Watford Grammar School for Boys

Inspection report for early years provision

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136276 Unique Reference Number 24 July 2006 Inspection date Karen Elizabeth Screen Inspector

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Childcare Type of inspection Childminding Type of care

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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

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The key inspection judgements and what they mean

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 is a qualified nursery nurse and has been a registered childminder since 1997. She is a member of the National Childminding Association. She lives with her three children aged 12, six and four years old. They live in a four-bedroom house, near the centre of Yate in South Gloucestershire. Most childminding takes place on the ground floor, but there are facilities for children to sleep upstairs in one of the bedrooms. There is an enclosed garden, with a covered play area, suitable for use all year round. The childminder attends a local toddler group, and visits community shops and parks in the area.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder delivers and collects children from Cranleigh Court Infant school and Frome Bank Junior School. She provides full and part-time care. Her core working hours are between 07.30 and 18.00 all year round. There are seven children on roll aged between one and 11 years old. The childminder is experienced in caring for children with learning difficulties/disabilities and can communicate with children using Mackaton.

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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

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a clean, tidy and comfortable home where they learn about the importance of personal hygiene and to care for themselves and their environment. The importance of hand washing is explained, and children are confident to use the facilities for themselves. Children's health is protected within an environment where the childminder has a clear understanding of the treatment of minor injuries and the administration of medicines. Children rest quietly if they feel unwell. Cuddles and comfort are given and their feelings acknowledged. The necessity of contacting parents if symptoms persist is understood and emergency contact numbers are easily available at all times.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are learning to appreciate foods which help them to grow and thrive. The childminder has an excellent understanding of healthy eating and is passionate about providing a wholesome range of healthy, often organic food. She works closely with parents to ensure that they are fully involved in the choice and variety of foods offered to their children. The daily menus are planned to complement the school meals and shared with parents beforehand, so that they are able to plan their own meals in advance. A range of healthy meals and snacks are offered during the day, for example chicken, mashed potatoes and boiled fresh vegetables for tea, and strawberries, blueberries and grapes to snack on when they return from school. The childminder also encourages the children to try small amounts of the foods they see her preparing. Children learn about foods through taste and touch, but also through board games, in which children

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Helping children to be healthy

organise food into the different food groups.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's physical development is fostered through games which require children to pay close attention to the task, such as 'swing ball' and through group activities such as games of catch in the park. Good provision is also made for children to develop hand-eye coordination as they practise using tools such as scissors to cut out shapes from a range of fabrics and papers including thin metallic paper, in order to add their own designs.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The home is warm and welcoming, with comfortable adult and child-sized furniture, such as sofas, tables and chairs; and up-to-date photos of the children involved in a variety of activities adorn the walls. There is an outstanding supply of well-maintained equipment for children of all ages. Many well-chosen books, toys and resources have been purchased since the last inspection, such as puzzles with photographs of women fire fighters and people with disabilities represented among the toy people. Children are able to choose to play with sand, water and other natural resources all year round. This is because the childminder has well thought-out plans for making the most of the available space, including the garden, much of which is under cover. The patio door leads out onto a wood floor. It is protected from the elements by a permanent gazebo with a waterproof roof and semi enclosed sides. Children are also able to

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

use the bottom of the garden all year round, because they are protected from the sun and rain by a large permanent shelter.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 The childminder takes positive steps to promote safety on the premises and on outings. Children learn to cross roads safely. They know to stop at the kerb and wait with the childminder until it is safe to cross. This is because the childminder takes care to rehearse road safety rules before and during all outings, including their daily walks from school. The childminder carries out regular risk assessments to ensure that children are able to move from room to room, free from hazards and harm. Risks to children from house fires have been minimised through well thought-out emergency evacuation procedures. Children are very well protected by a childminder who is clear about child protection procedures. She is aware of the possible signs of children at risk and of her responsibility to report her concerns without delay, according to local child

