Childminder in LeedsOfsted inspection, 16 Mar 2011

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY347732 Inspection date 16/03/2011 Inspector Abigail Cunningham

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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 2006. She lives with her husband and two children aged four and eight years in Morley, Leeds. The whole of the ground floor of the property is used for childminding. There is an enclosed garden available for outside play. The childminder is able to take and collect children from local schools and pre-schools. The family has a pet dog.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children under eight years at any one time, of whom no more than three may be in the early years age range. There are currently three children attending who are within the Early Years Foundation Stage, all of whom attend on a part-time basis. The childminder also offers care to children aged over five years. She is registered on the Early Years Register and on both the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register. 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 childminder is very committed to working in partnership with parents and other childcare providers. Self-evaluation is effective and the childminder is able to demonstrate how she has made significant improvements to her provision. She is good at promoting the children's welfare, all children are included and their individual needs are fully met. The children make good progress towards the early learning goals, given their capabilities and starting points.

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further?

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

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further?

 provide opportunities for the children to avoid obstacles and show care and concern for others.

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the early years provision

All the required checks have been carried out on the childminder and her husband. Comprehensive written policies, procedures and documentation are in place to ensure children's welfare is safeguarded and promoted. The childminder has a good awareness of safeguarding issues and has attended safeguarding training. She also keeps up-to-date with safeguarding issues, by reading any relevant articles. Therefore, the childminder knows to record any concerns and where to seek advice.

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the early years provision

Risk assessments for the home and outings are regularly undertaken and reviewed. All potential hazards have been identified and minimised to ensure This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 children's safety, for example, safety gates are in place to prevent children having unsupervised access to the childminder's dog.

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the early years provision

Plans for future improvements are well placed to bring positive outcomes for children. For example, the childminder has established very strong partnerships with other childcare providers. The parents are also involved in the self-evaluation process, as their views and ideas are sought; for instance, they make suggestions regarding ideas for outings.

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the early years provision

Parents receive regular information via communication books for the under threes, development records and daily verbal feedback from the childminder. The parents are currently adding their comments to their child's records. In addition, the childminder and parents agree about precise ways that they can support the children to behave well and use good manners.

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the early years provision

Very effective links are in place where children are attending other childcare settings. This is because the childminder has permission from parents to share information with the other providers. She has introduced herself to the teaching staff, read the newsletter, shared the children's development records and discussed, agreed upon and recorded the child's next steps in learning.

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the early years provision

The children are developing a positive attitude to others and a good understanding about the wider world and community. This is because the children enjoy playing with a good selection of resources which reflect positive images. The childminder also borrows resources from the toy library, such as, dolls, a guide dog and walking frame. The children have good opportunities to learn about the local community and mix with other children, for example, they regularly visit the local toddler group and library.

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and outcomes for children

Meals, such as, pasta bolognese, beans on toast and mild chilli con carne are offered to the children. The children have good appetites; they enjoy their food very much and can assert their own needs and preferences. For instance, at snack time one child asked for a ham, cucumber and salad cream sandwich. The children understand and adopt good hygiene practices, as they know to wash their hands prior to eating.

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and outcomes for children

The children have direct access to the childminder's garden, they play out in all weathers and in winter they like to play out in the snow. For example, one child made an igloo in the snow. They also have regular opportunities to visit different parks and soft play centres. More able children are beginning to take control of their whole bodies. For instance, they spontaneously stretch their arms up high; they step across the floor mats and push the dolls and prams around. Occasionally, they are unable to avoid obstacles, such as, other children.

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and outcomes for children

While on outings the childminder helps to keep the children safe, for instance, they wear wristbands with the provider's contact details on them and the childminder This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 shows them how to cross roads safely. The childminder also uses story books to help the children understand about not talking to strangers, such as, 'Emily'. The childminder takes the children out on a wide range of interesting outings, for example, to caves, on pony rides, to look for tadpoles in the reservoir, to a bird garden and zoo. Therefore, the children are developing an interest in the natural and wider world.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder is a positive, consistent role model and has clear rules in place. She gives the children praise and rewards, such as, stickers, for good behaviour. As a result, the children are mostly well behaved, for example, one young child happily shared the musical instruments with another child and they take it in turns to use the trampoline. However, whilst playing with the toys, some children struggle to show care and concern for others.

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and outcomes for children

Activity planning responds directly to each child's individual needs and interests, which includes dressing up as princesses. The system for assessing and recording the children's development accurately identifies the children's achievements and progress. Monitoring systems have been implemented and are regularly updated. Tracking processes accurately identify the next steps in the children's learning, which both the childminder and school nursery have identified. As a result, the childminder is able to demonstrate how all children are making good progress in their learning and development.

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and outcomes for children

More able children hold books the correct way up, turn pages and know how their favourite stories are structured, such as 'This is not my princess'. They confidently link sounds to letters and know the names of dinosaurs, for example, one child said, 'it's a stegosaurus'. The children enjoy counting and more able children count from one to ten. They use mathematical language in play, for example, one child commented, 'dinosaurs have two eyes' and 'triangles have three sides'. While playing with the number block game, children match numbers from one to five with the correct amount of bricks. For instance, one child counted out five bricks and placed them on the number five. 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 1 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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