St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Coppull

Inspection report for early years provision

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119675 Unique Reference Number 27 June 2007 Inspection date Liz Corr 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 outstanding. 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 was registered in 1998. She lives with her husband, and two daughters aged twenty and four years old. They live in a two bedroom flat on the first floor of a purpose built block, in the E1 area of the London borough of Tower Hamlets. All areas of the home are used for childminding except for her daughter's bedroom.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children at any one time and is currently caring for four children. She holds a level 3 NVQ qualification in childcare and is a member of the National Childminding Association and her local childminding network.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. Children thrive because the childminder follows successful practices and procedures to meet their physical, nutritional and health needs. The home is very clean and well maintained. Children are learning hygienic practices as they blow their own noses and cover their mouths when they cough. Consistent procedures prevent any risk from cross infection as children

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Helping children to be healthy

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 have separate flannels, towels and bed linen. They are reminded as they wash their hands which colour flannel belongs to them. Imaginative activities are organised to reinforce their understanding of the importance of good hygiene as they help the childminder to wash up their utensils in the afternoons.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder has developed a comprehensive set of policies and procedures, which are shared with parents. They clearly explain how she runs her service and meets children's needs. Parents understand the sickness procedure which means that if children become unwell they will be cared for at home. The childminder works effectively to promote their good health by working in partnership with parents. She has devised excellent systems to ensure she is confident to administer any prescribed medication for long term medical conditions. The named childminder who covers for her in an emergency has also received training. Therefore robust procedures are in place to promote children's individual health needs. She has a current first aid qualification, which means she can give appropriate care if there is an accident.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children’s health is promoted by a wholesome, nutritious and balanced diet. At snack time children enthusiastically help themselves to an excellent range of snacks including, strawberries, blueberries, raisins, rice cakes and bread sticks. They are encouraged to take regular drinks of water. Their individual dietary needs are accurately recorded, the childminder is committed to providing a diet that promotes their good health.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children engage in a considerable range of organised activities outside the home. They regularly attend local drop-in groups, toy libraries, parks and the local museum of childhood. They are developing physical skills as they use a good range of outdoor play equipment and enjoy fresh air each day.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Children play in a child-centred environment where they move around independently. Effective precautions have been taken to prevent accidents. For example, rooms that are not used are locked and a safety gate prevents access to the kitchen, which is only used when children are supervised. Toxic materials are kept out of reach of children. The childminder has proactively sought advice from the local fire department to ensure she carries out appropriate risk assessments to prevent accidents. Children are learning how to keep themselves safe as they practise emergency evacuations with the childminder. These are timed and well recorded. Fire equipment such as the smoke alarm and fire blanket are regularly checked.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are provided with furniture and equipment of a high quality to meet their needs. They are learning valuable independence skills as they easily help themselves to their meals and snacks, sitting at child size table and chairs. They confidently take out their sleep mats and are able to reach the bathroom sink to wash their hands using a step. Babies eat in comfort as they sit in a high chair and are able to practise feeding themselves. They rest according to their needs as they sleep in a separate area in a travel cot where they are well supervised.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are provided with imaginative activities to promote their road safety awareness. The childminder uses resources from the Children's Traffic Club to reinforce their understanding of keeping safe when crossing roads. Their safety is further promoted by her vigilant approach to ensure they are collected by appropriate adults. Passwords are used for added protection.

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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 There is a clear child protection statement in place which is shared with parents. They are therefore aware of her responsibility to protect children's welfare. She is proactive in updating her child protection knowledge regularly and has developed systems for accessing professional guidance if, she has concerns about a child's welfare. Therefore children are very well protected.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children are secure because there are sensitive settling-in procedures in place. The childminder encourages parents to bring personal items from home that help the children to feel settled. She empathises with children if they are teething or upset and helps younger children to name their feelings. As a result children feel valued and have a strong sense of belonging.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are provided with wide ranging opportunities to learn independence skills. They enjoy fetching dressing-up hats, helping to carry their snack to the table and caring for the toys and equipment by helping to tidy up. They feel valued as they are thanked for their contribution and gaining confidence to try out new things.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are developing extremely good listening and communication skills. The childminder sits at their level and listens to each child carefully. One child recognises a song from the music tape and is praised for remembering the words as they sing along. Children's early reading skills are developed as the childminder provides inspiring opportunities to enjoy books. They choose from a selection of attractively displayed books which stimulate their interest in reading. Children are thrilled as she reads from one of their favourite books, The Shark in the Park. They are inspired to join in as she uses a cardboard tube as a telescope for the story. They are animated as they take equal turns with the telescope to find the shark. The childminder motivates their interest in books as she takes time to read with them as they eagerly approach her with their favourite books. They enjoy recognising letters of the alphabet and even very young children

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder is skilful in following the children's interests. One child is keen to play with the dressing-up hats and is delighted when she sits down and tries on the hats as well. She encourages their imagination as they pretend to drive a car saying 'we are going on holiday', she extends their interest as she asks 'will there be a beach?

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Babies and toddlers have spontaneous opportunities for learning about colour, shape and size. As they attempt to place coloured rings onto the toy lighthouse, she gives them time to contribute at their own pace. She supports their learning as she gently explains the blue ring is the smallest and asks questions like 'why won't this one go on?'

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Children are treated with respect and receive individual care because their needs and circumstances are known to the childminder. There are successful systems in place for sharing information with parents and time is devoted each morning to finding out how the children are. As a result children feel secure and well cared for. She has developed close and loving relationships with them and provides gentle reassurance and affection if they are unsettled.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are learning to value and have respect for diversity in society as they access an interesting range of resources that reflect positive images of people in the wider world. They

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Helping children make a positive contribution

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 celebrate different cultural festivals at local drop-in groups which further promotes their understanding of cultural differences.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are well behaved, the childminder encourages them to be considerate of each other's feelings. Consequently, they understand if one child doesn't want to play or needs more attention because they are teething. This promotes harmony between them as they are learning to have respect for each other.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has developed professional and trusting relationships with parents. Communication is prioritised so she is fully aware of children's individual needs each day. Parents benefit from clear information about the service, at the beginning of the contract. Policies and procedures are shared with them and are easily accessible. She has organised a comprehensive complaints procedure with details of the regulator. This has a positive impact on the children’s overall well-being and development. An effective recording system details parents' positive comments about her service, she is highly valued and they are exceedingly happy with the care their children have received.

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. The childminder has a comprehensive understanding of the National Standards for childminding. She has extensive support systems in place including, the National Childminding Association and her local childminding network. She is fully committed to improving her childcare knowledge by accessing further training. She uses this knowledge to effectively provide children with a wide range of learning experiences. She is self-motivated and runs a local toy library to support other childminders and carers.

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Organisation

Her home is extremely child-centred and toys and equipment are very well organised and easily accessible. Children benefit from being cared for in an environment where they receive consistent support to ensure their safety and comfort. Safety procedures ensure children are also learning how to keep themselves safe in an emergency. Their day is very well planned to ensure they participate in enjoyable and purposeful play and learning.

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Organisation

A full range of professional policies and procedures are available, including one for complaints. These are regularly reviewed, updated and shared with parents. She has extensive records for each child which ensures their individual needs are well recorded and consistently met throughout the day.

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Organisation

The high quality of the provision means that the childminder meets the needs of the range of children who attend, extremely well.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder was asked to improve resources promoting positive images of disability. New equipment has been acquired and children now have access to a large selection of equipment to promote diversity including equipment with positive images of disability.

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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. The provider is

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Complaints since the last inspection

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

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 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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