Grangewood School

Inspection report for early years provision

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138157 Unique Reference Number 11 October 2007 Inspection date Christine Stimson 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 outstanding. 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 1991. She lives in a house located in Motspur Park, which is in the London borough of Merton, with her husband and adult son. There are shops, local parks and transport links within walking distance of her home. The whole of the premises are used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of four children at any one time and she is currently caring for six children, on a part time basis. The childminder attends local toddler groups, the library and visits parks on a regular basis. The family have a dog as a pet.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. Children are cared for by an experienced childminder who provides a consistent and calm routine for children that takes into account their individual needs. For example, they are able to rest whenever they need to and time is allowed for active and quiet activities. Children are provided with healthy and nutritious snacks and meals, some of which they help prepare. For example,

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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 when children have a lunch of pitta bread pizzas, the childminder splits the pitta bread open and the children spread tomato puree onto each side. They have bowls of cheese, peppers and sweet corn to fill their bread with. The childminder then puts these in the oven and serves them for the children's lunch.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children keep healthy because the childminder does not use the car to take children out and about. They walk a lot and the childminder makes sure children go out somewhere different everyday; this enables them to experience fresh air and exercise. The nearby park is well resourced and the children enjoy visiting there because they have the opportunity to play on apparatus such a climbing frames and slides. In the summer they use the paddling pool in the park and there are always resources in the childminder's garden to offer challenge and fun, such as a small trampoline and sit and ride cars.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder is meticulous in ensuring good hygiene standards. Each child has their own bed linen, flannel and towel and the childminder promotes hand washing after messy play, playing in the garden, after touching the dog, before meals and snacks and after using the toilet. She supervises younger children in this task, reminding them to wash the backs as well as the fronts of their hands. This helps children to develop good hygiene practice.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder ensures all relevant health information is obtained from parents so she is able to respond to children's individual needs. The childminder holds a first aid qualification and keeps a well stocked first aid box to hand to deal with minor injuries effectively. All accidents are recorded and parents informed on the day. Excellent administrative systems ensure children's health needs are monitored, for example the sick child policy gives details of the exclusion periods for infectious diseases. The childminder has written consent in place to seek emergency medical treatment if necessary. Blanket consent is in place from parents for the childminder to administer non-prescription medicines if necessary and individual consent is in place for prescribed medicine. These measures support the health of the children attending.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Children are happy, confident and secure because the childminder's home is warm, welcoming and well maintained. The back room is dedicated to children's play and is filled with good quality toys, most of which are kept at child height to help children self-select. There are plenty of resources to meet their needs and children are excited as they explore the boxes for things to play with. The childminder is a regular visitor to the local toy library where she borrows new and interesting toys for children to experience. Children are encouraged to use toys and equipment safely as the childminder teaches them to put things away and discourages them from throwing things.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's safety is of high importance to the childminder and she promotes this by taking positive steps to ensure her home is a safe place for children to play. The childminder is proactive in making sure proper precautions are taken to prevent accidents. For example, a stair gate at the kitchen door stops children from wandering in there unsupervised and all accessible sockets in the home have covers or plugs in them. The childminder's gas central heating is serviced annually to confirm it is in working order and there are smoke alarms on each level of the home. The childminder has devised an emergency escape plan for her home which she practises with children once a term to ensure they know how to leave the premises quickly and safely in an emergency.

