children's needs in a positive manner. The childminder has a very good understanding of safety both in the home and outside. For example, the childminder has safety gates, regularly practises fire evacuation plans and tests smoke alarms. She takes all positive steps with the children to promote safety and prevent accidents in their play, through safe access to the resources. The children have a good awareness of the safety limits, which ensure they have freedom to take risks whilst learning effectively of dangers and ways to protect themselves. For example, the children have taken part in topics about road safety and importance of practising fire drills. The children are encouraged to develop their independence through accessing the toys, activities and exploring their surroundings. Risks are carefully assessed to

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

reduce potential hazards and the childminder has a written risk assessments, which are evaluated regularly. The quality and range of toys and equipment is extremely good and appropriate to the ages and levels of children's development.

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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 Children are extremely well protected by the childminder who has a good understanding of child protection. She has attended all relevant training and has written policies. There are detailed procedures in place to ensure children's welfare is paramount at all times.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. The children are extremely happy and relaxed and they thoroughly enjoy their time with the childminder and her family. The children relate well to each other and they are able to extend their social, physical and learning skills through regular visits to groups in the community and further a field. For example, they visit local parks, childminding groups and local farms. These provide the children with an excellent range of experiences and challenges in interesting settings. The children are eager to participate. The childminder is sensitive to their individual needs and offers a flexible child-led approach to the activities and resources they want to access. She skilfully adapts what she offers to ensure all the children take part. This enables the younger children to be involved in a variety of creative resources, for example paints, play dough and experience tactile and sensory

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

materials. The children sit together, sharing the utensils for the dough and explaining to others what dough is like, which fosters their listening skills and helps them recognise things that are familiar to them. There are positive caring relationships established, which promotes children's confidence and communication skills. The children develop a strong sense of self, which is evident with all of the ages of the children present.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The childminder offers the children a range of meaningful resources and activities that promote a positive insight of the wider world, and an awareness of differences. For example, the children celebrate a selection of festivals and access a range of resources available, depicting all areas of equal opportunities. The children have regular access to the community which supports her approach. The childminder takes account of all the children's individual needs and this is shared with parents to ensure they are continually met. Behaviour is managed in a caring and sensitive way, which ensures the children have a good awareness of the boundaries in place as the childminder is consistent in her approach. The children learn to negotiate and take responsibility for their behaviour especially the older children. Children share and take turns and care for each other by ensuring the toys they play with are safe and suitable. The children are

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Helping children make a positive contribution

encouraged to make choices in their play and develop their independence. There are good relationships with parents which contribute to the children's

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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 well-being. Parents views are valued and they are encouraged to visit the childminder before the child starts, so that they can make an informed choice in the care offered. Daily diaries are offered to parents if they require, so as to share information regularly and effectively. There are policies and procedures in place which extend the information on the support and care provided. However, the complaint procedure needs to be made more concise and accessible for parents. Contracts of agreements are used effectively and reviewed regularly. The childminder also has a area in the kitchen where she displays documentation for parents, for example, registration certificate, training certificate and her insurance.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder is well organised and efficient in all aspects of her provision. The children are welcomed into a safe and well resourced environment that benefits their well-being. This enables the children to be confident and happy, to initiate their play and learning and to develop accordingly. There are policies and procedures in place that support the quality of the childminding offered, all documents and records are kept, stored securely and maintain confidentiality. The childminder has attended training to enhance her skills and knowledge in areas of childcare, for example, child protection, first aid and is keen to continue. She has received a lot of advice and support from other childminders, which she has accepted. She maintains a professional approach to her role as a childminder. Overall the provision meets the needs of the children who attend.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder was asked to develop toys and equipment which support the development of children under 2 years, to include gender. The childminder now has a very extensive selection of toys, that covers all ages and stage of children's development, for example, dolls, train tracks, dressing up, younger and older musical toys, books for all ages and much more. This ensures that children of all ages developmental needs are adhered to. She was also asked to ensure reasonable steps are taken to minimise hazards to children both inside and outside the premises. The childminder has a good standard of safety both indoors and outdoors. She has covered all drains outside, fenced off area, removed the water feature. Inside all safety precautions are taken, for example, safety gate, fireguard, practising and recording of fire drills and daily risk assessments, ensuring children's safety is of paramount importance.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder was also asked to ensure that all records policies and procedures required for the welfare of children are up to date and available for inspection. She now has all documentation required and has in depth policies and procedures

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Improvements 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 covering most areas, for example, safety, sick, uncollected, lost children, child protection, behaviour policies and procedures and completed registration forms for each individual child. The childminder was also asked to obtain toys and equipment which positively reflect gender, disability and culture. The childminder has a good selection of toys and resources depicting all areas of equal opportunities in a positive manner, for example, books, jigsaws, topics and celebrating of different festivals. The childminder was asked to provide regular opportunities for children to have assess to drinking water. The childminder now has a jug of water that can be accessed by the children throughout the day and she explained that the older children fill the jug up. She also explained that children are given drinks of juice, milk

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Improvements since the last inspection

or water with their meals. She also takes drinks with her on outings and trips. This ensures that children's needs are met.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted 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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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 good. 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): • develop a complaint procedure that parents can access.

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The quality and standards of the care

procedures set out in the leaflet Building better childcare: Compliments and concerns about inspectors' judgements 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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