St. Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Reddish

Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated. Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 136430 Inspection date 03/06/2009 Inspector Zahida Hatia

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Type of setting Childminder 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. 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 was registered in 1992. She lives with her husband and two children aged 16 and 18 years old. They live in a three-bedroom house in Chipping Sodbury, South Gloucestershire. The whole of the childminder’s house is used for childminding, and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The family has one pet, a guinea pig.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and on the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children under the age of eight years. She offers full and part-time care. She currently has three children on roll on a part time basis, one of whom is in the early years age group.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder walks to the local school to take and collect children. She also cares for children over eight years of age. The childminder attends the local parent/toddler group and takes children on outings. The childminder does not wish to provide overnight care. The childminder is a member of the local childminding support group.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall, the quality of the provision is outstanding. Children's welfare is promoted extremely well in this exceptionally comfortable, safe, secure and child-centred home environment. The childminder offers excellent care to children by focusing on their unique qualities and specific individual needs. Children enthusiastically enjoy a wealth of stimulating experiences in a vibrant and challenging environment where the childminder skilfully extends their experiences and introduces new skills to enable them to attain their full potential. Excellent partnership with parents and other agencies effectively contributes to meeting children’s needs and supports their continued learning and development. Reflective self-evaluation is in the early stages of development.

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further?

To further improve the high quality early years provision the registered person should consider:

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further?

 extend skills and confidence at using self-evaluation to identify future improvements in the setting.

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provision

Children benefit from the professional and well organised approach adopted by the childminder in her childminding practice. She is very successful in providing children with an extremely stimulating and interesting, child-centred environment, This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 in which children’s learning and development is well promoted. The childminder keeps a comprehensive range of paperwork, which is well presented and efficiently organised to reflect her daily practice. These include an inclusive set of policies and procedures that are shared with parents and detailed risk assessments which ensure children are kept safe in the home and when taken out on their many outings in the community. The childminder is beginning to develop the use of the self-evaluation process in order to reflect on her practice. She has effectively completed previous recommendations and through the completion of parent

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provision

questionnaires and children's feedback is proactive in providing for continuous improvement.

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provision

Parents are highly complimentary about the effective partnerships established through the flexible care arrangements and positive learning opportunities provided that enable their children to make excellent progress in their learning and development. Children benefit from the inclusiveness of the childminding practice. Appropriate care for children with disabilities is provided and the childminder is proactive in celebrating children’s cultural and linguistic backgrounds. The childminder maintains excellent levels of communication with parents in order to obtain and share information on a regular basis and children's progress records are effective in providing clear evidence of children's achievements. Links are firmly established with other professionals and other settings children attend in the community.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children effectively develop their skills in all areas of learning as they are constantly active and engaged in a broad and balanced range of stimulating activities. The childminder ensures they benefit from regular opportunities to study their local community and she provides an exceptional range of resources for them to explore and investigate. The childminder demonstrates an excellent understanding of how children learn through their play and she builds on their individual interests, preferences and abilities to successfully promote their learning and development. She has produced photograph albums and documented these as evidence in children's record books. These show children enjoying a range of activities and provide evidence of their individual achievements and progress. Additional scrapbooks of children’s work and assessment records are shared effectively and regularly with parents.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder sets high standards to safeguard children and encourages them to recognise potential risks and hazards as they learn how to keep themselves safe. Children are polite, considerate and well behaved because they reflect the childminder's calm, consistent and respectful example. Children learn to share and take turns as they learn to acknowledge each other's feelings and take care of each other. Children's good health is promoted through stringent procedures to prevent the spread of infection. The benefits of fresh air and exercise are strongly promoted as part of a healthy lifestyle. Learning experiences are promoted effectively in everyday routines. Children are provided with snacks and meals in sufficient quantities for their individual needs and the childminder works effectively to promote healthy eating habits. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children move freely and safely in the stimulating and interesting environment, happily choosing favourite toys from an extensive selection provided. Suitable furniture is provided to enable children to enjoy table-top activities and eat snacks and meals together. A comfortable sofa is used for reading books together and relaxation. Children are very confident and comfortable in the presence of the childminder. Many resources support children's understanding of diversity and encourage them to learn to value different aspects of their own and other people's lives. Opportunities to socialise, join in with group activities and explore different challenges are provided through visits to toddler groups, activity sessions and outings to places of interest. Children develop an excellent knowledge and understanding of the world around them as they explore the natural world on outings. For example, a younger child had found an empty egg shell on the path

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

and asked the childminder what it was. The childminder explained that it was an egg shell and that it must have fallen from a bird's nest. The child responded well to her explanation, gently placing the eggshell in her hands and then pointing to a bird perched on a tree nearby.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children begin to respect each other and learn to take turns following the instruction of the childminder. As a result, children are very well behaved and demonstrate increasing levels of independence and a sense of responsibility, in all that they do. For example, when helping to tidy away toys before snack time. Children are occupied in enjoyable and worthwhile activities in which they are keen to learn. The childminder interacts extremely well to effectively challenge them to extend learning. For example, they look at the different clothes for the dolls and count them as they put them away. Children are competent and capable language users and express themselves fluently. Younger children vocalise with the childminder, who reinforces their language attempts effectively so that children understand what is said. 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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of children in the Early Years Foundation Stage?

How well does the provision promote inclusive practice? 1 The capacity of the provision to maintain continuous improvement.

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Foundation Stage led and managed?

How effective is the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement? How well does the setting work in partnership with parents and others? How well are children safeguarded? 1

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Years Foundation Stage promoted?

How well are children helped to stay safe? 1 How well are children helped to be healthy? 1 How well are children helped to enjoy and achieve? 1 How well are children helped to make a positive contribution? How well are children helped develop skills that will contribute to their future economic well-being?

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Years Foundation Stage promoted?

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: Met

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are: Met

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