Trinity Catholic School

Inspection report for early years provision

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125756 Unique Reference Number 07 November 2007 Inspection date Virginia Cooper Inspector

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Integrated 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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the nursery education are satisfactory. the time of the inspection there were no children in receipt of nursery education. Ofsted judges that the provider remains suitable to provide nursery education.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder was registered in 1992. She lives with her husband and secondary school aged children in Folkestone, Kent. 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 seven children all on a part-time basis. The childminder can take and collect children to school. The childminder attends the local parent/toddler group. The family has a dog and two cats.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

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 childminder is able to supports children with learning difficulties and/ or disabilities. She is a member of an approved childminding network and is able to care for children in receipt of funding for early education for three and four-year-olds, however, no funded children are currently attending. 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 close relationship with the childminder and are very comfortable and 'at home'. Their pictures are displayed giving children a sense of belonging. The childminder understands the importance of young children feeling secure and safe. She has a settling in period enabling the children and their parents to adjust to new care arrangements. The childminder looks after children in a warm environment which is clean and well maintained.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children learn about good hygiene practice through the daily routine; for example, they wash their hands after visiting the toilet and before eating. The childminder tends to use wet wipes to clean children, preventing cross infection. The childminder works in cooperation with parents when children are potty training to ensure a consistent approach.

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Helping children to be healthy

Rest and sleep times are part of the daily programme; a baby monitor ensures the childminder can hear as soon as children are awake.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder does not care for children who are contagious ensuring others are not at risk of cross infection. Children who become poorly whilst with the childminder are comforted, and made comfortable, until their parents are able to collect them. The childminder ensures that she has written permission before she administers any medication. The dose and time is recorded to ensure parents are well informed and their children are not given anything that is unsuitable.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder holds a current first-aid qualification; any accidents and any first-aid that is administered whilst the children are in her care is recorded, parents sign the entry and this results in them being well informed about what happens to their child. The childminder checks the contents of her first-aid box to ensure she is always well prepared in the event of any accidents.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are able to expand their physical skills through regular outdoor play. This helps to encourage children to adopt exercise as part of the healthy lifestyle.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder has agreed with parents that they provide their children's meals, ensuring they know what their child has eaten. She does, however, provide some snacks. This is usually fruit; children are beginning to understand which foods are healthier for them. The childminder is able to provide home-cooked meals if parents prefer. Children always have access to water; they are learning to recognise their own cups and these are re-filled regularly to prevent them being thirsty.

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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

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The carefully prepared environment helps children to enjoy different play experiences safely. Babies and toddlers are able to crawl and pull themselves up using domestic furniture that does not easily tip over. There is a small pond in the garden, but a gate prevents children accessing this area. They only go and look at the pond with the childminder to ensure their safety. Children choose what they want to play with from a good range of well maintained toys; the childminder checks these regularly to ensure there are no broken parts that could harm a child.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder undertakes regular, thorough risk assessments. All necessary equipment to keep children safe is in place, for example, socket covers and stair gates. She carries out a visual check of the premises each day to maintain the safety standards and prevent accidents. Children are reminded how to behave to keep themselves safe and what the consequences may be if they are too boisterous. This is beginning to help them understand about taking personal responsibility for their own safety. The childminder has given some consideration to fire safety and is aware of all the available exits to facilitate a fast evacuation in an emergency. Smoke alarms and a fire blanket are on the premises to contribute to children's safety in a fire. The childminder undertakes fire drills with the children; helping them practise evacuating the building quickly and safely.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has recently attended a course to update her knowledge of how to safeguard children from harm. She understands the signs and symptoms of abuse and feels confident that she would recognise if a child needs protection. She knows what to do and who to contact should she have concerns about a child's well-being.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The childminder is familiar with the framework Birth to three matters and the Foundation Stage curriculum. She has a good understanding of child development and the importance of providing age appropriate activities, therefore, children have opportunities to learn whilst they are playing and enjoying themselves. Children make choices about the activities they undertake; the childminder facilitates their play helping them gather the equipment they want to undertake their chosen activity. Children's communication skills are good; they enjoy chatting with the childminder and they frequently hold interesting conversations. The childminder interacts positively with children, showing interest in what they are doing, encouraging them to experiment. She fosters children's creativity. They happily mix paints to make new colours and their fascination and interest in this activity is clear. The childminder encourages children to

