St Francis of Assisi Church of England Primary School

Inspection report for early years provision

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147275 Unique Reference Number 20 February 2008 Inspection date Naomi Brown 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 1994. She lives in a ground floor flat in Barnet with her two daughters aged 16 and 14 years. At present she cares for one child. The areas used for childminding are the living room, the master bedroom for sleep/rest for a baby in a cot and the bathroom/toilet. The kitchen is used for food and drink preparation. This area is out of bounds to children. Supervised outdoor play is provided in the communal out door play area at the rear of the property and through the use of local parks. Local amenities are within walking distance.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. Children benefit as they are offered a wide range of nutritious foods by the childminder. Menu sheets are filled in and shared with the parents. Children thoroughly enjoy their food and the childminder encourages them to try a range of suitable foods. Children are exposed to a plethora of images of healthy foods which increases their familiarity with foods that are good to eat. Children identify that they must wash their hands before and after eating and that they are

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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 aware of the need to clean surfaces, stating that the high chair is 'all dirty, sticky.' This demonstrates that children are able to recognise the need to keep themselves healthy.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder has a substantial range of written policies and procedures designed to protect children's health including an extremely clear sick child policy. The childminder's hygienic practice clearly demonstrates her commitment towards protecting the health of all children that she cares for.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder offers lots of outdoor activities to improve children's opportunities for outdoor play. Children enjoy visits to local parks and attractions and take delight in describing outings that they have been on. Children thoroughly enjoy physical activity and this is demonstrated throughout their play. The childminder has provided an extremely well thought out range of equipment designed to increase children's small muscle development. As a result children are able to manipulate cutlery, scissors and craft materials safely and with high levels of skill.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are protected as the childminder has a good range of safety equipment. Minding areas are welcoming and decorated with children's work and photographs, to make families feel at home in the setting. The childminder has a sensible evacuation plan and a good range of fire safety equipment to ensure that children are protected in the case of a fire. The childminder carries out risk assessments both in the home and on outings to promote children's safety at all times. She also carries cards to identify that she is a childminder in the case of an emergency while out of the home. This ensures that parents and carers can be contacted in the case of an emergency and that children can receive appropriate care.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's welfare is safeguarded as the childminder has a good awareness of the signs and symptoms of abuse and neglect. The childminder has a clear policy and procedure but this does not currently contain Local Safeguarding Children's Board guidelines. This can impact on the childminder's ability to contact the correct person quickly if she has a child protection concern. This policy clearly states the steps that the childminder will take to protect children and is shared with parents and carers. This ensures that they are clear about the childminder's responsibilities towards their children.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children thoroughly enjoy their time with the childminder as they have free access to a carefully planned range of resources, activities and experiences. The childminder offers a very wide range of activities to children that extend their developing skills. Children giggle with delight as they stick a range of materials onto a wooden spoon to make a puppet. They show high levels of imagination as they select hair, clothes and decorations for their puppet. Children enjoy hopping, skipping and jumping along to a tape of children's music, demonstrating the emerging sense of rhythm. Children delight in reading stories with the childminder and her family. They enjoy selecting books that are familiar to them and reading along with the story. The childminder has provided a very wide range of fiction and non-fiction books that challenge children and encourage them to develop their already considerable language skills.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder has taken detailed and evaluative observations of children that she cares for. The childminder uses these observations regularly to plan activities for individual children in

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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 her care. This enables her to move children to the next level of development. This contributes heavily to their excellent progress.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Children thrive in the childminder's welcoming home as they are cared for warmly and treated as a member of the family. The childminder's own children join in games and activities and this helps minded children to make secure and meaningful relationships. Children are extremely settled and comfortable in the setting and approach others with confidence. Children enjoy drawing pictures of children who have left, identifying their friends in photographs of past activities and outings. They enjoy reading letters from children who have left and the childminder encourages minded children to maintain links with the setting after they have moved on. This ensures that children are able to deal with transitions to other settings such as school as they are secure that they will be remembered by the childminder and her family.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder is open with parents and shares much information regarding her background and childcare experience with them. This helps parents and children to feel secure with the childminder's practice. Policies and procedures are shared with all parents to ensure that they understand the provision that their children receive. Daily diaries are in place to ensure that parents receive all important information about the care that their children receive. Parents and carers are extremely happy with the care their children receive. This relaxed and open attitude informs the extremely strong continuity of care that all children receive.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has plentiful resources that show positive images of our diverse world, including toys that show individuals with different abilities and special needs. The childminder uses the toy library to supplement her resources to teach children about individuals with differing needs. The childminder is in the process of developing a book entitled 'Our Diverse World' which offers positive images of children from different backgrounds, cultures and needs. This comprehensive approach ensures that children learn to adopt the childminder's own inclusive attitude.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has a very mature attitude towards caring for children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. She is experienced and is happy to take any training that would be necessary to meet a child's particular needs. The childminder has a sensitive approach towards communicating sensitive information and her care and attention to detail ensure that the needs of any children she minds are always absolute.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are cared for a by an organised and experienced childminder. They benefit as they are offered a well designed range of resources and activities that help them play and learn. Children benefit from strong routines set in place by the childminder. The childminder's good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of her provision ensure that she is able to offer improving practice to all children. The childminder is a member of a local childminding network and uses this to keep up to date with changes in information and legislation. This helps her to offer practice that complies with current guidelines to the benefit of all children. The childminder's policies and procedures are well written so that they are unambiguous to parents and cares. The childminder ensures that all necessary consents, permissions and certificates are up to date, which help to protect children that she minds. The setting meets the needs of

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Organisation

the range of children for whom it provides.

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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

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection several recommendations were made that concerned documentation regarding emergency treatment and medication administration, risk assessments and the childminder's sickness policy. All necessary documentation and consents are now in place regarding the administration of medication and emergency treatment and permissions are always sought for the administration of any medication to children. The childminder currently carries out daily risk assessments that identify all major hazards in her home. The childminder's sickness policy is unambiguous and all parents and carers are aware of appropriate exclusion periods These improvements contribute to the continuing safety and progress of minded children.

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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): • consider updating current Child Protection Policies to reflect current Local Safeguarding Children's Board procedures and contact details.

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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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