The Holy Family Catholic School, a Voluntary Academy

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 149299 Inspection date 10/02/2010 Inspector Lindsay Hare

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Type of setting Childminder to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It rates council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may copy all or parts of this document for non-commercial educational purposes, as long as you give details of the source and date of publication and do not alter the information in any way.

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Royal Exchange Buildings St Ann's Square Manchester M2 7LA

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T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Introduction

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under Sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of the registered early years provision. ‘Early years provision’ refers to provision regulated by Ofsted for children from birth to 31 August following their fifth birthday (the early years age group). The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children’s learning, development and welfare, known as the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Introduction

The provider must provide a copy of this report to all parents with children at the setting where reasonably practicable. The provider must provide a copy of the report to any other person who asks for one, but may charge a fee for this service (The Childcare (Inspection) Regulations 2008 regulations 9 and 10).

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Introduction

The setting also makes provision for children older than the early years age group which is registered on the voluntary and/or compulsory part(s) of the Childcare Register. This report does not include an evaluation of that provision, but a comment about compliance with the requirements of the Childcare Register is included in Annex B.

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Introduction

Please see our website for more information about each childcare provider. We publish inspection reports, conditions of registration and details of complaints we receive where we or the provider take action to meet the requirements of registration. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Description of the childminding

The childminder registered in 2000. She lives with her husband in Stevenage. The whole of the ground floor and one bedroom upstairs is used for childminding and there is a secure garden for outside play. The family has no pets. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children under eight years, three of whom may be in the early years age group.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder provides care on each weekday during term-time and school holidays. She is registered on the Early Years Register and on both the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register.

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Description of the childminding

Children on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register share the same facilities as those on the Early Years Register. There are currently two children on roll, both of whom are in the early years age range. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is satisfactory.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children are generally making some progress in their learning and development, however, this is limited due to the childminder's lack of understanding of the learning and development requirements and weaknesses in the observation and assessment process. There are adequate procedures in place to safeguard children, although a welfare requirement has not been met, regarding who has parental responsibility for each child. There is no record of complaints and the childminder's self-evaluation is weak with little identification of areas for improvement. However, the recommendations from the last inspection have been met, showing some capacity for continuous improvement.

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further?

To fully meet the specific requirements of the EYFS, the registered person must:

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further?

 obtain information from parents about who has legal contact with the child; and who has parental responsibility for the child (Safeguarding and welfare) 17/02/2010

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further?

 keep a written record of all complaints made during any specified period, and the action which was taken as a result of each complaint (This also applies to both parts of the Childcare register) (Safeguarding and welfare) 24/02/2010

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further?

 develop a system for observational assessment in order to plan to meet young children's individual needs (Organisation) 24/02/2010 This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 To further improve the early years provision the registered person should:

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further?

 develop the self-evaluation of the setting in order to identify areas for improvement  develop knowledge of the learning and development requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

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the early years provision

Children's welfare is generally promoted as there are adequate safeguarding procedures which are available to parents, ensuring children are safeguarded. There are systems in place to make sure that children are never left alone with anyone not vetted. Risk assessments are carried out regularly to ensure that hazards to children are identified and minimised. Although the children are given opportunities to experience activities within the areas of learning, the childminder's understanding of the learning and development requirements is limited.

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the early years provision

The childminder has some awareness of equality and diversity, for example, the childminder is bi-lingual and parents have requested that she speaks French to their child as well as English. The childminder communicates with parents, enabling them to work together in partnership. For example, she verbally exchanges information with parents on a daily basis as well as keeping daily diaries and shares photos with the parents of what the children have been doing. However, no record of complaints is kept for parents to see and a welfare requirement has not been met, as no information has been obtained as to who has parental responsibility for each child.

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the early years provision

The childminder's self-evaluation is poor, where few areas for improvement have been identified. However, recommendations from the last inspection have been met and some plans for the future are targeted to bring about some further improvement to the provision and outcomes for children.

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and outcomes for children

Children make some progress in their learning and development because the childminder provides opportunities for them to engage in activities and experiences that cover the areas of learning. However, children's individual next steps are not clearly identified because observation and assessment is poor and does not link back to the Early Years Foundation Stage. This means that children's progress towards the early learning goals is potentially compromised.

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and outcomes for children

Children behave appropriately and are settled in the childminder's home. They select resources independently and play on their own or with others at the childminding and toddler groups, they regularly visit. Children enjoy cuddles with the childminder and younger children are observed imitating the older children This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 clapping their hands. Young children are encouraged to say the childminder's and other children's names. They are keen to talk about their experiences at home, for example, one child told the childminder what his Granddad had bought him recently. Children enjoy using musical instruments, doing action rhymes as well as singing songs in French. They experience painting, using glitter and craft activities at the childminding group, such as making puppets and carving pumpkins. Children are beginning to recognise numbers and letters as they complete number and

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and outcomes for children

Children enjoy walks in the woods, where they can collect sticks and stones and watch the rabbits. They have regular exercise, using the balls and climbing apparatus in the garden and park. The childminder also frequently takes the children swimming. They excitedly use the 'tools' to fix the car and connect the magnetic ends of the train correctly, pushing them along the floor.

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and outcomes for children

Children are gaining an awareness of keeping safe as the childminder talks to them about the oven being hot and they practise fire drills. Children are offered a healthy diet and the childminder follows good hygiene procedures, such as using hand sanitising gel before and after nappy changing. Most of the necessary documentation, such as parental consents, are in place. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Annex A: record of inspection judgements

The key inspection judgements and what they mean

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Annex A: record of inspection judgements

Grade 1 is Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Grade 2 is Good: this aspect of the provision is strong Grade 3 is Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is sound Grade 4 is Inadequate: this aspect of the provision is not good enough

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children in the Early Years Foundation Stage?

The capacity of the provision to maintain continuous improvement

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and managed?

The effectiveness of leadership and management in embedding ambition and driving improvement The effectiveness with which the setting deploys resources 3 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 3 The effectiveness of the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement The effectiveness of partnerships 3 The effectiveness of the setting’s engagement with parents and carers

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Stage

The quality of the provision in the Early Years Foundation Stage 3

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 3 The extent to which children feel safe 3 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 3 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 3 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 3

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Stage

procedures set out in the guidance available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register are: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The registered provider does not meet the requirements of the compulsory and or voluntary part/s of the Childcare Register.

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 provide a written statement of procedures to be followed in relation to complaints (this also applies to the voluntary part of the Childcare register) (Procedures for dealing with complaints) 24/02/2010

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 take action as specified in the early years section of the report (Procedures for dealing with complaints) 24/02/2010

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 take action as specified in the early years section of the report (Procedures for dealing with complaints) 24/02/2010

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 take action as specified in the compulsory part of the Childcare Register section of the report (Procedures for dealing with complaints) 24/02/2010

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