Childminder in Leeds

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY430062 Inspection date 12/01/2012 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 2011 and lives with her husband and four children, twins aged nine, a seven year old and a four year old in the Horsforth area of Leeds. The dining kitchen, playroom and toilet on the ground floor are used for childminding and an enclosed garden is available for outdoor play. The family has two guinea pigs as pets.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of four children under eight years at any one time, of whom no more than two may be in the early years age range. There are currently three children attending who are within the Early Years Foundation Stage and 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.

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Description of the childminding

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 identifies priorities for improvement, and the beneficial impact on the children's welfare, learning and development is evident, although opportunities to gain parents' suggestions have not yet been fully explored. The children are happy, settled and make good progress towards the early learning goals and enjoy participating in creative activities. However, monitoring systems have not been introduced in order to help identify any gaps in learning.

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further?

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

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further?

 implement monitoring systems to ensure that there are no gaps in the children's learning  encourage parents to be involved in the self-evaluation process.

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the early years provision

The childminder shows a clear understanding of how to keep children safe and ensures their welfare is paramount. Detailed written policies, procedures and documentation are in place to ensure children's welfare is safeguarded and promoted. For instance, the safeguarding procedure is shared with parents. The childminder has completed safeguarding children training and has previous experience of recording confidential information. As a result, she knows how to This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 record concerns and has the confidence to seek advice where necessary.

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the early years provision

The children are supervised at all times, unauthorised persons are unable to gain entry to the premises and there is a record of visitors. Written risk assessments have been undertaken and positive steps have been taken to minimise hazards, for example, a safety gate is in place to prevent children independently accessing stairs, and cleaning substances are inaccessible to the children as they are stored in a locked cupboard in the utility room.

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the early years provision

The childminder takes positive steps to ensure resources and the environment are sustainable. Children learn about this as they use recycled products during art and craft activities. Self-evaluation is undertaken by childminder, who has clear priorities in place for future improvements. Plans are well placed to bring positive outcomes for children, which include growing potatoes and hyacinths with the children to promote their knowledge and understating of the world. However, parents are not currently involved in the self-evaluation process.

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the early years provision

An effective settling-in procedure is in place and there is an established system in use to gain information about children before they start, such as their individual needs and routines. Parents receive clear and detailed information about the children's care through the completion of daily sheets, development records and progress reports. The childminder has built very good links with other childcare providers where minded children receive care and education from more than one setting. For example, she voluntarily helps out at a setting once a week and shares any relevant information with the teaching staff.

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the early years provision

The children have regular opportunities to learn about the natural world and local community. This is because the children are taken out to feed the ducks and they visit the shops, library and children's centre. They also have access to a good range of resources which reflect positive images of diversity, such as, books, dolls, play figures and games. They also learn about interesting events, such as Halloween and Chinese New Year. As part of the Halloween celebrations, the children made buns and 'worm jelly'.

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and outcomes for children

Babies are content and settled because their individual needs are met by the childminder. As a result, they enjoy their food very much and have formed close attachments with the childminder and her family. While staying close to the childminder, babies are beginning to explore their surroundings with great interest. As a result, they are becoming active and inquisitive learners, for example, they are trying to crawl over objects.

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and outcomes for children

The children are active and understand the benefits of physical activity, for instance, they have regular opportunities to visit the park. The children also have great fun singing and dancing along to their favourite songs. As a result, the children are developing a positive attitude to exercise. Children adopt good hygiene practices because the childminder encourages them to wash their hands This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 prior to eating and after handling pets.

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and outcomes for children

The system for assessing and recording children's development accurately identifies their achievements. Observations are linked to the six areas of learning and identify what needs to be included in planning for children's individual progress. However, monitoring systems have not been implemented to ensure that there are no gaps in the children's learning.

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and outcomes for children

Planning clearly reflects individual children's needs, interests and themes. Children make choices about what they would like to play with and more able children are very eager to participate in creative activities, such as creating patterns with beads and making pom poms, paper chains and baubles. The children are making good progress in their learning and development. For example, more able children can write their own name, count confidently from one to ten and correctly name shapes and colours. Babies show an interest in toys with buttons and begin to learn to operate them.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder is a very friendly and positive person who consistently gives the children lots of praise and encouragement. As a result, babies fully cooperate with routines. Additionally, more able children are forming good friendships and use manners without being prompted to do so. Children also show an interest in living creatures and like doing everyday tasks for themselves, such as putting on their own outdoor shoes and coats. 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 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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