The Granville School

Inspection report for early years provision

p.1

118971 Unique Reference Number 29 May 2008 Inspection date Carol Patricia Willett Inspector

p.1

Childcare Type of inspection Childminding Type of care

p.1

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

p.1

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.

p.2

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

p.2

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.

p.2

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

p.2

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.

p.2

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.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children at any one time. She is currently minding seven children, six of whom are under five years, on a part-time basis. She has occasional care of one child during school holidays. 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. She holds a current first aid certificate.

p.2

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

p.2

Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. The childminder has generally good hygiene routines and procedures in place so children are well protected from illness and infection. She maintains the regulatory records and obtains written consent from parents to seek emergency treatment for all children permanently in her care. However, she does not obtain such consent for children for whom she has temporary care and this could delay treatment in an emergency should the parents not be contactable. The childminder has a current first aid certificate and children receive appropriate care if they have minor accidents. Accident and medication records are maintained and parents sign them so they are kept well informed.

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

The childminder ensures all areas of the home and garden are clean and well maintained and suitable for use by the children. The children develop a good awareness of healthy practices and lifestyles through regular daily routines. For example, they wash their hands before eating and before and after cooking activities as they make chocolate crispy cakes. The childminder provides food tasting activities at snack time where the children try different fruit, such as dragon fruit and lychees, for their snack as they learn about healthy eating. Currently, parents provide their children's food which is stored appropriately in the fridge by the childminder. She has a good knowledge of food hygiene as she has completed further training and she records checks on fridge and freezer temperatures. Children have opportunities to develop and maintain healthy bodies as they go for walks to the park and play in the garden. They use a variety of

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

age appropriate toys, such as a climbing frame, small trampoline, wheeled toys and balls, as well as swing ball for older children, to develop their physical skills and coordination.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children play well and are happy and settled in the childminder's home as they move freely between the kitchen and conservatory. They use the lounge for quiet times, for example, when the childminder reads them stories from books. The childminder organises the premises and resources well so the children can play and explore freely. The children choose from the wide range of good quality age appropriate toys, including building bricks, books, jigsaws, cars and role play. The childminder provides a good range of outdoor toys, including a sand tray and climbing frame and smaller equipment, such as balls and swing ball, which the children enjoy.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children stay safe as the childminder is very safety conscious and takes positive steps to minimise hazards both inside and out. Children are closely supervised during craft and cooking activities and the childminder visually checks children as they sleep. She has a daily safety check list and children practise fire evacuation which is recorded in a notebook. However, fire safety practices and risk assessment procedures are not fully effective as the doors in the conservatory are not kept clear. The childminder places a box of toys in front which prevents quick evacuation in the event of a fire. Children could lock themselves in the toilet as the bolt on the toilet door is accessible to children and cannot be unlocked from the outside.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has a range of written policies to support her practice in keeping children safe, for example, to safeguard children and when children go on outings to parks. However, the policy does not reflect current practice as there are no walkie talkies. Children's welfare is safeguarded as the childminder has a good understanding of her responsibility with regard to

p.3

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 child protection and she has updated her training. Children are well supervised. The childminder keeps a written record of visitors to her home, but this is not accurately maintained as it does not include the date.

p.3

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The childminder is well organised in all aspects of her care so the children are comfortable and secure in her home. She plans and provides a good range of daily activities that keep children happy and busily occupied, including cooking, painting and gluing activities. The morning is varied and the childminder ensures children have a good variety of activities to maintain their interest, both inside the home and in the garden, and ensures all areas of development are covered. The children have independent access to a suitable range of toys, resources and activities, for example, construction toys, cars, books, and puzzles. The children play well together and enjoy the attention the childminder gives to their play. Children gain confidence and self-esteem as the childminder offers appropriate praise and encouragement. She manages the differences in ages well, offering appropriate support so children can successfully complete

