Childminder in Bradford

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 302516 Inspection date 12/05/2011 Inspector Lindsay Dobson

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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 1995. She lives with her husband, two adult children and a 13 year old. The family live in the Wyke area of Bradford, in West Yorkshire. The whole of the ground floor of the home is used for childminding purposes and an enclosed garden is available for outside play. The family have a pet rabbit.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and both parts of the Childcare Register to care for a maximum of six children under eight years. There are currently five children on roll, of whom three are in the early years age range.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association and attends the local library, children's centre, toddler groups and parks on a regular basis.

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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 thoroughly enjoy their time in the setting due to the childminder's enthusiasm and commitment to them. She organises her day so children are provided with many stimulating learning experiences both in the home and in the local community. Children's individuality is recognised and nurtured well by the childminder who has a secure knowledge of their needs, interests and abilities. The childminder works in strong partnership with parents and other agencies to ensure children get the support they need. This leads to effective continuity of care and enables children to make good progress. The childminder demonstrates a positive commitment to maintaining continuous improvement through effective systems of self-evaluation, sharing ideas with other providers and seeking support from the local childcare coordinator.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop further observation and assessment systems to consistently identify children's next steps in learning  enhance further the outdoor curriculum, with particular regard to labelling, to provide a stronger link between the indoor and outdoor environments.

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the early years provision

Children are effectively safeguarded because the childminder has a good knowledge and understanding of child protection issues and follows the guidance of the Local Safeguarding Children Board. She has a detailed policy which she shares with parents and which includes the procedure to follow should an This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 allegation be made against herself or a member of her household. All adults in the home are checked by the Criminal Records Bureau and only adults known to the children and the childminder are authorised to collect them from her care. The childminder conducts detailed risk assessments and daily checks of all areas of her home and the outings she undertakes to ensure the children are kept safe at all times. Children are closely supervised by the childminder and all visitors to the setting are required to sign the visitor's book.

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the early years provision

The effective partnership with parents and other provisions the children attend, enhances the consistency in care the children receive and actively contributes to their good progress towards the early learning goals. Parents receive a good range of information about the setting when their children start. The childminder also gathers detailed information from parents to enable her meet their individual care needs and involve them in their children's ongoing learning and development. Parents are kept fully informed of their children's progress through verbal discussions, daily diaries and access to their children's informative learning journeys. Feedback from parents is positive. They state that they are made to feel welcome and their children enjoy a very wide range of activities.

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the early years provision

The childminder is aware of her strengths and areas she wishes to develop and has used the Ofsted document as the formal system of self-assessment and is also working with the local authority to complete their own quality improvement support programme. She demonstrates a clear commitment to continuous improvement through her attendance at some additional childcare training courses to ensure her knowledge and skills are kept up-to-date. The recommendation from the last inspection has been fully addressed. The childminder has good knowledge and understanding of equality and diversity. This has a positive impact on her childminding, with children's individual needs understood and equality promoted at every opportunity. The childminder has a varied range of interesting and age- appropriate resources to engage the children and promote their understanding of their local community and the wider world. She deploys herself very well to

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and outcomes for children

Children are happy and confident and it is clear that they feel safe and very much 'at home' in the company of the childminder. Consequently, they settle well. The childminder organises her home very effectively to meet the children's individual needs. Resources are freely accessible to ensure that all children can access the toys and equipment that they wish to play with. The environment is warm and welcoming and, in particular, the dedicated playroom is bright and very stimulating. Strong relationships have been built with the childminder and children involve her in their play and happily approach her for help and support. Children enjoy stories and have access to a good range of books. Particular favourites are the story sacks enabling the children to follow the stories with the props, for example, Jack and the Beanstalk and also the story compact discs. Children skilfully use the compact disc player and turn the pages of the book as they listen

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and outcomes for children

and join in with the stories. The childminder supports their language development, This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 taking her time to ensure they understand her, listening to their comments and asking relevant, open-ended questions to encourage them to think. The play-room is effectively labelled with written words and numbers encouraging the children's understanding that print carries meaning. Informative and interesting posters aid the children's knowledge of a variety of subjects such as healthy eating. The childminder has a secure understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage and provides an excellent range of activities and resources which support stimulating experiences across all areas of learning. Individual development records are in place for each child. These include many meaningful photographs of children engaged in activities and examples of their own work. Observations of activities

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and outcomes for children

are regularly carried out and effectively linked to the areas of learning, however, children's next steps are not consistently recorded.

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and outcomes for children

Children happily join in with a play dough activity. They make flowers and shapes, using tools to mould and roll the dough. They have many opportunities in the childminder's home and at the groups they attend to paint and stick and develop their individual creativity. Their artwork is proudly displayed in the conservatory raising their self-esteem and sense of belonging. Other regular activities enjoyed by the children include baking and cooking, nature walks, role play, dressing up and making music and singing. Children enjoy using the recycled materials gathered by the childminder as they make bottle shakers and use cardboard tubes and cartons to measure length and size, to thread and to cut and stick. Children have daily access to fresh air and outdoor play. They can independently free flow between the indoor and outdoor play areas. In the childminder's garden they ride on wheeled toys, play in the water tray and build with the large bricks. Although

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and outcomes for children

the children have opportunities to take part in activities covering all areas of learning in the outdoor environment, some aspects of communication, language and literacy are not fully extended. In the community and wider area children visit play groups, parks, play gyms and the farm. On such outings they develop their large physical skills as they climb, slide and swing on the fixed equipment. The childminder includes physical play into children's understanding of a healthy lifestyle. She also provides a varied range of healthy and nutritious home-cooked meals and snacks which meet the children's individual dietary needs. They learn to use good hygiene practices as they wash their hands before meals and after toileting, using liquid soap and individual towels. Children's safety is given high priority. The childminder has installed safety gates in the home and she regularly practises the fire evacuation drill with them. On outings children learn to cross the

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and outcomes for children

road safely and they learn the possible dangers of talking to strangers. Behaviour is well managed by this positive childminder and she recognises children's achievements and offers lots of praise and encouragement to them. Children learn to take turns and respect each other in this happy and fun environment. 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 1 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 1 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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