St Barnabas CofE Primary Academy

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number 137866 Inspection date 22 November 2005 Inspector Linda Close

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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 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 2000. The childminder lives with her husband and four children. Three of the children attend secondary school and one attends primary school. The childminder's home is within walking distance of parks, shops and public transport. It is located in the Wimbledon Park area of southwest London. The local authority is the London Borough of Merton. The whole of the ground floor area of the property is used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The childminder attends a toddler group with minded children on a regular basis. She is a member of the National Childminding Association. At present the childminder cares for 1 child aged 2 years old on a

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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 full-time basis.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children are very well nourished at the childminder's home because the childminder is well informed about healthy eating. Children are given a good range of tasty meals prepared with fresh ingredients. They also enjoy healthy snacks of fresh fruit and they are given frequent drinks. Children are not given food that disagrees with them because the childminder consults parents about children's likes and dislikes and any allergies. Children's dietary needs are very carefully met. Children are cared for appropriately in case of minor accidents because the childminder keeps her first aid training up to date. She changes nappies hygienically and washes her hands promptly. Children's need for sleep is very well judged by the childminder. She liaises very effectively with parents about sleep patterns. Children sleep comfortably in the lounge where they can be constantly observed. However,

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Helping children to be healthy

they sleep on the settee that is in daily use in the home without a cover which gives rise to a risk of cross-infection. Children have good opportunities for healthy energetic play. There is ample space for play in the home and further worthwhile physical play opportunities are provided by regular visits to a local playgroup.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children are cared for in a secure home environment where they have ample space to play and rest. They have easy access to a good selection of toys, books and resources that are suited to their age and stage of development. Children's toys are clean, safe and attractive. Children's welfare is safeguarded well in relation to child protection issues because the childminder has kept her training up to date and consequently she is well informed. She recognises her responsibilities concerning the protection of children. She can recognise possible signs or symptoms that suggest ill-treatment and can take appropriate steps if she is concerned. Children are safe in the childminder's home because she has assessed risks and taken steps to keep children safe. For example, she has devised a written fire evacuation plan, placed a gate at the bottom of the staircase and has attached a bolt

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

to her kitchen door to prevent children's access. Sharp or heavy objects are made inaccessible to children. They cannot touch the fire because a large fire guard is firmly fixed in place in front of it. There has been some renovation work completed in the house and debris from this work has made the garden unsuitable for children at

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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 the present time.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children benefit from the enjoyment of worthwhile activities and play opportunities at the childminder's home. These activities are supplemented by regular visits to local playgroups for play with large equipment and with other children. Children enjoy the social aspect of playgroup visits which gives them valuable opportunities to learn to share and to take turns with others. Toys and resources are set out at a low level so that children can make independent choices and decisions. They particularly like their play tent which they use to invent imaginative games. Children make very good use of battery operated toys which they can explore. They can play with puzzles and have a good selection of books. The toys suit both boys and girls. The children are interested in their play and they concentrate well on their games for appreciable periods of time. Their speech and language development is nurtured very effectively by the childminder. Children show

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

a keen interest in books and they discuss the pictures aloud using a growing range of words in English and their own home language.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children experience an effective continuity of care because the childminder and parents share details of their health and any individual needs at registration. The adults share their thoughts and observations on a regular basis after registration which helps to nurture children's feelings of security. The children are very happy and content. They are learning to be pleasant and polite because the childminder is calm and pleasant towards them. Children are distracted successfully if they make a fuss about meals or sleep time. The childminder shows her extensive experience in her sensible, effective approach to behaviour management. The childminder has a good understanding of the care of children who have special needs although none of her minded children have special needs at present. She is well aware of the need for working with parents. She offers good support to children who do not have English as their first language. They are gaining a widening

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Helping children make a positive contribution

vocabulary in their spoken English with the childminder's encouragement.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder is enthusiastic in her approach to attendance at further training which keeps her up to date with developments in childcare. Her training record shows

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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 that she has attended courses in children's development and play, children's nutrition and other useful courses. She has put her training to good use in her work with the children. She has already identified the need to make a record of complaints should any be received. All of the required documents are in place and they are maintained according to regulation. Most members of the family were checked for suitability at registration. One suitability check is outstanding for a teenage member of the family and the childminder has already taken steps to rectify this. The childminder has arranged her home and resources to give children ample space to play and rest in comfort. Effective steps have been taken to keep children safe and secure in the home. The outdoor area is currently not in use because of debris left by renovation work. The setting meets the

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Organisation

needs of the range of the children for whom it provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder agreed to address two recommendations made at the last inspection. A request to add children's full names to records of attendance has been met. The childminder now has complete records of children's attendance which meets regulations. The childminder also agreed to obtain written permission from parents for emergency medical treatment or advice and she now has this in place which contributes to children's safety.

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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 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): • provide a cover for the sofa for each child for sleep time

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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 • make sure the garden is safe for children to use.

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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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