Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number 139621 Inspection date 16 November 2005 Inspector June Fielden

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Type of inspection Childcare Type of care Childminding

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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 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 satisfactory. 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 1993. She lives with her husband and two school-aged daughters in Wallington, Surrey. The playroom, kitchen and downstairs toilet are used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. There is provision for older children to use the living room after school. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children and is currently minding two full-time and two part-time. She walks to the local shops, parks and schools. The childminder regularly attends a local toddler group and other children's activity groups. The family have two cats and two rabbits as pets.

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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

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children enjoy a range of activities that keep them healthy. The childminder walks children to local schools and parks for exercise. They play on equipment provided in the childminder's garden and enjoy trips to children's groups, where they can strengthen their muscles and gain control of their bodies. Children eat healthy snacks which include fruit, bread sticks and rice cakes. The childminder regularly asks children if they need a drink, to ensure they are not thirsty. Young children have their own beakers, which are available to them throughout the day. Parents provide children's meals and the childminder monitors what they eat to ensure their nutritional requirements are met. Satisfactory standards of hygiene are maintained through the routines the childminder has in place. Children wash their hands at mealtimes and after touching the pets. The childminder has obtained permissions for the emergency medical

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Helping children to be healthy

treatment of children and has an appropriately stocked first aid box to maintain children's health. She requests written permission before administering medication to children, but does not have a record book in which to log the necessary details. Currently, her accident book is not organised in a manner which ensures confidentiality is maintained. Consequently, children's wellbeing is not fully assured.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Effective measures are in place to ensure children's safety. The childminder has a health and safety policy, is aware of potential hazards, and carries out regular risk assessments. She has an escape plan and smoke alarms in place to protect children in case of an emergency. Children remain within sight of the childminder at all times during outings and reins are used to ensure younger children do not wander off on their own. They are made aware of how to keep themselves safe, as the childminder explains to children why they should not do things that could bedangerous, such as running with objects in their mouths. Children benefit from using a playroom built specifically for their use, where they can move around freely and select what they wish to play with. There is a broad range of toys available to children, suitable for all ages and stages of development. Children are protected from harm, as the childminder has a child protection policy in

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

place and a good understanding of this subject. She is aware of the signs of abuse and will record any worries she has about children in her care. Where necessary the childminder will report her concerns to the appropriate authority.

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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 provision is good. Children are all given individual time and attention by the childminder; they are all encouraged to participate in activities and she joins in their play. Their counting skills and colour recognition is developed through play activities. For example, when building towers of bricks, children are asked to count how many bricks they have used and to name their colours. Children enjoy playing with a challenging selection of toys, including those which produce sound and light. The childminder spends time talking to children and asking them questions as they play. She develops the children's listening and language skills during quiet sessions, when she shares books with them, putting appropriate expression in her voice to make the stories more interesting. As a result, children

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

enjoy this activity and respond well to the questions they are asked about the characters in the stories. The childminder is aware of the different stages of children's development and understands their individual needs. They are taken to different groups and activities during the course of the week, enabling them to socialise with others and experience a wider selection of toys and resources.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Information provided by parents is used to meet children's needs. The childminder cares for children from different cultural backgrounds and has had some experience of caring for children with special needs. She treats all with equal concern and promotes their understanding of culture, gender and disability through the resources she provides. Children are encouraged to be polite to each other and apologise when they have upset another child. The childminder promotes good behaviour by praise. Children receive a warning about inappropriate behaviour. If it does not cease, she talks to them quietly, enabling them to understand why it is wrong. For example, when a child kept swinging a doll around by the hair the childminder explained to him that he could easily have hit in the face the baby present. Parents talk to the childminder on a daily basis when they collect their child. She

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Helping children make a positive contribution

regularly exchanges routine information with them. The childminder will telephone parents if there is anything she needs to discuss in more detail, in order to improve care for their child. Currently, the childminder is not fully conversant with all the requirements relating to the complaints process. Consequently, parents are unaware of the procedure to follow if they wish to make a complaint.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder's attendance register is well completed and she has a file of policies

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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 and qualifications in place to inform parents of how she organises her practice. However, the childminder does not have a current first aid certificate to ensure children's health is fully maintained. She makes parents aware of how their child will be cared for in the event of an emergency and obtains written permission for a named person to look after them. Her records are stored securely to ensure confidentiality is maintained. Overall the childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The last care inspection recommended that the childminder keep a record of attendance that shows children's times of arrival and departure, and that she obtains parents' permission for the emergency medical treatment of children. The childminder has now obtained permissions for emergency medical treatment of children and enters the times of children's arrival and departure in her register.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted 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 satisfactory. 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): • organise the accident book in a manner which ensures confidentiality is maintained • ensure all medication administered to children is entered in a record book • improve knowledge and understanding of the complaints requirements and ensure parents are informed of the procedure to follow if they wish to make a complaint

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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 an appropriate first aid certificate is maintained to safeguard children's good health.

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The quality and standards of the care

procedures set out in the leaflet Building better childcare: Compliments and concerns about inspectors' judgements 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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