St Matthew's Church of England Primary School

Inspection report for early years provision

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147360 Unique Reference Number 04 July 2006 Inspection date Gulnaz Hassan Inspector

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Childcare Type of inspection Childminding Type of care

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

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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.

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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

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The key inspection judgements and what they mean

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.

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

The quality and standards of the care are satisfactory. The registered person meets the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder has been registered since 2000. She lives with her husband and three children aged 12, 11 and five years. They live in a two bedroom ground floor flat Muswell Hill in the London Borough of Barnet. All areas of the home are available for childminding purposes. The childminder regularly works with an assistant.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for four children at any one time and is currently minding one child on a part-time basis. The childminder attends the local parent and toddler groups.

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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

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children's health and risk from infection is safeguarded by the childminder's good standards of cleanliness and hygiene throughout the home. Children learn the importance of good personal hygiene through the regular practice of washing hands before and after meals and snack times. The childminder has good procedures in place to enable her to respond appropriately to emergency situations, such as illness or accidents, therefore ensuring the health and safety of children.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy a range of snacks and meals that are provided by their parents and carers whilst the childminder ensures that she is aware of children's dietary needs. The childminder ensures that children have drinks of water regularly, especially on warm days, so that they are not at risk of becoming thirsty.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have appropriate opportunities for physical play outdoors as they visit the park regularly and play in the communal garden. Children are able to run, play with balls and develop other physical skills using apparatus at the local park.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children's safety and protection from hazards within the home are not rigorously ensured. For instance, children have access to a bathroom cupboard that contains cleaning materials, such as, bleach. On the day of inspection the safety gate to prevent access to the kitchen had been removed and although the kitchen is generally safe, the kettle was within reach of children. The childminder has considered emergency escape procedures, however, these have not been practised with children.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There is a satisfactory range of play materials available that meet children's play and developmental needs adequately, although the range and quantity of books is very small. Resources and toys are easily accessible to children and enable children to choose play materials and make independent choices about their play.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's welfare in the event of child protection concerns are mostly ensured as the childminder has a satisfactory understanding of child protection issues and procedures and of the importance of reporting and recording concerns. However the childminder is less clear of procedures to be followed in the event of an allegation being made against herself or her family.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children have good relationships with the childminder and her family, children feel settled in the setting and are happy and confident. The childminder engages with children positively and supports children in their play.

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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 Children play with a satisfactory selection of play materials that are sufficiently balanced to meet children's play and learning needs adequately. On the day of inspection, children were involved in a playing with Lego, building blocks and sorting shapes. Although children visit the library with the childminder, only a small selection of books are available and these do not fully support children's development in this area. Children occasionally engage in creative activities such as painting and cooking alongside the childminder. Although the childminder is presently caring for children under the age of three she has little understanding and knowledge of Birth to three matters.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children enjoy visiting the shops, the library and the park with the childminder. Children also attend the local parent and toddler group with the childminder where they are able to socialise with other children and experience a wider range of play experiences and activities.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children's individual needs are understood and respected by the childminder as good information about children has been obtained to support this. Children do not have sufficient opportunities to learn about each others other cultures, religions or diversity, for instance, resources and play materials to support understanding of diversity and culture are not available. The childminder is not currently caring for any children with learning difficulties.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children behave well and they respond positively to the childminder who is a positive role model and consistent in her approach to children. Children's behaviour is managed appropriately using methods of distraction and redirection. Children are learning to take responsibility, for instance, they help to tidy away their toys.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder and parents work well together in partnership. They share and exchange information on a daily basis to meet children's needs. The childminder has a variety of satisfactory records about each child, for instance, about dietary requirements and health information, which are available to parents. Although a complaints procedure is available to parents, this contains information about the regulator that is out of date.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Organisation

The children feel at home and at ease with the childminder. Children benefit from a familiar and comfortable routine and the childminder is attentive to children who are settled in her care. Although the childminder has had first aid training she has not completed a refresher course as she is required to do so, as a result her certificate of training for first aid is not up to date.

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Organisation

The childminder has a small range of policies and procedures and most of the necessary records and documents required. However the organisation is poor, for instance, on the day of inspection the daily attendance register was not available as it has been mislaid. This is a breach of

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Organisation

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 regulations. However, as the children are only part time and attend for specific hours, this breach has not posed a great risk to the safety of children.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection it was recommended that the childminder completed a local authority approved childminder's pre registration course, have in place an emergency escape plan, make sure that children have access to resources and toys that reflect positive images of race and disability and to make sure that the complaints procedure includes the details of the Regulator.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder has completed a local authority approved childminder's course as required. The childminder has an undocumented emergency evacuation plan which she was able to discuss, this has not been practiced with children and means that children's safety in the event of an emergency is not entirely ensured. The resources and toys available do not reflect positive images of race and disability, as a result, children are not learning about the wider world and are not developing a good understanding of equal opportunities. The complaints procedure does not contain details of the present regulator, as a result, parents do not have the correct information should they wish to make a complaint.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since April 2004 there has been one complaint. The concern related to National Standard 1- Suitable Person, National Standard 7- Health and National Standard 12- Working in Partnership with parents. An unannounced visit was made on the 23/11/2004 by an Ofsted Inspector. Evidence was found that National Standard 1 had been breached leaving children in the care of an unregistered person. A condition was set relating to National Standard 1. The provider remains qualified for registration.

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Complaints 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.

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

The quality and standards of the care are satisfactory. The registered person meets the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.

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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 children have access to resources and play materials that reflect positive images of race, diversity and disabilities

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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 • ensure that the bathroom cupboard and the kitchen are made inaccessible to children • ensure that regular emergency evacuation procedures are practised with children • ensure that the complaints procedure includes the address and telephone details of ofsted • complete an appropriate first aid course that includes training in first aid for infants and young children • ensure that the daily attendance register is maintained and available • develop knowledge and understanding of Birth to three matters

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The quality and standards of the care

set out in the leaflet Complaints about Ofsted Early Years: concerns or complaints about Ofsted's role in regulating and inspecting childcare and early education (HMI ref no 2599) which is available from Ofsted's website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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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

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