Childminder in Leeds

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 319690 Inspection date 15/03/2011 Inspector Mrs Paula Fretwell

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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 assesses 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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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 was registered in 1988. She lives with her husband, who also assists with the childminding in Morley near Leeds. The ground floor of the property is used for childminding purposes and there is a fully enclosed garden available for outdoor play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of eight children under eight years at any one time, when working with her assistant, and six when working on her own, no more than three of whom may be in the early years age range. She is currently caring for three children in this age group. The childminder is registered by Ofsted on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register and there are currently two children being cared for within this age group. The childminder takes and collects children from school. 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

Children are very happy and secure in the childminder's inclusive and welcoming setting. They feel confident through supportive relationships with the childminder and her assistant and highly effective partnerships are established with parents. Documentation, such as policies, procedures and children's development is meticulously maintained and the childminder is developing systems to monitor and evaluate the quality of her provision. The childminder has a good understanding of the welfare, learning and development requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage and she is committed to providing high quality experiences for children to learn through play.

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further?

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

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further?

 obtain starting points from parents about children's development, on which to base further observations of their progress.  develop further ways of evaluating the quality of the provision, for example, by seeking the views of children and parents.

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the early years provision

Children are well safeguarded because the childminder understands her role in protecting them from abuse and neglect and she has undertaken recent training to update her safeguarding knowledge. Clear procedures for the protection of This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 children are known by the childminder, and she ensures relevant contact numbers are easily accessible should she need to report any concerns or allegations. The childminder is assisted closely by her husband and effective team work ensures children's care is managed well. Children are supervised at all times and the childminder closely observes their play, enabling her to plan for the next steps in their learning. Well organised record keeping systems ensure children are kept safe, protected and supported. Risk assessments are completed to keep children safe on outings, in the home and garden, with potential hazards minimised.

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the early years provision

Children learn how to keep themselves safe through excellent discussion and practice. For example, the fire evacuation poster has a famous children's character on it and very young children know that if they hear the smoke detector they shout fire and go to the door.

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the early years provision

Resources and activities are organised very well to offer good learning and development opportunities to the children, enabling them to make progress in all six areas of learning. Equipment and space are utilised to good effect, depending on the children's individual needs. The childminder skilfully manages the need to ensure children's safety with their growing need for independence. For example, babies are able to express their curiosity by freely and safely exploring their surroundings and accessing what they need. Opportunities are regularly offered to support children's good health and they benefit from daily walks in the fresh air to local places or playing in the childminder's garden, or trips to places of interest further away.

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the early years provision

The childminder bases her provision on the principle of a unique child and each child is empowered to make a positive contribution to their own care and learning. She has a clear knowledge of the legislation to which she works, with full regard for children's welfare, learning and development. Parents give general information about children prior to placement, although the childminder does not obtain starting points for children's development. The childminder demonstrates her knowledge of children's unique abilities through detailed recording of their development, along with lovely photographs to illustrate her observations. Partnership with parents is excellent. Chats take place each day so that parents are involved in what their children have been doing and they know they can view their child's records at any time. Parents routinely contribute to these records with observations and photographs as well as comments about their children's progress.

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the early years provision

Parents express extremely high levels of satisfaction with the service and the care of their children. For example, they comment that the childminder is excellent and their children have come on in leaps and bounds. They state that children enjoy truly inclusive and individual care and say they couldn't have made a better choice. They give praise for the childminder's open communication and home-style setting. The childminder establishes links with other settings children may attend in the Early Years Foundation Stage. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

Children demonstrate a strong sense of belonging as they arrive eager and ready to play. They benefit from high levels of individual care in the childminder's friendly and homely environment. Good relationships with the childminder and her assistant support the children and help them to be assertive and confident. Children freely explore within the childminder's home, choosing where they would like to play and with what. They are competent decision makers and the adults are on hand to facilitate their choice of play, equipping them with skills for the future. Children proudly talk about their creations on display, such as their collages and paintings. Good quality interaction helps to develop children's communication skills. For example, the childminder names objects for babies and she chatters constantly with the children, engaging them in conversation to extend their vocabulary. They love to look at books and help themselves to a good selection, reading alone or

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and outcomes for children

with adults. Children enjoy playing with play-dough and they have lots of fun using suitable tools to cut and make patterns. They make animals and talk about the noises each one makes and the childminder helps them to recall their trip to the farm. They giggle as they remember the farm being smelly and they name the different animals they have seen there. Children's own ideas for play are extended in fun ways. For example, hand-washing sometimes leads to water-play and children have fun with the bubbly water. Children use drawing paper to make paper aeroplanes and they fly these with the childminder's assistant. Very young children's curiosity is fostered well. For example, they invert the pencil tin and notice their reflection in the shiny surface, then the childminder encourages them to notice the sound they make if they bang the pencil on the tin. Children have regular opportunities to experience other social settings through visiting local

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and outcomes for children

Children's health is promoted well and the childminder has a good understanding of nutrition, offering healthy meals and snacks and working closely with parents to ensure children's dietary needs are fully met. The childminder offers relevant reassuring advice and support to parents based upon her childminding experience. Children enjoy eating mid-morning snacks, such as grapes and the childminder reminds them to chew properly so they do not choke. Drinks are constantly accessible to children so they do not become thirsty. Policies, procedures and hygienic routines effectively support children's personal needs and help to prevent the spread of infection. Posters help children to understand about healthy lifestyles. The childminder helps children to understand their own physical needs through discussion, such as when may feel tired or hungry and she encourages children's independence in personal hygiene routines.

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and outcomes for children

Children behave exceptionally well. Meaningful praise is frequently given and the childminder gives plenty of individual attention to enable children to feel valued and special. She enables each child to feel included and manages mixed ages of children well, encouraging them to care about each other. House rules are displayed on a colourful poster and children show respect for each other and for their environment, tidying away toys co-operatively when asked. The childminder ensures children are purposefully engaged with suitable challenges for their This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 development and this promotes good behaviour. Children proudly demonstrate how their reward chart works and they show how many stickers they have received. 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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Early Years Foundation Stage

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 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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