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

activities, such as making crispy cakes. The childminder has a good awareness of how to develop all children's skills. They develop maths skills and language, for example, as they count and weigh. Children are taken out most mornings on outings to the toddler group and park where they can socialise with other adults and children or run freely in a larger space. Children respond well to the childminder’s routine for playing, resting and eating to provide consistency of care.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are valued and respected as individuals and treated with equal concern by the childminder. They are comfortable and secure in the childminder's home. They confidently approach the childminder to make their needs known when they need the toilet or would like a drink. The childminder is attentive and responsive to the children's needs. The children have sufficient time to engage in active play and the childminder provides support in activities to their level of ability. For example, as they play in the garden, she gets out toys suitable for each of the children, including sand, cars and a swing ball.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder establishes good relationships with parents to provide continuity of care. She exchanges information through daily discussions and a written diary. She completes tracker books to inform parents about their child’s progress. The childminder provides a good range of documentation and written polices to inform parents of her service and procedures, including the complaints procedure. Information on the regulator is provided in the written information given to parents. Parents have written agreements and sign appropriate written consents. They provide useful information about their children prior to them attending.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are becoming aware of boundaries and behave well in the childminder's care. They learn how to share and be kind to each other, through support from the childminder. The childminder praises the children and uses 'please' and 'thank you' as she talks to them, acting as a good role model which encourages their positive behaviour. The childminder plans activities, such as food tasting, and introduces resources and toys to the children, to provide positive images of diversity. They visit local places and have outings in the community to increase their understanding of the wider world.

p.4

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

p.4

Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder organises the environment, resources and documentation well so children are safe, settled and secure in her home. Children have space to play and explore freely, both indoors and outdoors. Children are generally safe as the childminder checks her home, using a checklist, before children arrive. However, risk assessment procedures are not fully effective as a toy box is placed in front of the door in the conservatory, which is a fire exit. The childminder organises the minding week to allow for a good variety of experiences and activities. The childminder is committed to developing her knowledge of childcare and education by attending training courses and she evaluates her practice to ensure good standards are maintained. She uses monitoring visits from the network coordinator to further develop her practice.

p.5

Organisation

The childminder has a generally good understanding of the requirements for registration. She maintains effective documentation to ensure children's needs are known and she complies with parents' wishes as she ensures she has written consent for most aspects of her practice. However, the childminder does not obtain all necessary written parental consents for children attending on a temporary basis, to ensure effective procedures are in place in an emergency. Some documentation does not have sufficient detail, such as the visitor’s book. Policies do not always reflect practice, such as the safety policy for outings.

p.5

Organisation

The childminder develops good relationships with parents and they share information daily to make sure the children's needs are well known, both verbally and in a daily diary. This ensures the childminder is able to effectively promote the welfare, care and learning of the children. Overall, the childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

p.5

Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection, the childminder was required to improve the written complaints policy by detailing procedures for dealing with concerns in line with the 2005 amendments to the National Standards, and to ensure all medication and attendance records are signed by parents. The childminder has made good progress and has included the contact details for Ofsted in her written complaints policy.

p.5

Complaints since the last inspection

Since the last inspection, Ofsted has received one complaint relating to National Standard 3 - Care, learning and play, National Standard 6 - Safety, National Standard 7 - Health, and National Standard 12 - Working in partnership with parents and carers. Concerns were raised that children were not allowed in the lounge and spent all of their time in the kitchen; children upstairs are not checked. Concerns were also raised regarding administration of medication and that contact details were not obtained for all children.

p.5

Complaints since the last inspection

Ofsted conducted a visit to discuss the concerns with the childminder. From the information gathered during the visit National Standard 3 and National Standard 6 were being met. Four actions were set under National Standard 4 - Physical Environment, National Standard 7, National Standard 12 and National Standard 14 - Documentation. The provider responded to the actions and remains qualified for registration.

p.5

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.

p.5

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

p.5

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

p.6

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.

p.6

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 written parental consent is in place to seek emergency treatment or aid for all children • review risk assessment procedures to ensure the bolt on toilet door is inaccessible to children and ensure fire exits are kept clear in the conservatory to ensure quick evacuation in an emergency

p.6

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

p.6

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

p.6