Bosco Centre College

Inspection report for early years provision

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141562 Unique Reference Number 31 March 2008 Inspection date Sarah Fletcher 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 registered in 2001. She lives with her husband and child aged five years in Newport Pagnell, close to Milton Keynes. The whole ground floor of the childminder’s house is used for childminding and 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 five children at any one time and is currently minding three children under five part time and two children over five after school. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children and attends the local parent/toddler group. The family has goldfish.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children stay healthy because the childminder follows current and appropriate environmental health and hygiene guidelines. She encourages children to follow and understand simple good health and hygiene practices, for example, washing their hands before eating, after using the toilet or playing outside. The childminder is a good role model, washing her own hands often

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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 and protecting children from the spread of infection by following a clear sickness policy and using anti-bacterial sprays to clean surfaces and changing mats. Nappy changing takes place in accordance with each individual child’s needs, following clear hygienic routines. The childminder helps toddlers who are potty training by praising and rewarding them for each success and by establishing appropriate hand washing routines from an early age.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have their health and dietary needs met because the childminder works well with parents. She ensures she meets parents’ wishes and children’s preferences, together with any religious or dietary requirements to nourish children in her care. For example, some minded children are not allowed to have any food with nuts as there is a probable risk of a family allergy developing. In order to safeguard all children's dietary needs, the childminder asks parents to supply all food in children's lunchboxes without nuts. Children receive healthy options during their snacks, such as raisins and a variety of fruit. Drinks are freely available, with the childminder supplying sugar free squashes or water throughout the day and on request in individual cups. Children receive encouragement to develop their independence during meals and younger children are learning to feed themselves, with help from the childminder as required.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children learn about healthy living, through regular physical play and activity. They play in the garden on a range of large play equipment, visit the park next door to the childminder's house and take walks around the community. Outings often take place during the school holidays to popular attractions, such as Mead open farm. Children rest and sleep according to their needs and parents' wishes on comfortable sofas or in their own buggy at parents request. A travel cot is also available for young children, which can be erected in a quiet area of the childminder's home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a warm and welcoming home, where they move around freely in child friendly areas. The childminder provides a secure and safe indoor and outside environment, which is clean and well maintained. She ensures children remain secure by keeping them under close supervision and risk assessing outdoor areas in advance. Children safely access a fully enclosed rear garden with inaccessible outbuildings and secure garden fencing and gates. Children use a good range of suitable and safe equipment, toys and resources, which are easily accessible and carefully checked for wear and tear by the childminder. For example, children choose different types of construction, role play or small world play, together with various arts and crafts and educational toys. The childminder rotates her resources to support the needs of the children she cares for and updates them with any changes in her minding requirements.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Toys and equipment are appropriate for children’s age or stage; babies and toddlers do not have access to toys or other articles that may cause them harm. For example, older children's toys are stored in drawers in a playroom which young children cannot access.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are safe and secure in the childminder’s care, as she reduces risks and hazards, and minimises dangers within the home and outdoors. For example, the kitchen is inaccessible to children with the door closed or a stair-gate fixed across the lounge doorway. Children receive close supervision by being within sight or hearing of the childminder at all times; she ensures she is close to the children both indoors and outside. Premises are made secure during minding hours, with doors and windows locked and keys nearby. Rooms have appropriate safety precautions, such as smoke detectors, socket covers and cupboard locks. There are no trailing wires and all dangerous liquids and knives are stored out of children’s reach. Older children learn about fire safety and evacuating in case of a fire, because the childminder has a clear

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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 plan in place, which she shares with them and helps them to understand with regular practice. For example, older children understand the need to help the childminder take younger ones out of the home while practising for an evacuation.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children learn to keep themselves safe and avoid accidental injury by following the childminder's guidance on stranger danger and road safety when outdoors, and by not running around inside the home in case they slip, trip or fall. For example, children understand to stop at the kerb and not to cross roads without the childminder and she has explained to them why they should not talk to anyone they do not already know. Children are protected because the childminder clearly understands her role in child protection and is able to put appropriate procedures into practice when necessary. She is able to demonstrate how she protects children by explaining her procedures and her awareness of possible signs of abuse. The childminder understands her responsibilities to protect children and knows the importance of recording information confidentially. She helps to protect children by recording pre-existing injuries and asking parents

