Harrogate Grammar School

Inspection report for early years provision

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121685 Unique Reference Number 05 February 2008 Inspection date Heidi Wilton 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 1991. She lives with her partner and three children aged 19 and 14 years and 14 months old. She lives close to parks, schools and shops. The childminder is registered to care for five children under eight. She currently minds two children under eight and two children over eight on either a part or full-time basis. She also cares for her two nephews on a part-time basis. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children develop an understanding of good hygiene as they wash their hands before meals and after going to the toilet. They dry their hands on separate hand towels and these are colour coded to ensure there is no confusion about which towel belongs to which child. This ensures cross infection is fully prevented. The childminder cleans all work surfaces and eating areas with antibacterial cleaners which also ensures cross contamination is prevented. The childminder records all accidents and administering of medication appropriately. This ensures children are

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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 safe and parents are well informed. She has however, not gained written parental permission to seek or gain emergency medical advice or treatment for all the minded children. This does not ensure all children will be treated without delay in an emergency.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder provides meals for the children and shows parents a copy of her menu to ensure they are fully aware of the foods she provides. The childminder works in partnership with parents and is happy for them to provide their own foods for their children and currently all parents provide their own foods. The childminder shows a good understanding about storing foods safely and at the correct temperature. The childminder helps to run a toddler group once a week and attends with the minded children who have fun joining in with arts and crafts and music and movement. Children enjoy walks to the local park and have fun feeding bread to the ducks at the local pond. Children enjoy dancing to familiar music and move their bodies to the actions.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are safe within the childminder's home. The childminder completes monthly, weekly and daily checklists to ensure hazards are identified and minimised. She has implemented ground rules for the children and reminds them of these to ensure they develop an understanding of how to keep themselves safe. The childminder ensures all doors are secured when not in use and has robust procedures in place to ensure children are collected by their designated person.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has not currently gained written parental permissions from parents to take children on outings or to travel in her car. This does not ensure parents are well informed. She has appropriate safety equipment in place such as car seats and buggies and has checked her garden to ensure there are no poisonous plants to harm the children. The garden is fully enclosed and the back gate and sheds are bolted. The childminder practises the fire drill with the children regularly and evaluates how the drill went and details improvements she can make next time.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has a good understanding of child protection procedures and knows where to make referrals. However, she has not currently obtained the current Local Safeguarding Children Board's procedures. The childminder demonstrates a good understanding of recording signs and symptoms of abuse and/or neglect.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children within the childminder's home are very happy and relaxed. They interact extremely well together and share and take turns with the toys. Children play mainly within the designated playroom at the front of the house. The childminder has organised the environment very well as children are able to independently select toys and resources from the low level storage boxes. The childminder conducts thorough written observations of the children in line with the Foundation Stage and Birth to Three Matters framework. This ensures they are appropriately and consistently supported through their developmental milestones. The childminder has attended up-to-date training in relation to the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum and has started to implement systems to ensure her observations are tracked in line with this new guidance.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder gives parents a child's entry information record form to complete at the outset. This ensures the childminder facilitates a very good understanding about the child's current

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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 stages of development, their routine and preferences and dislikes. This enables the childminder to use this prior knowledge to help children settle within the environment. In addition, parents and their children are provided with settling in visits and parents are extremely welcomed to stay for as many sessions as they wish. This ensures their child is very happy and relaxed within the new environment.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder gives the older children child evaluation forms where they have opportunities to have a voice and express what they would like to do when they are at the childminder's. Children after school have opportunities to rest and relax as they watch television or read a book. The childminder interacts with the children continually and sits close to support them with their homework tasks. Children of different ages have an extensive range of age and stage appropriate toys and resources to play with. Older children interact with the computer, play a variety of board games, participate with arts and crafts and build different models with the Lego. Younger children explore light up and sensory toys, have immense fun as they manipulate the play dough and become very excited as they move along on push along toys. Children accompany the childminder to the shops where they have lots of opportunities to develop new

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

skills within everyday activities. For example, the childminder encourages children to weigh the fruit and vegetables which fosters an understanding of weight and measurement.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder demonstrates exemplary practice with the children as she always takes time to listen to what they say and responds to them appropriately. This ensures children gain the self assurance to talk freely and are confident to communicate with other adults and their peers. The childminder has developed very strong bonds with the children and demonstrates great levels of care and affection.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The childminder includes all children, shows them equal respect and values them as individuals. She encourages all children to access all toys and resources and adapts activities to ensure all age groups can participate alongside each other. The childminder celebrates festivals with the children and gains books from the library related to the festivals, showing other cultures and images of positive gender roles. This fosters an awareness of diversity and equal opportunities for the children. The childminder currently cares for no children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities or English as an additional language. She has experience from the past of caring for children with additional needs and feels it is essential to work in partnership with parents. She observes all children and discusses with parents any concerns she has identified. The childminder signposts parents to outside agencies and support within the community and is happy to work

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Helping children make a positive contribution

in conjunction with outside agencies to ensure consistency is achieved for the children.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has a behavioural policy in place which she shares with parents to ensure they are well informed. She communicates verbally with parents about the children's behaviour to ensure consistent methods are used between the home and the childminder's. The childminder has implemented two sets of rules, one set for the younger children and one set for the older, after-school children. She gently reminds all children about the rules and explains to them why the rules need to be in place. The childminder communicates verbally with parents daily and supports the verbal communications with written diary logs. This is a two way process because parents are able to write comments for the childminder about what their child has been doing at home. The childminder observes all the children and uses these observations to track where they all are individually with their development. She shares these records effectively with

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Helping children make a positive contribution

parents which enables parents to consolidate and continue learning at home. Parents are shown

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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 policies and procedures at the outset and are given copies to enable them to refer to them at home.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are cared for by a qualified childminder who accesses further training to enhance her knowledge and expertise. The childminder has maintained an up-to-date paediatric first aid qualification which ensures all children are treated appropriately in the event of an accident. The childminder knows her responsibility to ensure all adults living or working within the household are vetted and suitable to be around the children. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Organisation

The childminder is organised and reviews contracts with parents annually to ensure information is up-to-date. She stores all documentation securely to ensure confidentiality is maintained. The childminder has an attendance register in place and ensures she records children's actual times of arrival and departure. This ensures they will be accounted for in an emergency. The childminder has a good understanding of the National Standards for childminding and current legislation.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last care inspection the childminder was asked to address two recommendations. She was asked to ensure premises are secure and that children are unable to leave the premises unsupervised. The childminder now ensures all doors are secured when not in use and children are safe because they are unable to leave them unsupervised.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder was asked to ensure drinks are available to children at all times. Children have drinks readily available at all times. This ensures their needs are met.

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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 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 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):

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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 • ensure all required written parental permissions are obtained for all the children • obtain the current Local Safeguarding Children Board's procedures.

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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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