St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 148281 Inspection date 18/10/2011 Inspector Anne Faithfull

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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 assesses 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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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 1993. She is registered on the Early Years Register and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She lives with her husband and two adult children in Woodley, Berkshire. The childminder makes use of local facilities such as parks. The childminder can take children to and collect them from local schools. The family has a pet rabbit. The childminder uses the whole of the ground floor of the house for childminding with provision for children to use the bathroom and sleep on the first floor. A fully enclosed rear garden is available for outside play. Her registration permits her to care for six children under eight years and of these three may be in the early years age range at any one time. She is currently minding three children who are within the early years age range on a part-time basis.

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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 are happy and settled in the childminders care. Each child is treated with equal concern and their individual needs are recognised and met on a daily basis. Children make good progress in their early learning and development as the childminder provides a wide range of stimulating activities and experiences. The childminder is committed to continuous development and she has effective systems are in place to evaluate the service provided. However, the views of parents are not currently requested to help the childminder identify areas for future development and improvement.

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further?

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

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further?

 extend the self-evaluation system to include the views of parents.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a secure knowledge of safeguarding. She is fully aware of the procedures to follow if she has any concerns and parents are reminded of her responsibility to protect children in her care through the safeguarding policy which is in place. Children are able to move freely and safely around the childminders home as all areas have been risk assessed and a daily visual safety check is completed. Risk assessments are completed for each outing to ensure the ongoing safety of children when away from the childminder's home. Children are also beginning to learn the steps to take in an emergency as they practise the This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 emergency evacuation procedure with the childminder on a regular basis.

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the early years provision

The childminder provides a wide range of toys and resources that stimulate and challenge the children. These are stored effectively around the rooms used by the children to enable them to make independent choices and decisions. The childminder is committed to providing an inclusive environment for all children and their families. Children are encouraged to recognise diversity and the differing needs of others in a variety of ways. These include talking about and meeting a member of the childminder's family who uses a wheelchair so they can ask questions and see the different equipment they use. Children who attend with English as an additional language are supported well as the childminder learns and speaks to them in their own language as well as in English.

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the early years provision

Good partnerships are in place with all the parents. The childminder recognises the importance of working with the parents to ensure children's interests and development needs are addressed and their welfare fully promoted. Parents make many positive comments in their reference letters such as, how happy their children are in her care, the range of activities offered and the welcoming safe environment offered. All parents stated they would highly recommend the childminder. The childminder has established partnerships with other settings children attend to provide consistency and continuity for children's care, learning and development. The childminder reflects daily on her practice in an honest and realistic way. She has completed the Ofsted self-evaluation form to help her identify her strengths and areas for improvement. However, the childminder currently does not seek the views of the parents as part of the self evaluation

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the early years provision

process to obtain their thoughts on the service provided. The childminder is committed to continuous improvement as she readily addressed all the recommendations from her last inspection. The childminder regularly updates her knowledge in a variety of ways such as, looking at articles relating to childcare on the internet.

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and outcomes for children

Children are relaxed, happy and comfortable in the childminder's home. The childminder's calm and caring manner helps children to feel settled, confident and secure. The childminder uses her many years of experience to provide all children with a range of activities and experiences, which are interesting, fun and help to promote their early learning and development effectively. Children experience a good balance between adult-led activities and those that they choose for themselves. The childminder is aware that children learn through play and ensures children have a wide variety of play experiences and outings such as, visiting Windsor where they walk along the river and look at the other attractions in the town. Children are beginning to be aware of numbers and colours as the childminder uses everyday events, for instance counting the number of steps they take and the number and colour of the shoes they are wearing. The childminder

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and outcomes for children

makes regular observations on the children while they are playing and effectively uses these to help her identify the areas of learning covered and their next step in This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 their learning. Children's progress is also recorded through the many photographs the childminder takes of the children over the years they are in her care and the comments she records underneath them.

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and outcomes for children

Children's communication skills are developing well as the childminder continually talks to them and ask questions while they play for example "what is it". Children also readily respond in an enthusiastic way when asked to make the noises of the familiar animals they see on the poster. Visits to the local train station enable the children to be aware of the local community and to make and recognise the noise the trains make. Children thoroughly enjoy helping the childminder in her garden and have great fun digging in the dirt and looking at the plants growing. This helps them to begin to be aware of the environment and nature. They are learning about re-cycling as they use the old boxes and other items in their junk modelling and imaginative play. Children are developing skills for the future as they use a range of electronic toys and resources and thorough pushing buttons on the pedestrian crossing when they are out.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder is patient and calm and uses effective strategies to encourage children to behave well, praise and encouragement is continually given to help the young children to develop their confidence and self-esteem. Children show care and concern for each other and share the toys and resources when required. They include each other in their play and respond positively to any request from the childminder and readily approach visitors to the home. Children readily celebrate events in their lives such as, birthdays and they celebrate a range of festivals with the childminder and each other. They are beginning to be aware of different countries and cultures in a variety of ways for instance, they can see, name and access flags from their own country. Children are developing an understanding of keeping healthy. They can access a drink when required and they have access to fresh air daily. Children are aware of the hygiene routines in place such as,

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and outcomes for children

washing their hands before eating and the reasons why. Children are able to rest and relax when they require and the childminder regularly checks young children who are sleeping. Children are beginning to be aware of their own safety through reminders from the childminder for example, when out they talk about the road safety procedures to follow and she reminds them not to tread on the toys. 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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Early Years Foundation Stage

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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