The Catholic School of Saint Gregory the Great

Inspection report for early years provision

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115731 Unique Reference Number 22 November 2006 Inspection date Mary Van De Peer Inspector

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Integrated Type of inspection Childminding Type of care

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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.

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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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the care are outstanding. 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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the nursery education are outstanding.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder was registered in 2000. She lives with her husband and family in Ashford, Kent. The whole ground floor area of the house is used for minding children. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children at any one time and is currently minding seven children. The childminder drives to local schools to take and collect children. The childminder attends the local Parent and Toddler Group. The family has a dog and two cats.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association. She receives support from the Local Authority. The childminder is able to support children with special educational

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

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. needs. She is a member of an approved childminding network and is currently in receipt of funding for nursery education for three and four year olds.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. Children are cared for in a home which has a wonderful child-friendly, welcoming and clean environment. The childminder is an excellent role model to the children on good hygiene practices. They spontaneously wash their hands after wiping their nose, before meals, after using the toilet and after playing out of doors. Even the younger children are able to follow these practices independently and extremely well. The childminder took the children to visit a local dentist who showed them how to look after their teeth. Using resources he had given to them, they role play a dental practice. This means children are developing a very good understanding of how to keep themselves healthy and the importance of good hygiene and personal care. They are greatly benefiting from the childminder’s highly effective and clear written sick child policy. Parents have their own copy and are expected to follow it when

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Helping children to be healthy

relevant. Parents also provide individual written permissions for the administration of medication and sun creams, going on local trips and outings, transporting children in the car and the use of photographs. The accident book contains clearly written information about all injuries children have sustained. Parents always sign each entry. The childminder has attained a First Aid certificate and is also a trained paediatric nurse. A fully stocked First Aid kit is available to aid the treatment of children's minor injuries. Children are cared for according to their parent’s requirements.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder has a Food Safety certificate and has ensured that she meets the new Food Regulations by contacting her local Environmental Health Department. She provides three meals a day for all the children. These are all freshly prepared and cooked daily. The children often help with the purchase of the food, for example the vegetables, at a local supermarket. They also assist with the preparation of the meal, when it is safe to do so. Although menus are carefully chosen and written down, these are flexible. Children have choices in their meals. They are offered a very good selection of food which is healthy and nutritious. They are also able to choose from a variety of snacks and fruit. A spill-free jug of water and beakers with children's names on are kept at children's height. They all help themselves whenever they want a drink. The older children help the younger ones if they need it. The childminder works

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Helping children to be healthy

extremely well with parents and they have the option to provide meals if they prefer. Children learn about healthy eating. Children benefit from daily physical exercise and fresh air as there is a very wide range of play equipment available both in the garden and indoors. They take regular walks to local woods and parks with the childminder. Children enjoy a walk to post some letters they had done themselves. They recognise the signs when they are tired and choose to rest or play quietly. Children's physical development is outstanding.

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Helping children to be healthy

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.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Children are cared for in a spacious, child-orientated home where risks are identified, recorded and minimised. This means they are able to move around freely and independently. Children are kept safe by the use of high quality and appropriate equipment such as stair gates, door jammers and socket covers. Child-size furniture is also in place and all the children are able to have their own chair. Low storage units with numerous resource boxes mean children can choose what they play with at any time. They also took photographs themselves, of the contents and use them to identify the box contents. The childminder has also installed a new hot water system in the downstairs toilet where the temperature is always correct and constant. This allows children to be totally independent and safe from burning themselves when washing their hands. Car safety is given very high priority by the childminder. She has car seats and the correct

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

seat belts for every child. Children are also kept safe when outdoors. Very well thought out procedures are used by the childminder to cover walking trips along the road and in the park and woods. Children learn about keeping themselves safe. The childminder has an excellent knowledge and understanding of child protection issues. She has very clear procedures which ensure that children's welfare is consistently safeguarded and promoted. These procedures are fully explained to parents to help reassure them. The childminder also ensures she has all relevant information for the safe collection of children. The equipment and toys available are stimulating, suitable and checked regularly for hygiene and safety. High chairs, cots, car seats, all conform to safety standards. The emergency evacuation procedure is highly effective. The children practise it with the childminder every few weeks and know exactly what they must do

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

and where to go. High quality fire safety equipment is in place, such as interconnecting alarms, fire blankets and fire doors. All children's individual needs and stages of development are taken into consideration when safety measures are planned and put in place.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children have a close and caring relationship with the childminder. She treats them very much as individuals and their needs and personal requirements are exceptionally well catered for by the use of good quality, exciting and interesting toys and activities. For example, a wonderful treasure basket full of natural and every day items, story sacks which have been put together using children's favourite toys. Children are able to develop their independence as can they choose between a variety of toys, books, resources and equipment which are suited to their age range and capabilities. Children are very confident, relate well to each other and adults and can socialise with other children through visits to local toddler clubs. Children really enjoy their time at the childminder's home. They spend their time purposefully and never seem bored. They are all achieving well as the childminder is competent and very professional. She has an

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

excellent understanding of how young children learn and develop. The childminder has had many years of child care experience and has a wonderful rapport with children. She manages to hold their interest and give them exactly the right amount of attention. She asks children leading questions which challenges them and makes them think, such as asking how they think the letters are removed from a post box, a child says that the lid must come off. Some of the children also speak French and so the childminder has also learnt how to speak it too. She uses

