St Gregory's Catholic Primary School

Inspection report for early years provision

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141924 Unique Reference Number 24 April 2007 Inspection date Claire Sheldrake 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 good. 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 1993. She lives with her husband and twin daughters aged 12 years. They live in a house in Bridgwater, Somerset. The whole of the ground floor of the house is used for childminding, and two of the upstairs rooms are used for children to sleep. 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 three children under five during the day. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. She attends the local toddler group on a regular basis and takes children to the local park. The family has a cat and a rabbit.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children's health is effectively promoted by the childminder. She introduces them to good hygiene practices, such as washing hands after using the bathroom, and their hands and face

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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 after eating breakfast. Separate towels are available for each child and are hung up at their level in the downstairs bathroom.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have their dietary needs met. They enjoy breakfast of cereal and drinks from feeder cups. Further meals are provided by the parents. This ensures that they are aware of their child's food intake during the day.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children receive appropriate care when they are ill. The childminder is trained in first aid and has obtained all the relevant consents from parents, which include emergency treatment and advice. If a child falls ill during the day, the childminder has the parents information, and she is able to contact them easily. A record of accidents and medication administered to children is available and has been shared with parents.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children rest and sleep according to their individual needs. The childminder knows the children well, and follows a routine with them, which allows time for quiet activities or time for sleep.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy physical activities and benefit from a good choice of outdoor activities. The children can climb, swing, slide and bounce on the trampoline.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children's safety is promoted. The childminder has taken time to complete a risk assessment of the house and garden, and is able to recognise and prevent potential hazards, such as the back step and the trampoline.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The children are secure and are not at risk of leaving the premises alone. The childminder keeps the front and back doors locked, and the keys are kept away from the lock in a drawer.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

When children are playing in the garden, they are constantly supervised, and this keeps them safe. They enjoy playing on the climbing frames and the slide, and use the trampoline with a safety net around it.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are kept safe when away from the premises. When young children are out walking, the childminder uses reins to help them stay safe, while encouraging them to become independent.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children use safe and suitable equipment. In the playroom there is a good selection of resources. These are stored in trays, so that children can reach them and self select. The resources are age appropriate and conform to safety standards.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has a good knowledge of the safeguarding children guidelines, and is confident in her role of protecting children. She is also aware of informing any concerns to the relevant agencies.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder keeps her public liability insurance details in her file, however, an annual certificate from April 2007 is not available for inspection.

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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 benefit from a well resourced playroom, and a childminder who is aware of the children's needs. The children choose favourite toys and work together fitting pieces to make the train track. They then delight in watching the electric train going around the track.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are having fun, they rummage through the box of animals and find spiders, fish and pigs. They learn new words, expanding their language when talking about the stingray. They repeat the names of each animal they find, in response to the childminder.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children are encouraged to develop their imaginative skills. They play with dolls in their pushchairs, a home corner set up with cups and saucers, and have a selection of hand held puppets.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children are learning about shape and sorting. They manipulate shapes into the correct hole and use words, such as star, rectangle and triangle. Further sorting games introduce them to different colours too.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children play well with each other, and are keen to involve the childminder in their games. They enjoy the closeness of story time on her knee and regularly bring her cups of tea. They also use her to help them resolve conflict, when both want the same toy. The children accept her input and happily share their toys and her attention.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are settled and relaxed in their daily routine. They play together well and are considerate of each other. They feel that they belong, and enjoy the close cuddles and reassurance that the childminder gives them.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are learning about using good manners when asking for and receiving items, and are managing to share most toys, with a little support.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The children have made good relationships with the childminder. This is evident during the peek a boo game just after breakfast and at story time.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has a good set of policy documents to ensure that the needs of each child are recognised and supported. They are learning about the world around them using images in books, and multicultural toys, such as dolls and puzzles.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder works in partnership with parents and she regularly informs them of their child's routine and progress. She has written permissions in place to take the children on trips, and to local toddler groups, where they meet and socialise with other children.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder organises her home to meet the needs of the children. They spend time in the playroom, eat meals together in the kitchen and enjoy physical activities in the garden.

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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 She manages her time well, and ensures that each of the children she cares for, is given individual care and support, to meet their needs.

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Organisation

Since her last inspection the childminder has attended a variety of child based courses, these include the Birth to three matters framework and the Foundation Stage of children's learning.

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Organisation

The childminder records the children's attendance appropriately and keeps their individual records in a confidential manner. She has a comprehensive set of policy documents, however, her current public liability insurance certificate is out of date.

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Organisation

The childminding provision meets the needs of the children for whom it provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the previous inspection the childminder was asked to gain written consent from the parents, for seeking emergency advice or treatment, and to keep a written record of medicines administered to the children.

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Improvements since the last inspection

A complete log of medication given to children is available, along with written consent and agreement from parents.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Request from parents for the seeking of emergency advice or treatment is now included on the children's consent forms. There is one for each child, and they have been signed and dated by the parents.

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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

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 good. 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 a current public liability insurance document is available for inspection

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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 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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