Childminder in Bradford

Inspection report for early years provision

p.1

Unique Reference Number 302492 Inspection date 03 April 2006 Inspector Rachel Ayo

p.1

Type of inspection Childcare Type of care Childminding

p.1

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

p.1

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.

p.2

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.

p.2

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

p.2

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.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder was registered in 1991 and lives with her husband and teenage son. The family lives in a through terraced property in the Bingley area of Bradford. The whole of the ground floor is used for childcare purposes and includes a lounge and kitchen diner. On the first floor the bathroom and spare bedroom are used for childcare purposes. There is a front garden for outside play. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of 6 children at any one time and is currently minding 4 children under 5 on a full and part time basis and 3 children who attend full time school. The childminder is currently caring for 3 children

p.2

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 over 8 years. Children attend a variety of sessions. The childminder walks to local schools and nursery to take and collect children. The childminder attends toddler groups regularly and is close to local amenities. The family has a dog. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association and is Quality Assured through the Bradford Childminding Network. The childminder holds the Diploma in Pre-school Practice.

p.2

Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children are protected from infection and are well taken care of if they have an accident or become ill because the childminder follows current and appropriate health and hygiene guidelines, policies and procedures. For example, gloves are used when changing nappies and the changing mat is cleaned before and after use to prevent cross infection. Children are involved in good routines to help them understand simple good health and hygiene practices. For example, children have individual towels hanging up in the bathroom, they wash their hands before meals and after toileting and are encouraged to use a tissue, rather than their sleeve, to wipe their nose. The childminder uses discussion to help children to learn about healthy living. Accident and medicine procedures are implemented well to promote children's well-being and records are maintained to a very good standard. Children are helped to be well nourished. The childminder offers a varied diet that

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

encourages children to eat fruit and vegetables as part of daily meals and snacks. A sample menu is provided for parents, which generally reflects healthy eating. The childminder's practice reflects her written food policy to promote the good health of children. Children learn about healthy eating, for example, as the childminder buys more unusual fruit and talks about what it looks, smells and tastes like and through bright posters of fruit and vegetables. The childminder also promotes this by reading stories, such as 'Eat your peas', which children are clearly familiar with as they enthusiastically join in and attempt to finish the sentences. Children have their dietary needs met effectively because the childminder works well with parents and accommodates any individual preferences, for example, through the provision of organic food. Children's all round good health and development is well supported as

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

they have free access to drinks throughout the day. Children take part in regular physical activity both indoors and outdoors. They access the local park and walk daily to and from nursery, toddler groups or school, benefiting from fresh air and exercise. Children access the childminder's garden where they develop confidence in their physical skills as they use a good range of equipment, such as the climbing frame or slide. Indoors, children are provided with opportunities to sing and dance to music and smaller outdoor equipment is brought inside in the event of bad weather. This ensures that children are still able to have opportunities to be active, which promotes their all round good health. Individual rest and sleep needs are respected and are consistent with home routines, which helps children to feel secure.

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children are cared for in a generally welcoming and suitably maintained environment. The kitchen diner and lounge are very child centred and inviting. Bright, educational posters including the weather, numbers, shapes and pets, adorn the walls along with photographs and children's artwork. Children's independence and ability to make decisions about their own play and learning is well supported as resources and activities are effectively set up to ensure that they are highly accessible. Children respond well to the childminder's warm and friendly greeting as they arrive and eagerly take off their coats and tell the childminder about their trip to the seaside. Children use a wide range of safe and suitable equipment and resources, which promotes their all round development and ensures that their individual needs are being met. Children are generally helped to stay safe. A written risk assessment is completed as

p.4

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

part of the childminder's Quality Assurance scheme, along with some written safety policies and procedures, such as in the event of a child being lost or uncollected. The childminder implements some good safety practices. For example, a written emergency escape plan is practiced regularly and a record is maintained of this. Smoke alarms are checked frequently to ensure that they remain in good working order and hazardous substances are inaccessible. However, objects on the stairs and in the main entrance, which is used as a fire exit, pose a risk. The outdoor area is not adequately secure. Good measures are in place to help children to stay safe on outings. For example, children wear tags with a contact number on in the event of them becoming separated from the childminder. Children are appropriately protected as the childminder is clear about her role in child protection. The childminder has attended training to enhance her knowledge and

p.4

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

understanding of possible signs of abuse and neglect, and appropriate documentation is in place. This supports the childminder's understanding of the procedures to be followed in the event of a concern of this nature, which promotes children's safety and welfare.

