Sharrow School Childcare Services

Sharrow School Childcare Services Inspection report for early years provision

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EY360222 Unique Reference Number 01 July 2008 Inspection date Carolyn Gifford Inspector

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Sharrow School, Sitwell Road, SHEFFIELD, S7 1BE Setting Address

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0114 255 1704 Telephone number infoe@sharrow.sheffield.sch.uk E-mail Sharrow Primary School Registered person Childcare Type of inspection Full day care, Out of School care 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?

Sharrow School Childcare Services was registered in 2007. It is managed by the Governing body of Sharrow School, located in the Sharrow area of Sheffield. The children are cared for in a range of ground floor rooms, all with individual access to outdoor provision. There is also an additional large hall for active indoor physical play. A maximum of 50 children may attend the early years and out of school provision at any one time. The centre opens each weekday from 08.00 to 18.00 all year. Services offered include a breakfast club and after school provision, holiday care, wrap around care and nursery education. Children from the age of four to 11 years attend the out of school provision. The centre supports children with learning difficulties and disabilities and those for whom English is an additional language. There are 14 staff employed to work directly with the children, all of whom hold an appropriate childcare qualification. Most

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

of the staff are full-time. The centre receives support from the local authority.

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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. The nursery environment is warm, clean and well maintained. Children's good health is effectively promoted through a range of policies and procedures, which are successfully implemented by staff. Children are protected from illness and infection as staff follow good hygiene routines. Hand washing facilities are readily available and the staff encourage older children to learn to manage their own personal hygiene, with help and guidance as needed.

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Helping children to be healthy

Appropriate systems are in place to record accidents, incidents and when medication is given to children. However, the medication record does not include the time of the last dose or the reason for the medication. Also, whilst most of the relevant written parental consents are in evidence, the setting has not requested written consent from parents to administer first aid to children.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy well planned and challenging daily physical activity, which helps them to develop their coordination and control of their bodies. Children move confidently and safely, indoors and outdoors, and staff support children very effectively by allowing them to test out and extend their physical skills.

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Helping children to be healthy

Staff carefully consider parents' wishes with regard to snacks and drinks and information about individual children's dietary needs is well recorded. Food provided by parents is stored and labelled appropriately and staff promote healthy eating by the use of visual aids and linked activities. This effectively contributes to helping children to learn to make healthy food choices.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a very safe and secure environment where their safety is given high priority by the staff. There is a risk assessment procedure in place and the majority of potential hazards are identified and minimised. However, the metal drain cover in the smaller enclosed outdoor play area is accessible to children.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Experienced staff effectively ensure that the premises are safe and secure by monitoring all visitors and accurate records are in evidence to show this. The innovative design of the premises with low windows, vision panels and mirrors allows the children space to develop their independence, where they can observe and readily access resources both indoors and outdoors.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children make independent choices of activities from an excellent range of easily accessible, very good quality resources. Creative use of space gives children the opportunity to develop their creativity, extend their imagination and develop their play.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Effective procedures are in place to support good practice as, for example, more than half of the staff have completed child protection training. Staff have a very good knowledge and understanding of their role regarding safeguarding children. They are aware of the signs and symptoms to look for and the procedure to follow if they have concerns about a child.

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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

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children thoroughly enjoy their time at the childcare setting and make excellent progress in all areas of development. Knowledgeable staff effectively utilise the 'Birth to three matters' framework and plan interesting activities and experiences that motivate and stimulate the children.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Staff respond consistently to children's individual needs and adapt activities to follow their ideas and suggestions. For example, staff encourage and support children to try out new skills and develop problem solving, as they work out how to fill different sizes of containers in the sand. They talk about containers being full or empty, large or small, which very effectively contributes to developing children's knowledge and understanding of the use of language. Staff effectively use observations and their knowledge of the children to build on what children know and can do.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are extremely interested in their surroundings and move confidently between activities. There are excellent relationships between the staff and children and children participate in a good balance of focussed and freely chosen activities. Skilful staff introduce children to number, problem solving, counting and sorting as part of daily routines and through music, songs and games. The impressive use of open ended questioning techniques by staff effectively contributes to extending children's language skills and developing their thinking processes. Staff value what children say and do by giving very positive responses and displays of children's work also contributes to promoting children's self-esteem.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Children show an extremely strong sense of belonging and are warmly welcomed by sensitive, caring staff who value children's individuality and give frequent praise and encouragement to the children. Meaningful, well planned activities and use of resources effectively contribute to raising children's awareness of diversity and the wider world.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Partnership with parents and other professionals is very good and all staff work extremely well together to help children develop to their maximum potential. Staff consistently keep parents well informed by sharing information at the beginning and end of each session and offering regular parents evenings. The setting has effective systems in place to show how children are progressing and staff share their knowledge and understanding of the 'Birth to three matters' framework with parents. Parents confidently approach staff and demonstrate a very high level of satisfaction with the setting.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Behaviour is good and children are beginning to understand right from wrong in a caring environment, where staff provide children with clear and consistent boundaries and give appropriate support where necessary. There are very good procedures in place for the identification and support of children who have learning difficulties or disabilities. Children are extremely well supported as staff forge close links with all others involved in the child's care, which means that children's individual needs are met very well.

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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

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Effective organisation ensures that children's care, play and learning are very well promoted. Experienced staff demonstrate a sound understanding of their role and responsibilities to make sure that children's individual needs are met.

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Organisation

The established staff team work very well together and follow appropriate procedures to monitor and evaluate the provision. The majority of the relevant documents and written parental consent are in evidence and the setting has a very positive attitude regarding where improvements can be made. There is as positive commitment to training and development to consolidate practices and further enhance the provision.

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Organisation

Space and resources are organised to meet the children's needs and flexible planning allows children to make choices and organise their own play, with the staff supporting and guiding them to extend their play and learning.

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Organisation

Overall, the provision meets the needs of the range of the children for whom it provides.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since registration 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.

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Complaints since the last inspection

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): • ensure that the medication record includes all of the relevant information and detail • request written parental consent to administer first aid • ensure that the metal drain cover in the enclosed play area is not accessible to children.

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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 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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