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

have a love of books. They read together and children show real interest in the different characters and are able to talk about the story.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The quality of teaching and learning is satisfactory.The childminder is registered to provide care and education for funded children; however, there are no funded children on roll at present. When a provider does not have children on roll at the time of the inspection, inspection

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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 judgements are based on evidence gathered from discussions with the provider and an inspection of the premises, equipment and relevant documentation.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

As there are no children on roll, the quality of the provision cannot be judged better than satisfactory because there is no reliable evidence on which to assess its impact on children.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The quality of teaching and learning is satisfactory. The childminder is able to demonstrate with documentation how she has, in the past, provided interesting and appropriate activities for funded children. She explains how she uses observations and children's assessment records to identify their next steps in learning. The plans cover all six areas of learning and a major learning intention is identified. The childminder evaluates all activities, enabling her to identify what works well and what improvements can be made.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The childminder has a good understanding of equality of opportunity and has a positive attitude towards diversity. Children are treated with respect and made to feel good about themselves; they talk about things that are important to them, for example their home and family. There is a range of resources that reflect our multicultural society positively. Some of the books help children question stereotypes; helping them to begin to understand that everyone is different.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children with additional needs are welcome providing the childminder considers she can provide an appropriate service. She has some experience of caring for children on the autistic spectrum. She is kind and patient and willing to attend courses to help her understand if a child has a particular difficulty.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children's behaviour is good; they get along well and can share and co-operate with one another. There are house rules that are consistently applied, helping children understand the difference between right and wrong. The childminder adopts appropriate strategies, according to the age and stage of development, to help children behave well. This is usually distraction for the youngest children, calm intervention, good explanations and being a good role model. Children's spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is fostered.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The partnership with parents is satisfactory. The childminder appreciates that balancing work and home life is difficult for working parents, and for this reason she offers a very flexible service; she will always try to accommodate parents' requests. The childminder is happy to write a contact book for parents. Some parents prefer an in-depth conversation at the end of each day to exchange information. The childminder has a service statement that makes it clear to parents how she operates her business. She obtains written parental permission for outings, transporting children in a vehicle and to seek emergency medical advice or treatment. The childminder has not received any complaints but has prepared a complaints log to do this if the situation ever occurs in future. In the past the childminder has given parents of funded children copies of any observations she has made and comprehensive notes of their child's

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Helping children make a positive contribution

progress toward the early learning goals.

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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 is able to show that all adults living and working in the household have undergone checks to establish their suitability. A public liability insurance certificate is available for parents to see, providing them with peace of mind.

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Organisation

Children benefit from a well-organised environment; the childminder considers their home routine and ensures there are sufficient resources to keep them amused. Children are happy, settled and receive attentive adult support to help them feel secure confident. The childminder considers the differing needs of the children who attend, for example, their ages and stages of development and personal preferences ensuring all children enjoy their time with her. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom it provides.

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Organisation

The registration certificate is displayed ensuring parents are clear about the conditions of registration. The childminder understands the importance of confidentiality and a good working relationship with parents. Parents provide detailed information about their child to ensure the childminder can provide an appropriate service. They provide telephone numbers for emergency contact. The childminder keeps all the documentation that relates to her childminding business together and confidentially. There is a poster detailing to parents how they can make a complaint to the registering body, however, the telephone number in the service statement requires updating.

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Organisation

The leadership and management is satisfactory. The childminder has a positive and clear vision about the service she wants to provide. She regularly updates her knowledge by attending courses and recognises that this helps her provide a quality service.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection several recommendations were made relating to National Standard 6, 13 and 14.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder was asked to make chemicals inaccessible to children, make the lawn area of the garden safe for children's use, develop her knowledge and understanding of child protection issues, provide parents with written information about the childminding service, policies and procedures and record existing injuries.

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Improvements since the last inspection

All these issues are addressed improving the children's safety and 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.

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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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Complaints since the last inspection

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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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the nursery education are satisfactory. the time of the inspection there were no children in receipt of nursery education. Ofsted judges that the provider remains suitable to provide nursery education.

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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): • update the service statement with the correct telephone number of the registering body

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The quality and standards of the nursery education

To improve the quality and standards of nursery education further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • There are no recommendations as funded children were not on roll at the time of inspection.

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The quality and standards of the nursery education

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 nursery education

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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