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children present are happy and settle very well at the childminder's home. Well planned settling-in programmes ensure children's individual care needs are effectively met and reflect that of home. As a result young children separate with ease from their parents; babies smile and hold out their arms in response to the childminder's interaction on their arrival and positively enjoy their time with her. Children learn to socialise from an early age through attending toddler groups and relate well to others. For example, children greet their peers with affection as they arrive and readily approach the childminder for cuddles or to sit beside her for a story. The childminder has an extremely calm, caring manner; she is attentive to children's individual needs and fully aware of their different personalities. As a result all children have very close relationships with her, which increases babies' and

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 younger children's sense of trust and helps them to develop a strong sense of self. A high level of involvement is shown by children as they engage in a broad range of informally planned activities and spontaneous events that support their development and learning. They spend their time purposefully throughout the day. For example, babies show good levels of interest and inquisitiveness as they explore the contents of the exciting treasure basket and children pat and roll the play dough as they make a variety of shapes. Young children become increasingly imaginative as they engage in pretend play, for example as they pretend to cook with the play food. The childminder provides a very good range of materials for children to become creative through exploration and discovery, such as jelly, finger paints and gloop made from

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

cornflour. The childminder's enthusiastic and positive attitude shines through in her practice; she clearly enjoys working with children and values all that they say and do. Children are well supported; the childminder uses her knowledge and understanding of the Birth to three framework to inform activities for younger children and she sits and talks to children about what they are doing. For example, the childminder talks to babies as they look at themselves in the mirror and encourages older children to roll the play dough more to enable the chosen shaped cutter to fit.

p.5

Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. All children are valued and included, and receive good levels of support from the childminder. Children have their individual needs met effectively because the childminder works in close partnership with parents. Babies and young children's emotional well-being is well fostered because of secure relationships with the childminder. This is as a result of good procedures being implemented before placement. Information is exchanged and recorded regarding any special requirements and the childminder shares the setting's policies and procedures to ensure that parents are in agreement with her practice. Parental feedback is extremely positive about the care that their children receive. The childminder effectively works alongside parents to promote consistency in helping children to progress through more difficult stages of development, for example toilet training. Information about the daily routine is generally shared verbally

p.5

Helping children make a positive contribution

at the end of each day although a daily record is maintained for children under 1 year old. All children have individual files; these contain photographs and observations of them engaging in a variety of activities, enabling parents and the childminder to see how children are progressing. Children benefit from a good range of activities and resources which help them to value diversity. For example, a "Welcome" poster, displayed in the entrance, reflects people from a variety of backgrounds. Children dress up in cultural dressing up clothes and information is displayed about a variety of festivals; activities and books are used to help celebrate some of these. Children behave well and learn to respond to appropriate expectations for their behaviour and develop good levels of self-esteem. This is as a result of the childminder adopting a relaxed, positive attitude to behaviour management. She

p.5

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 demonstrates a good knowledge and understanding of appropriate strategies and effectively uses praise and encouragement. For example, to help young children who are toilet training the childminder uses sticker charts and positive reinforcement, such as telling children how clever they are. This positive approach clearly helps children to be successful in their achievements, which promotes their self-esteem.

p.5

Organisation

The organisation is good. Children feel very much at home and at ease in the childminder's care. The provision of a creatively organised and supportive environment ensures children are supervised effectively and can take part in activities safely and comfortably. The childminder is enthusiastic and motivated in her approach and demonstrates a clear sense of purpose and commitment to continual improvement. Additional training is accessed, which enhances the childminder's knowledge and understanding of childcare and keeps her up to date with new developments and current practice. This promotes the provision of good quality care for children. Well established routines enable all children to take an active part in the setting and experience a varied range of exciting play opportunities both indoors, outdoors and through outings. Policies and procedures generally work well in practice to promote children's health,

p.6

Organisation

safety, enjoyment and achievement. Record keeping systems are used well to meet children's needs and promote their welfare. Documentation is well organised and kept up to date to support the safe management of the provision, and secure storage of records ensures that confidentiality is maintained for all families. The provision meets the needs of the children who attend.

p.6

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.

p.6

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

p.6

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.

p.6

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

p.6

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): • ensure that the outdoor area is secure and ensure that footwear in the entrance and on the stairs does not pose a risk to children.

p.7

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

p.7

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

p.7