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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 recognises her responsibility towards the children in her care and understands the procedures she must follow if she becomes concerned about a child's welfare. The children begin to understand how to keep themselves safe when outdoors, because the childminder talks to them about road safety when they are out and about each day.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. The childminder uses her many years of experience in caring for children to provide an excellent balance of indoor and outdoor activities each day. These are well planned to fit in with the routines of the young children she cares for. The childminder uses gentle encouragement to assist young children with their activities, interacting with them to help their concentration whilst participating in complex challenges, such as puzzles and threading games. Young children explore the wide range of resources with interest and enthusiasm and know what they want, rejecting some suggestions from the childminder and jumping with joy at other suggestions. They are confident, bright and display high levels of self-esteem.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder gives children opportunities to extend their learning at every opportunity. For example, whilst playing with play dough children are questioned about the colour of their dough and the implements they are using. Shapes that are created are explored and children informed they resemble circles, triangles or squares. Children love to participate in messy play and are given lots of opportunities for this with photos showing children 'painting' the garden shed with buckets of water and large brushes.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder has introduced a bear to the children called Ruby. She has her own wardrobe and suitcase and is allowed to accompany children on special occasions at home. She travels with children on their holidays and is soon to experience a holiday in Mexico. A small notebook goes with Ruby and photos and details of her adventures are brought back to the childminder's home to share with the other children. This has captured children's imaginations and Ruby now accompanies children on all the outings they undertake with the childminder. Photos show Ruby enjoying an outing to a farm wearing her Wellingtons and admiring her favourite animal, which is a pig.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children can explore the boxes of toys as they are at child height. They are encouraged to develop their vocabulary and share their thoughts and ideas as the childminder asks children open questions to make them think and waits patiently for their answers.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. The childminder encourages children to develop an awareness of their local community and the wider society. She does this by taking them to toddler groups, the library, local parks and farms and on occasions further a-field to zoos and places of interest, using public transport, which the children love. At these venues the children mix with all types of people and this helps them become aware of diversity. Children have access to toys within the childminder's home that enable them to develop a positive awareness of other cultures and become aware of people with disabilities. For example, children have a dolls wheelchair and play figures depicting old people, people with infirmities and people with a disability. Paper figures showing people in traditional dress with various skin tones adorn the walls. These were made by an older child the childminder used to care for as part of an art and craft project.

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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 The toddlers in the childminder's care play well together, with occasional squabbles skilfully dispersed by the childminder's re-directional techniques. Children are learning to share whilst being cared for and praise is given for those children who show kindness to others. Children are enthused by the childminder's praise and this contributes to their developing confidence and self-esteem. The childminder has taken courses on how to support children with learning or physical difficulties and, although she has limited experience in this area, she is willing to meet all children's individual needs to help them develop at their own pace.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has devised a wide range of written policies and procedures for parents and these explain her practice well. A daily diary kept for each child is exchanged between parents and the childminder, with particulars of the child's day detailed for parents to comment on. The childminder has established professional and friendly relationships with the children's parents and high levels of communication ensure they are in full agreement with the way she cares for their children. For example, they are aware how the childminder responds to inappropriate behaviour as this is laid out in the childminder's policy and a pictorial children's version in the hallway wall helps children to begin to understand right from wrong. If a child has gone off their food or not been themselves it is detailed in the diary, discussed with parents and methods of how to solve the problem are put into action. This ensures continuity of care

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. The childminder is very well organised and plans her day to meet the needs of the individual children in her care. Exciting activities are planned around the children's regular meal, rest and quiet times. Children are taken out into the local community daily and benefit from the exercise this gives them. Space is well used within the childminder's home with the back room equipped for children to explore toys that interest them and the front room kept for more organised activities such as reading stories, watching a favourite TV programme or dancing to music tapes.

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Organisation

The children's welfare, care and learning is effectively supported through well organised records and documentation. Professional contracts and consent forms are negotiated and signed by parents and the childminder. Concise records of children's daily attendance, accident and medication records are kept in a secure and confidential manner. The childminder embraces training opportunities to improve her practice and strives for continual improvement, demonstrated by her eagerness to attend the Early Years Foundation Stage training recently begun in the local borough. As a result the childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection one recommendation was made to improve the care for children. Since then good progress has been made and the childminder now has a log book available to record any incidents of physical restraint or behaviour management issues that arise. To date she has not made any entries, but is aware that these records must be shared with parents on the day to ensure they are aware and to support consistency of care for children.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since the last inspection 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

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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 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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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 outstanding. 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

No recommendations for improvement are made because the quality and standards of care are outstanding.

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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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