The Granville School

Inspection report for early years provision

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118971 Unique Reference Number 31 May 2007 Inspection date Catherine Hill 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 has been registered since 1987. She lives with her husband and two adult children. They live in a modern house in Sandhurst, Berkshire. The property is within walking distance of local schools, shops and amenities. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding with two bedrooms on the first floor identified for sleep purposes only. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The family have a rabbit. The childminder can care for a maximum of six children at any one time. She is currently minding three children under five years on a part-time basis during the week. The childminder attends local carer and toddler groups on a weekly basis. She is a member of the National Childminding Association and Bracknell Childminding Network.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children are very well protected from illness and infection as the childminder follows and teaches children good hygiene routines. They wash their hands before and after cooking and put their hands in front of their mouth when coughing. The childminder acts as a good role model as

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Helping children to be healthy

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 she washes her hands alongside children before snack time. Large posters displayed in the kitchen remind children about hand washing and brushing their teeth and the childminder uses antibacterial spray to maintain a clean environment. The childminder has a current first aid certificate and children receive appropriate care if they have minor accidents. Accident and medication records are maintained with most containing all necessary detail, although some medication records have not been fully completed. Children have opportunities to develop and maintain healthy bodies as they are taken for walks by the childminder and also exercise at home with her. They rest according to their individual needs. The childminder has a good understanding of healthy eating and has attended training on food hygiene and nutrition.

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Helping children to be healthy

Parents provide their children's food and the childminder ensures this is appropriately stored and maintains daily recorded checks on fridge and freezer temperatures.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are very happy and settled within the welcoming child friendly environment of the childminder's home. They have independent access to a good range of age appropriate resources and enjoy being able to choose what they do. Children keep safe as the childminder has a high regard for safety. She carries out daily safety checks and maintains written records of fire drills. Children are closely supervised when using scissors during craft activities. The childminder has a range of written policies to support her practice in keeping children safe, for example she has a policy detailing procedures for the safe collection of children and maintains a wide range of information on file for reference. Children's welfare is safeguarded as the childminder has a good understanding of her role with regard to child protection. She has attended training in this area and has written child protection guidelines which she shares with parents. Children

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

are well supervised and the childminder keeps a written record of visitors to her home.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children relax as they make cakes with support from the childminder. They talk confidently about the ingredients and reinforce their counting skills as the childminder encourages them to count how many small cakes they have made. They talk about the texture of the cake mix with the childminder and enjoy helping her to wash the mixing bowl up once the cakes are cooking. Children are comfortable in the childminder's care and she sensitively supports them as they practise reading key words. She extends their learning as she encourages them to think about how words can be changed by substituting a different initial letter, for example, books to looks. Children have fun making models out of recycled materials. They cut out shapes from boxes and card and solve problems as they work out how to join their model parts together. Children have excellent opportunities to learn through play as the childminder ensures they

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

have access to activities to develop their skills in all learning areas. They are taken out regularly by the childminder and at home engage in activities, such as, painting, dressing-up, cooking and playing with musical instruments. The childminder has attended training regarding the Birth to three matters framework and maintains books showing children's progress linked to the framework.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

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 make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children develop self-esteem as the childminder acknowledges and praises their efforts. She encourages children to choose what they would like to do and ensures sufficient resources are available for all children to take part in activities, adapted according to their age and stage of development. She has an equal opportunities and special needs policy to support her practice. Children are polite and behave well and the childminder acts as a positive role model as she politely talks to children. The childminder has excellent relationships with parents. She shares both written and verbal information with parents on a daily basis to keep them well informed about their child's progress and minded day. Parents share information with the childminder about their child and children benefit from this very good relationship between their main carers. Parents are effusive in their praise of the childminder who they find 'excellent',

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Helping children make a positive contribution

'top-notch' and who they consider provides 'high quality care' for their children. The childminder shares information with parents about her practice including all her written policies and procedures, although her complaints policy does not sufficiently detail procedures if parents have concerns.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children receive good quality care from the childminder. She organises her practice well to provide children with a wide range of play and learning experiences. She has excellent relationships with parents and shares generally good detailed information with them about her practice and their child's progress. The childminder is continually developing her knowledge of childcare and education by attending further training courses and she evaluates her practice to ensure good standards are maintained. She maintains all necessary documentation to support her practice and her attendance records are up to date with most entries signed by parents as confirmation of attendance times. Overall, the childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder has improved her documentation following recommendations made at the last inspection. Parental consents are in place for children to be taken on outings and in transport and all accident and most medication and attendance records have been countersigned by parents as confirmation of entries.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since 1 April 2004 there have been no complaints made to Ofsted that required the provider or Ofsted to take any action in order to meet the National Standards. The provider is required to keep a record of 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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Complaints since the last inspection

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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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): • improve the written complaints policy by detailing procedures for dealing with concerns in line with the 2005 amendments to the National Standards and by including Ofsted's contact address and telephone number • ensure all medication and attendance records are signed by parents as confirmation of details entered.

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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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