St Joseph's RC Primary School and Nursery

Inspection report for early years provision

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116911 Unique Reference Number 25 June 2007 Inspection date Anne Jeanette Faithfull 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 1997. She lives with her husband and three children aged 18, 17 and eight years in Reading, Berkshire. The whole of the ground floor of the childminder's house is used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children at any one time and is currently minding four children, two full time and two part-time. The family has two pet cats. The childminder walks to the local schools to take and collect children. She attends the local toddler group and takes children to the local library and park. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children enjoy a warm, clean and well maintained home, where they are protected from cross-infection as appropriate procedures are followed, for example, children have their own coloured towels so they can begin to recognise their own and a nappy changing trolley which is readily accessible and contains all the required items including gloves and wipes. 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 are cared for effectively if an accident occurs as the childminder has a current first aid qualification. Consequently, she is able to deal with accidents and illness efficiently. Children are protected from unnecessary illness as they do not attend if they are infectious. These measures promote good health, hygiene and prevent cross contamination occurring.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have access to a broad, interesting and challenging variety of activities, which they enjoy and promote their good health. The childminder considers the individual routines of the children when planning activities; children are able to rest and sleep according to their needs. Children have good opportunity for physical play as they enjoy outings to the park and local activity centre. The childminder encourages younger children to begin to walk by helping them to support themselves by holding onto her hands and the furniture around the room. Children also benefit from play in the safe, enclosed rear garden where they enjoy using the wide range of outdoor equipment; this further promotes their physical development.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have their individual needs met because the childminder works with the parents and outside agencies to meet children’s specific dietary needs and allergies. Children benefit from a range of organic meals which are freshly prepared each day by the childminder. They benefit from healthy and nutritious snacks, such as fresh fruit, and can readily access a drink of cool filtered water when required.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The childminder provides a warm, welcoming, child-friendly home where children feel comfortable and secure. Children have access to areas within the home, which are safe for them to explore and are able to self-select the toys and resources they wish to use from storage boxes situated in the room and the toy room. They are monitored and supervised by the childminder to make sure their selections are safe and appropriate for their stage of development. Regular checks are made of the toys and resources to further ensure safety and suitability.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has good safety procedures in place to begin to make children aware for their own safety, for example, she reminds children not to throw items as they may hit someone. The childminder ensures children can safely access the garden area, for example, having a ramp rather than steps leading onto the garden area from the house and all gates in the garden are padlocked. Regular visual risk assessments take place both inside and outside and the childminder has a range of safety leaflets to inform her and parents of latest safety information. The childminder has comprehensive fire procedures in place including an emergency evacuation procedure; however she has not yet practised the procedure with the children so they begin to learn the steps they should take in the event of a fire.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder understands her role concerning child protection. She has recently completed safeguarding children training to further update her knowledge and understanding. She is aware of the procedures and who to contact should she have concerns about a child in her care and holds all of the required paperwork to record existing injuries and incidents.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are happy and settled in the childminder's home, they relate well to each other, the childminder and her family. Children’s care, learning and play are enhanced through the childminder’s good understanding of child development. Children gain a lot of enjoyment from

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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 the varied range of activities they take part in. These are age appropriate and provide good levels of challenge. The childminder has regard to the ‘Birth to three matters’ framework and uses this to develop activities and experiences for the younger children, she relates all activities and daily routines to the framework to ensure the on-going development and progress of the children in her care. The childminder collects information from childcare periodicals for reference and to use in her planning to ensure she provides a wide range of challenging, interesting activities and experiences for the children, to further promote their interest and learning.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder is involved in the children’s play and interacts well with them, for example, helping them to put shapes into the shape sorter and sitting on the floor with them helping them to play with the cars and garage. She fosters children's early development by talking to them and naming items, encouraging them to begin to recognise familiar words and each other's names. The childminder praises children's efforts and tells them they have done well. This positive encouragement ensures that children feel valued and motivated. Children enjoy playing together with the pretend kitchen using their imagination and making different noises together by banging items together. Older children have the opportunity of going into the toy room, where the childminder has provided a reading bench for the children away from the main play area so they can sit quietly and read or look at the wide range of books that are readily accessible

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

to them. Opportunities to visit other childminders and toddler groups in the area, enables children to play with their peer group and to develop their social skills.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are valued and respected as the childminder ensures that she is aware of their individual needs and meets those needs daily. Children are beginning to learn social skills, such as sharing and helping each other for example, helping to find a dummy for another younger child. Children benefit from the praise, cuddles and reassurance, they receive from the childminder. Children's knowledge and understanding of other cultures and ways of life is promoted through the childminder's positive outlook and approach. Children learn about their local community and the wider society for example, visits to the park, local events and day trips.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are very well behaved and play harmoniously together sharing the toys and resources. A clear behaviour management policy is in place, which is shared with parents to ensure the care offered is appropriate and relevant to the age and understanding of the children attending. For example, she uses distraction and diverts children's attention by providing or suggesting a different toy for the child to play with. There are currently no children with learning disabilities within the childminder’s care. The childminder has a good understanding of caring for children with learning disabilities and understands the importance of close liaison with parents and outside agencies to meet all the children’s needs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder builds professional and friendly relationships with parents, helping to ensure children are settled, happy and secure. Information regarding the child's activities and experiences is shared with parents in a variety of ways for example, she sends photos of the children taking part in activities to the parents' mobile phone and by giving daily verbal feedback. Parents comment on how happy their children are in her care and the service she provides on the parents' evaluation forms they complete and the thank you cards she receives.

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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

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder has a good knowledge of child development and organises space and resources effectively to meet the children’s developmental and individual needs. The childminder's flexible approach allows children the opportunity to organise and pursue their own games, as well as participating in planned activities and outings. Ratios are maintained at all times, providing children with good support. The childminder has a professional approach and attends relevant courses to further develop her knowledge and regularly evaluates the childminding service she offers to children and their parents.

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Organisation

The childminder has a range of written polices and procedures in place to promote the welfare and development of the children in her care. She obtains all parental consents and contracts are in place. The childminder understands the importance of maintaining documentation and confidentiality at all times. The childminder is aware to inform Ofsted of any significant changes, for example, she informed Ofsted that one of her children had reached 16 years of age. The parents' information poster about Ofsted and her registration certificate is displayed at all times for parents to see. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder was asked to review and update her documentation with regard to the attendance register and to obtain consent for emergency medical treatment and advice from parents. The childminder now has a daily attendance register in place to record the times of attendance of the children and has obtained written permission from the parents to seek emergency medical treatment or advice if required. This further promotes the health and safety of the children in her care.

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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 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): • improve fire safety precautions by ensuring emergency evacuation procedure is practised with the children

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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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