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

to sign that they happened outside the childminder’s care. Parents are aware of the childminder’s role and her responsibilities to protect children, which is made clear to parents through her policy. However, the childminder is not clear of the procedures to follow if any allegation is made against her or her family.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children have their individual needs met because the childminder knows the children well and encourages good communication with parents to develop continuity of care. The childminder provides high levels of interaction with children, offering cuddles to young children as they require throughout the day, for support and confidence building. The childminder plans activities to ensure children have a variety of experiences that will challenge their learning. For example, they enjoy art and craft activities, messy and imaginative play, educational toys with letters and sounds, and computer access for educational games.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder finds out what children know and can do when they first attend by talking to parents and observing children when they are playing. She takes time to settle children into her care gradually, over a period of several days or weeks, ensuring they are confident in her care and parents start to build trusting relationships. Children make positive relationships with adults and with each other. For example, young children and older ones have developed good relationships and play well together, particularly when playing schools together.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children participate in activities, which further develop their existing skills and encourage new ones. For example, they use role play resources, such as the play kitchen, with appropriate food, tools and equipment. They enjoy pretending to make dinner with the childminder and use oven gloves to remove 'hot' food from the oven. Children show interest in what they do and ask questions when using the child sized computer. They select their choice of number or letter to choose a piece of music, and they are able to use the pointer to press their options independently. Children develop confidence, independence and self-esteem, responding to the challenges the childminder provides. For example, together they learn to build a 'castle' with Mega blocks.

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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

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children become aware of our wider society and understand diversity through the wide range of toys and resources that reflect positive images of culture, gender and disability. For example, the childminder helps children to celebrate festivals through activities, provides a variety of books about diversity and talks to children about people with disabilities. The childminder also provides both gender dolls, small world play figures and skin colour pencils, together with music from around the world. Children learn about their local community through walking around the neighbourhood and visiting local groups, such as toddlers, and by mixing with groups of children when meeting other childminders. Children feel a sense of belonging in the relaxed family atmosphere. They are content and show their confidence in their play, by choosing the toys, resources and equipment they want to play with, as age appropriate toys and equipment

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Helping children make a positive contribution

are accessible to all children. The childminder treats children as individuals but with equal concern, meeting their individual needs. She ensures she meets children's individual needs by maintaining open communication with parents. Children are encouraged to play and co-operate with each other and to treat others with respect and kindness. The childminder asks children to be nice to each other and has regular discussions with them, explaining why it is not appropriate to say hurtful things.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children receive appropriate support and all children are valued as individuals. The childminder encourages them to be aware of their own needs and to respect the needs of others. She works with parents to meet individual children’s needs and ensures they are fully included. Children understand responsible behaviour, knowing and understanding the house rules decided by the childminder. For example, when children do display any unacceptable behaviour, the childminder removes children from the situation and asks them to sit quietly with her for a short time. She then explains that the behaviour was not acceptable and they should not to do it again. Behaviour is generally good and behaviour management is verbally agreed with parents and in the childminder’s policy. The childminder believes in using positive praise and encouragement and constantly praises children for all their achievements.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children benefit from the established and developing two-way relationships between parents and the childminder. For example, the childminder ensures she tells parents that she can be approached with any concerns or worries and is confident to discuss any issues with them. Children are cared for according to their parents’ wishes, ensuring continuity to meet the child’s needs. The childminder ensures good communication to meet their individual requirements. She ensures that she gathers sufficient information from parents on arrival and makes time to talk at the end of the day. Records are shared and confidentiality is maintained with individual families. Emergency contact numbers for parents are kept accessible at all times to ensure children receive appropriate levels of care and parents are aware of Ofsted contact details through the complaints procedure.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder has a high regard for the welfare and well-being of all children. For example, when visitors are in the home and minded children are present, she is always careful to keep children in her sight. The adult/child ratio positively supports children’s care, learning and play because the childminder ensures she cares appropriately for children in small groups. For example, the childminder cares for a maximum of two children together to ensure children receive high levels of interaction. Children benefit from good organisation of space and

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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 resources, for example, a wide range of toys, resources and equipment are suitably stored in the conservatory in stacking drawers and boxes, giving children ample space to move around freely.

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Organisation

The childminder organises her practice by sharing information with parents through her welcome brochure, which contains copies of the childminder's policies and procedures. Documentation on individual children, such as contracts, daycare records and accident records are clearly recorded, regularly reviewed and secure. Children's attendance records show times of arrival and departure accurately and parental consents are obtained. The childminder provides parents with Ofsted details in case of complaint, however she has yet to develop a record of complaints to share with parents on request.

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Organisation

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

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the previous inspection the childminder was asked to develop her knowledge of the local area child protection committee procedures. She has since improved her knowledge of child protection issues and is aware of the signs of abuse and neglect, and the procedures to follow if she has any concerns. However, the childminder is not clear on the procedures to follow if allegations are made against her or her husband, so this remains a recommendation for this inspection.

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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): • improve the childminder's understanding of child protection procedures, with regard to any allegations made against adults in the household • develop the complaints procedure to include a record of any complaints to share with parents on request

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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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