St Patrick's Catholic College, A Voluntary Catholic Academy

Inspection report for early years provision

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142281 Unique Reference Number 07 November 2007 Inspection date Catherine Louise Sample 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 has been registered since 2001. She lives with her husband in a terraced house in Frome. The ground floor is the main area used for childminding. One bedroom is used on the first floor for children who need to sleep. The childminder does not have any pets.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a total of five children at any one time. There are currently eight children on roll. She is also registered to provide overnight care for one child.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association and holds an Early Years qualification to level 3.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. Children are learning about excellent hygiene practice. They follow thorough hand washing procedures after using the toilet and before eating. They have individual hand towels, flannels and bedding to prevent cross infection. The childminder wears disposable gloves when changing

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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 nappies and helping children with toileting and also washes her hands afterwards. She has drawn up a cleaning schedule to ensure that her home is clean and follows extensive guidance about food hygiene.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have healthy food and drink. They enjoy an excellent selection of hot meals including tuna in béchamel sauce with vegetables and shepherds pie with sweet potato. They have healthy desserts such as Greek yoghurt and stewed apple and snacks of dried and fresh fruit. They are regularly offered drinks of water or milk and the childminder checks to ensure that they have enough fluids. She talks with the children about what foods are good for you and ensures that they are never offered unhealthy foods such as sweets, biscuits and chocolate.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are well protected from illness and infection. The childminder has a detailed sickness policy and procedures based on national guidance for infection control. She has a wide range of information about infectious illnesses and how to prevent their spread in a home environment. She has drawn up accident and emergency procedures.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are helped to keep fit through extensive daily physical activity. They go out to the local parks every day where they use varied apparatus and can do a range of other physical activities such as ball games.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are learning about how to stay safe. They discuss road safety when they go out every day and talk about why they must walk and not run when crossing the road. They also discuss why there are stair gates in the childminder's home. The childminder reminds them about safety issues. For example, she tells children not to throw toys because they could hurt someone.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children can move about the setting safely due to effective measures. These include keeping all sockets covered, all hazardous materials out of reach and using a monitor to check on sleeping babies. A stair gate denies access to the stairs and the cloakroom has a high bolt to prevent children from locking themselves in. The batteries in the smoke detectors are changed regularly and there is a fire blanket in the kitchen. The childminder does not carry out fire drills with the children which means that they may not know what to do in an emergency situation.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's safety on outings is ensured through the childminder's vigilance. She always directly supervises children in the park and checks that the area is safe before children can use it. She is aware of other users of the park and monitors strangers to ensure that children are safe. The childminder carries a card explaining that she is a childminder with children in her care in case she is involved in an emergency situation.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's welfare is protected through the childminder's sound understanding of child protection issues. She is aware of the possible indicators of abuse such as changes in children's behaviour and unexplained injuries. She knows what to do if she has concerns about a child and has varied information about how to safeguard children.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are confident. They do not display any anxiety about strangers and happily chat to adults about what they like doing. They move about the childminder's home confidently. For

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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 example, a young child goes to the toilet by themselves. They are developing many independent skills. They help to put their toys away and younger children feed themselves. The childminder encourages them to become more independent. For example, she asks them to see if they can put the train track together without her help.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children have good opportunities to make choices. They can choose what activities they want to do and help themselves to toys and equipment. They are also offered options by the childminder who suggests taking out the train track when the children become restless during another activity. They can choose from a varied range of age appropriate resources including art materials, books and construction sets. The childminder has previously used the local toy library to extend the range of toys available. This has now moved and the childminder is considering what resources she may need to purchase to ensure all areas of children's development are fully catered for.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children benefit from a stimulating range of activities. The childminder uses her knowledge of the Birth to three matters framework and the Foundation Stage curriculum to ensure that children enjoy a varied range of play opportunities. These include art and craft activities, looking at books and building with a variety of construction sets. She places a strong emphasis on outdoor play and children go out to the park daily whatever the weather. Children are learning through their play. A child retells the story of a book they are looking at and counts how many coats they have. They also learn from their outdoor play as they talk about what they see and count cars and steps.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children contribute to the setting by helping to put away their toys and making choices about what they would like to do. They have positive relationships with one another. They interact well as they play together with the train track and sit together at lunchtime. They are learning to take turns and share. For example, a child looks at a book and then passes it on to another child who is waiting for it. They have good manners and remember to say 'please' and 'thank you' at meal times. Children's behaviour is managed effectively. The childminder acts as a good role model and talks to the children about what it feels like if they hurt others and emphasises the importance of sharing.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are learning sufficiently about wider society. They regularly take books out of the library that help them to learn about diversity. They also talk with the childminder about television programmes that they see and people that they meet. The childminder used to use the local toy library to get multicultural toys but this has now moved. As a result, children do not currently have access to enough resources that promote diversity and the childminder does not plan specific activities to help them learn about the wider world. Children's individual needs are recognised and catered for. For example, the childminder takes drinks with her to school when picking up children that need to have extra fluids.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children benefit from an effective working partnership between the parents and the childminder. The childminder uses contracts and record of information sheets to set out the terms of the arrangement and collect relevant information about the child and family. She shares information with parents through discussion and a daily written diary. She has a confidentiality policy in place to protect families and has drawn up other varied policies which she shares with parents.

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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. Children benefit from a well organised environment. There is plenty of clear floor space to allow children to play freely. The environment is welcoming with toys set out ready for the children's arrival and music playing in the background. Resources are stored in a dresser and toy boxes to allow children easy access. The childminder also has toys that are stored in the cellar and brought out in rotation to maintain children's interest.

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Organisation

Children benefit from the childminder's training and experience. She has a level 3 childcare qualification and worked as a nanny for several years before becoming a childminder. She also works one day a week in a local nursery. She has a current first aid certificate.

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Organisation

Children's welfare is enhanced through the keeping of all necessary records. The childminder keeps accurate records of accidents and medication administered to children. She is also aware of the need to record any complaints made by parents and has drawn up a form for this purpose. She keeps a daily record of children's attendance although this is not always completed as children arrive and depart and does not, therefore, always show which children are present at any given time. She has drawn up policies on a number of subjects including child protection and accidents and emergencies.

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Organisation

Overall the provider 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 required to increase her knowledge of what to do if an allegation of abuse was made against her. She has now amended her child protection statement to include full procedures detailing what to do in this eventuality. This enhances children's safety.

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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):

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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 • ensure that the times of children's arrival and departure are recorded accurately • provide children with more activities and resources that help them learn about diversity

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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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