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children enjoy excellent relationships with the childminder and other children. The childminder offers appropriate praise and listens carefully to what they have to say. She is warm and attentive and the children respond with obvious affection. Children are relaxed and settled. Their confidence and self-esteem are raised by a childminder who is sensitive to their needs and knows them well. For example those who prefer to play in the sand and water and those children who prefer to rest and relax after a tiring day at school.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children thoroughly enjoy choosing from a wide variety of active and passive activities, such as: catch; football; 'swimming' in the paddling pool; making cakes; exploring the properties play dough; and cutting and sticking different textures of paper, fabric and plastic, to paper to make their own designs. Children concentrate very well. For example, a child spends most of her time experimenting with sand and water, adding more and more water until the mixture resembles the consistency of gloop. She carefully watches the sandy water slide and trickle off her hand into the tray, and repeats the action again and again. Children learn about the natural environment as they plant and nurture cress, runner bean and sunflower seeds.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The plans, patterns within the day and the weekly routines are well established. This helps children to predict what will happen next and to extend their skills in a secure environment. The childminder's plans are used as a basis for the day, but not rigid and are subject to change according to the children's interests, needs and other variables such as the weather. The childminder has received the Birth to three matters framework. She recognises that it is a useful tool in planning appropriate experiences and tracking young children's progress; and uses it to help support her work with young children.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are learning about the different activities and the people involved in their mainly residential community. For example, they visit the local community shops to buy meat and vegetables for their meals. Children learn to appreciate and value each other's similarities and differences. For example the childminder involves the children in making their own dolls and flags for St Patrick's day, and dragons, lanterns and flags for Chinese New Year. The childminder

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Helping children make a positive contribution

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 also takes care when selecting new resources, to ensure that they reflect diversity and acknowledge cultural differences.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are helpful and polite. They behave very well and respond promptly to guidance about rules and boundaries. The childminder provides a very good role model through her calm and polite manner. Children understand that there are rules to follow for everyone's benefit. Behaviour management procedures are clearly set out and shared with parents, so that continuity can be agreed and followed.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are developing a sense of belonging through the very warm welcome extended to their whole families. Excellent relationships between the childminder and parents, contribute to the children's confidence in the childminder. Close partnership with parents is achieved through the daily exchange of verbal and written information regarding many aspects of the children's lives whilst with the childminder, and also whilst in their parents care. This helps to build a genuine partnership with parents. Information for parents includes information about policies, agreements, consents and what has been happening in the day. Some children continue to benefit from many of the activities and experiences, because their parents choose to repeat these at home. Parents speak very highly of the childminder's commitment to providing a happy environment, where their children flourish.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides. Children are very well supported by a childminder who uses her time efficiently to organise space, resources and herself, to the best advantage, in order to ensure that children receive excellent adult attention. For example, she organises her resources to support planned activities and experiences. The childminder has a clear sense of purpose and a commitment to continual improvement. She is very well qualified, and undertakes regular training in order to update her knowledge and understanding and improve outcomes for children.

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Organisation

Children's welfare is purposefully promoted through comprehensive and well maintained paperwork. Policies and procedures have been developed by the childminder for the safe and efficient management of the provision, such as her equal opportunities policy. The childminder takes positive steps to ensure that parents are kept very well informed about all policies and procedures. This includes reviews of all documents and is done annually or sooner if necessary, in order to reflect any important amendments, such as the recent changes required in the recording of any complaints.

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Organisation

The childminder is well-organised. Emergency numbers are clear and easily accessible both on the premises and on outings. Detailed personal information and permission for specific activities is obtained well before the children are due to attend, and is filed securely for each child. Registers and records all meet regulatory requirements and are easily available at all times, but arrangements to protect children from strangers are not consistently applied.

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Organisation

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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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection, the childminder agreed to notify Ofsted of any serious injury or significant event; and to ensure that parents sign all medication records.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Children's welfare is promoted through appropriate reporting of incidents, and through maintenance of records required for the safe and efficient management of the provision. Children's health is protected because parents are asked to sign all medication records. In this way, they are made fully aware of the doses and times that the medicines have been administered.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted since April 2004.

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Complaints since the last inspection

The provider is required to keep a record of the 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): • ensure that the identity of strangers is always confirmed.

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The quality and standards of the care

set out in the leaflet Complaints about Ofsted Early Years: concerns or complaints about Ofsted's role in regulating and inspecting childcare and early education (HMI ref no 2599) 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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