St Winifred's RC Primary School

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 142456 Inspection date 15/12/2009 Inspector Julie Neal

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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 08456 404040, 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: 08456 404040 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 has been registered since 1994. She lives with her husband and two children in Wellington. Childminding mainly takes place on the ground floor of her home, and there is an enclosed garden suitable for children's use.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children under eight years of age at any one time, no more than three of which may be in the early years age range. She is currently minding two children in this age group. The childminder also offers care to children aged over five to 11 years. This provision is registered on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. Overnight care is not provided.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is good.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children's individual needs are met well. The childminder works very closely with parents to ensure she has a thorough understanding of each child's specific requirements, and is able to support their individual learning and development. This results in children who are making consistently good progress. The childminder monitors her own practice effectively, using her self-evaluations to identify areas for development. She plans well for the future to ensure consistent, good quality learning and development experiences for children.

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further?

To further improve the early years provision the registered person should:

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further?

 review risk assessments relating to outings, ensuring that these are consistent in identifying potential hazards specific to individual locations  review processes of monitoring children's development, linking evidence of their progress in each area of learning more specifically to the early learning goals.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a good understanding of the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and overall these are implemented well. This results in children in her care being effectively safeguarded. The childminder ensures all adults resident in her home are appropriately checked to confirm they are suitable to be with young children. She records the times when visitors are present, asking for identification where appropriate. She has an extremely good understanding of issues that may raise concerns regarding the abuse or neglect of children, and she has a thorough knowledge of Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) procedures. The childminder has clear written safeguarding procedures, which she This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 shares with parents to ensure they understand her responsibility to protect children in her care. The childminder's home is safe and secure. Written risk

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the early years provision

assessments relating to the childminder's home and garden are thorough, and these are supported by her good daily safety checks which she completes prior to the arrival of children. Risk assessments relating to outings are not consistent, some are good while others contain little detail of hazards specific to the location; however, in discussion the childminder can clearly identify how she keeps children safe.

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the early years provision

The childminder develops very good relationships with parents, and works closely with them to support the individual needs of their children. She provides an inclusive environment where children's individual health, learning, and development requirements are respected and supported very well. The childminder keeps parents well informed about their children's activities and individual achievements, mainly through discussion but also through the effective use of display boards. The childminder provides parents with comprehensive information about her practice, her family, and the regulatory requirements that support childcare. She encourages them to provide feedback, which she includes in her self-evaluation. The childminder has made good links with other providers of the EYFS, in respect of children that attend more than one setting. For example, she is aware of the key activities that will take place this term at pre-school, and so can

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the early years provision

plan activities that will complement these.

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the early years provision

The childminder evaluates her practice effectively. She identifies areas for improvement and takes action to address these. For example, meeting the learning and development requirements of the EYFS in respect of monitoring children's progress towards the early learning goals was a challenge to which the childminder has responded well. She has developed her own system which overall works effectively, although children's progress is linked broadly to each area of learning, rather than to the early learning goals.

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and outcomes for children

Children's welfare, learning and development is promoted well. The childminder's good daily health and safety routines ensure that children benefit from a well maintained, secure, and hygienic environment. She has very clear sickness procedures, including exclusion times relating to different illnesses, which are implemented well and shared with parents. The childminder has experience of caring for children with specific health requirements, and works very closely with parents and other professionals involved in supporting them. Health promotion with children is good. Children develop a good understanding of the importance of washing their hands before snacks and after using the toilet because the childminder promotes this with them from a very early age, in order to instil good habits for the future. Children show a good awareness of how their bodies work, for example, they talk about being thirsty and needing a drink because they have

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and outcomes for children

been running outside. The childminder promotes a healthy diet with children, and engages in discussions with them about what they are eating. For instance, talking to children about the contents of their lunchboxes and ranking the items in order This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 of how healthy they are.

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and outcomes for children

Children benefit from the extremely well organised physical environment, where space and resources are used most effectively to provide a wide variety of interesting learning opportunities for children. The childminder's thorough systems of safety checks ensure that children can move freely between areas of her home as they play. Children learn to keep themselves safe. For example, they take part in regular practices of the childminder's emergency evacuation procedures, and walks and excursions are used to teach them simple road safety.

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and outcomes for children

Children make consistently good progress towards the early learning goals, relative to their individual starting points. The childminder uses her very good knowledge of individual children to plan activities that support their development. She ensures children have a breadth of learning opportunities in all areas, using a simple but effective system of colour coding that enables her to quickly identify whether they are being offered a consistent range of experiences. The childminder has a good understanding of each child's stage of development. She uses her observations well in planning to ensure that all children are suitably challenged, and so make good progress in their learning and development in all areas. However, records of children's do not always reflect this, as evidence of their achievements are not consistently related to the early learning and development goals.

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and outcomes for children

Children are confident and well behaved. They develop excellent relationships with the childminder and her family, and respond very well to the warm and positive environment. They enjoy a good balance of planned, adult-led activities, and spontaneous, child-initiated play. For example, children have thoroughly enjoyed making Christmas ornaments and cards; although structured activities, the childminder provides a wide range of resources that enable children to make their creations extremely individual. Children count well and the childminder makes good use of informal opportunities that arise to encourage and extend children's reasoning and problem-solving skills. For example, they enjoy a game where they have to find five things that are the same, identifying a wide range of objects such as 'five cows', 'five fingers', 'five raisins'. They engage in a lively game of dominoes, counting out the dominoes so each has 'the same', and matching the

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and outcomes for children

spots on these to those on the dice rolled. Children are very confident communicators who benefit from the childminder's good interactions with them. She makes good use of open questions to encourage children to explore their thoughts and ideas, and incorporates their suggestions into planning activities. For example, children have shown an interest in different reptiles, so the childminder takes them to a pet shop where they can look at the animals. When they return home they use different media and materials to make their own representations of snakes and other reptiles. This ensures children have ownership of activities and are therefore keen participants. 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 2 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 2 The effectiveness of the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement The effectiveness of partnerships 2 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 2

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 2 The extent to which children feel safe 2 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 2 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 2 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 2

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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: 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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