St Begh's Catholic Junior School

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number 112354 Inspection date 16 May 2005 Inspector Jacqueline, Ann Connell

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Type of inspection Childcare Type of care Childminding

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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 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 1989.She lives with her husband and adult daughter in a three bedroomed house in the village of Shirrell Heath. At present the childminder cares for seven children under eight years of age on a part-time basis. Minded children have access to the ground floor of the home, although the lounge is only used for sleeping purposes. There is an enclosed garden available for outside play. The childminder is able to take and collect children from the local schools and pre-schools.

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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 The family have pet dogs. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a warm, clean home and are encouraged to learn about the importance of good personal care by, for example, washing their hands or using anti-bacterial wipes before eating or after using the toilet. They go out into the fresh air each day, either for walks in the local area, or to play in the garden. This helps them to keep healthy. They play with a variety of outdoor equipment in the garden, such as a climbing net and slide and they also enjoy digging in the sand. These activities help to develop their physical skills. Children begin to understand about healthy diets with a choice of fruit available as well as biscuits. Drinks are on offer at regular intervals so that they learn the importance of having frequent drinks. The childminder ensures she meets children's individual dietary needs by consultation with parents. They discuss the children's dietary needs and she encourages them to supply their own food.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children are secure and confident in the homely, welcoming environment. They use two rooms for indoor play and usually use the dining room where the limited space means the children mainly do quieter activities, such as jigsaw puzzles and craft work. There is a wide range of toys and activities which are stored in labelled boxes. The childminder rotates these regularly in order to offer the children a wider selection of activities and she encourages them to self select their toys, thus promoting their independence. She checks the toys for safety to ensure the children are free from harm. The childminder has identified potential risks and hazards within the home and has appropriate procedures for taking children out, in order to keep them safe. An enclosed garden is accessible for outside play. However, it is possible for the children to gain access to an area of the garden where there are hazards and they are,

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

therefore, at some risk. The childminder safeguards the Children's well being; she has an understanding of her responsibility to safeguard children and of the procedures, she would follow, if she had a child protection concern.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

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 achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children settle well at the childminder's house. They enter confidently and make themselves at home. They relate well to each other and socialise with other children through regular attendance at local toddler groups. They become independent as they choose from the wide variety of toys, activities and equipment which cover the developmental needs of all ages. The children become involved in a range of interesting and enjoyable craft activities which contribute to their creativity. Children respond well to the childminder's warm and friendly conversations which help to extend their communication skills and knowledge. She talks to all the children in a relaxed, encouraging manner and tries to make them all feel involved. The children enjoy their time with the childminder.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are valued and respected as individuals. They understand the usual routine, which the childminder plans around their needs and discusses daily with parents so that they are aware of what their child has been doing. Children show consideration and kindness to one another and learn to be caring and to recognise the needs of others. The childminder celebrates the festivals of other cultures in order to help the children discover more about people in the wider world. Children understand the boundaries for behaviour and behave well. They know, for instance, that they need to co-operate and play well together and that they should respect other people's property.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children are familiar with the routine which is organised so that they have the opportunity for periods of quieter activities, when playing indoors, and for more active times when playing in the garden, going for walks or visiting local groups. This means they are able to enjoy a good balance of activities to meet their needs. The childminder recognises the importance of training in order to increase her knowledge and understanding of her work, thus enabling her to provide a better quality of care for the children. She ensures children are not at risk by being alone with unvetted adults. She has the required documentation, although the records are not kept in good order or stored in a secure place, which means that they are not being used effectively to promote the welfare, care and learning of the children. Overall, the provision meets the needs of the children who attend.

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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

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder was asked to ensure that the garden is free from hazards. Those identified at the time have been dealt with appropriately. The childminder was asked to improve the recording in the daily record of attendance and to obtain parental consent for emergency treatment. She has implemented both recommendations.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There are no complaints to report.````````````````````````````````````````````````````

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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 the garden is secure and children cannot access the vegetable garden. • Ensure all the children's records are well maintained and are stored securely to ensure confidentiality.

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The quality and standards of the care

procedures set out in the leaflet Building better childcare: Compliments and concerns about inspectors' judgements 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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