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

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. signing with the children and they are becoming very accomplished in this as well. The children also provide challenges for the childminder. A child expressed a wish to be a tropical fish, so she managed to make an outfit with a fish's tail, using brightly coloured furry material. The childminder uses the Birth to three matters and the curriculum guidance extremely effectively.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The quality of teaching and learning is outstanding. The childminder has developed extensive but flexible plans which can be adapted to suit the individual needs and development of all children. There is a superb range of excellent resources and activities which promote children's progress in all six areas of learning. Children are imaginative and confident speakers. They are so inquisitive and are constantly asking questions about how something works or what they have been doing. The childminder has many examples of children's achievements. These show what the children are able to produce by way of models, pictures and mark-making. The child care area has numerous pieces of children's work displayed. There is also visual evidence of relevant posters and large colourful photographs of the minded children, which really brighten up the environment. The photographs displayed show children enjoying different activities,

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

for example, body painting, dressing up and cooking. The childminder has a very secure understanding of how children develop and provides a busy, stimulating and fun environment in which they can play and learn.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. All the children are valued and respected as individuals. Their needs are met constantly. The young children are showing care and concern for others and play alongside one another extremely well. All the children use a digital camera to take photographs of themselves or of activities they enjoy playing with. They make themselves at home, decide what they want to do and help themselves independently to drinks. There is time for the children to relax as well as be active. They respond exceedingly well in pictures and spoken words to what they see, hear, taste and feel. Pictures and photographs are displayed for everyone to see and the children are extremely proud of them. The children are developing high self-esteem and confidence. They are provided with a meaningful variety of extremely informative but age appropriate images of the diversities in today's society. The childminder enables all the children to learn

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Helping children make a positive contribution

about different countries and festivals. For example, by children being able to try the foods eaten and re-creating some of what the people do in their own countries. Children also experience their local and wider community by visiting different places regularly, such as shops, schools and animal parks. Again, there are photographs, creative work and resources which show what the children have seen and done. Children and their parents are aware of the childminder's very few house rules. Thorough and appropriate behaviour management strategies are in place and the children behave very well. The childminder has discussed her behaviour management procedures with parents. Children learn about acceptable behaviour when indoors and out of the house. Children feel good about themselves and show respect for others. They are learning about the world through outings and activities that introduce them to other cultures

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Helping children make a positive contribution

and different environments. The childminder has cared for children with special needs. She has an extraordinarily positive attitude about the care they need and deserve.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

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. The partnership with parents is outstanding. There is a vast amount of relevant information about child care, child development and the childminding service, available for parents. It is presented in a variety of different and interesting ways to keep the parent's attention. A newsletter keeps them in touch with dates. A notice board with posters and policies displayed. At the front door there are the certificates the childminder has achieved and any leaflets which may of special interest to parents. They are also able to share their knowledge about their child and what they expect from the childminding service. A contact book is used with each child, providing information about the type of day children have had. The childminder types up

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Helping children make a positive contribution

evaluation sheets and these are given to parents every day, identifying what their children have achieved and how they responded in different activities. Children's spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is being fostered.

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. The childminder has been caring for children for several years. She is a trained paediatric nurse, holds a current recognised first aid certificate and has achieved NVQ Level 3 and above in child care qualifications. All adults in the household have been appropriately vetted. The childminder has high levels of paperwork completed on each child. The children's welfare is extremely important to the childminder. She is pro-active in researching ways to improve the quality of care and learning for children, making it imaginative and exciting. She continually evaluates what she does with the children and how she can improve it. The childminder ensures she attends relevant training such as Birth to three matters and Safeguarding children. This makes sure she is able to provide a high standard of quality care for all the children. There are extremely informative, clear and well presented policies and procedures for parents. All the required record

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Organisation

keeping, as well as additional and very useful information is kept in an organised and confidential manner. Written permissions, signed by parents, for extra activities such as outings and taking photographs, as well as a contact book, keeps both the parents and the childminder informed about the children. The documentation is readily available for those who need to see it. These systems guarantee children receive consistent care that always meets their individual needs. The childminder manages her time in a resourceful and committed way. Her days are very well planned, so that she is able to give all the children the relevant attention, care and stimulation they need while in her care. The childminder ensures children are well supervised at all times. They receive excellent support from her and she enjoys their company and knows them all very well. This makes them feel secure and confident. Regular, informal discussions with parents

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Organisation

ensure continuity of care for the children. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder has followed the previous recommendation to improve her provision and now obtains written permission from parents to administer medication. This is also mentioned in her policy for parents to refer to. Parents provide their children's medication and are kept informed about when this medication is administered to their children. They are also required to sign the recorded details. Children are kept safe.

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Improvements since the last inspection

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.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since the last inspection there have been no complaints made to Ofsted that required the provider or Ofsted to take any action in order to meet the National Standards.

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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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the care are outstanding. 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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the nursery education are outstanding.

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The quality and standards of the care

No recommendations for improvement are made because the quality and standards of care are outstanding.

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The quality and standards of the nursery education

recommendations for improvement are made because the quality and standards of nursery education are outstanding.

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The quality and standards of the nursery education

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 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.

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