St Thomas' Catholic Primary School

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number 124365 Inspection date 17 November 2005 Inspector Elizabeth Anne Coffey

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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 to care for children since 1992. She lives with her husband and two adult children. They live in a four bed roomed house in Thornton Heath, in the London borough of Croydon. All childminding activities take place on the ground floor. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outdoor play. The childminder is registered to care for five children under eight and is currently caring for two preschool children during the day and two school aged children after

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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 school. 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 range of activities which contribute to their good health. They are learning to develop good control of their bodies through both indoor and outdoor play. Children are taken out regularly on walks around the local area to enjoy fresh air and exercise. They make very good use of the garden for outdoor play in fine weather. Babies and young children are able to sleep comfortably at times that match their individual routines. Children are cared for in a warm, clean home where they learn valuable lessons in personal care, such as when to wash their hands. Children enjoy a healthy, nutritious diet, including fresh fruit and vegetables and healthy snacks. Children are protected from illness and cross infection by sound practice, such as the use of separate plates and feeding utensils for minded children.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children benefit from close adult supervision as they independently select activities from a range of good quality toys and equipment, which meet safety standards. They are protected from harm by the childminder who has a good knowledge of child protection and ensures that children's welfare is safeguarded. Children are kept safe because the childminder has identified and minimised most risks in the home. However the storage of some cleaning materials does pose a potential hazard to children. Children learn to keep themselves safe and imitate safe practice in their play, for example, strapping a doll into a toy pushchair before taking it for a walk. They begin to learn valuable lessons in personal safety, such as holding on and walking in a safe manner when on outings or walking to and from school with the childminder.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are happy and settled. They benefit from a daily routine that accommodates their individual sleep and feeding patterns. New children are helped to settle in because the childminder is calm and patient in her approach and takes time to get to know each child well. Children enjoy playing with the wide range of toys and play materials that are readily available to them. They freely move between the dining room and kitchen bringing

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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 toys and props with them to extend their play. The childminder actively encourages and extends their learning through day to day activities, for example singing along with favourite songs on children's tapes and television programmes. Babies and toddlers develop their coordination and mobility skills with good support from the childminder. Children enjoy a range of outings outside of the home, including visits to local playgrounds and libraries. These are planned in line with children's individual interests. Children make good use of the garden for outdoor play.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children develop their understanding of the local community on visits to local shops where they learn about different lifestyles and foods associated with different cultures. The childminder provides a good range of resources to promote a positive view of the wider world, including dolls and books portraying people of different ethnic origins. This helps to increase children's awareness of diversity and their understanding of different lifestyles. The childminder has a positive approach towards caring for children with a range of needs and abilities. The childminder uses age appropriate strategies to deal with children's behaviour. Children's self esteem is raised by good use of praise and encouragement by the childminder. Good communication and liaison between the childminder and parents helps children progress. Parent's views are respected and they are kept well informed about how

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children's care is enhanced by effective and efficient organisation. The childminder organises her day around the children. The day is well planned allowing some flexibility for changes to children's sleep and feeding routines as necessary. Documentation is stored in an orderly manner and overall the childminder understands and complies with most regulatory requirements. However records relating to the administration of medication are incomplete and parental permission to seek emergency medical advice or treatment is not held. This could result in a delay in obtaining appropriate treatment in the event of an emergency. Where weaknesses in the system are identified, the childminder is keen to address these in order to ensure that her service reflects best practice. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides care.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder agreed to ensure that the outdoor area was safe, secure and well maintained and to make a complaints procedure available to parents.

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Improvements 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 All hazardous materials have been removed from the back garden and both exit gates are padlocked. There is a system in place informing parents how to contact Ofsted in the event of a complaint and for recording any complaints made by parents. This improves the safety and welfare of children.

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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): • seek written parental permission for emergency medical advice or treatment • improve documentation on administration of medication

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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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