Sneinton HermitageOfsted inspection, 23 May 2006

Sneinton Hermitage

Inspection report for early years provision

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Sneinton Hermitage

Unique Reference Number EY239325 Inspection date 23 May 2006 Inspector Tina Garner

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Sneinton Hermitage

Setting Address Community Centre, Sneinton Boulevard, Nottingham, NG2 4GN

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E-mail

Registered person Sneinton Play Centre Type of inspection Childcare Type of care Out of School care, Crèche

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E-mail

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 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 satisfactory. The registered person meets the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

Sneinton Play Centre Out of School Care and Crèche was opened in 2002. It operates from Sneinton Hermitage Community Centre in Sneinton close to Nottingham city centre. The out of school club has access to a hall on the ground floor and a sports hall on the first floor. A small room on the ground floor is available to the crèche. Toilet and kitchen facilities are also available. Children also have access to a small enclosed outdoor area. The facility is registered to provide 37 places for children under 8 years of age. The out of school club operates Monday to Friday 15:30 to 18:00 term time only. A pickup

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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 service from the local schools is provided. The holiday play scheme runs most school holidays from 08:00 until 18:00. A crèche facility is also available for parents training at the premises and operate as and when required. The staff hold a variety of early years qualifications.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children are cared for in comfortable and suitably maintained premises. Their good health is protected as premises are kept clean, with surfaces wiped and play resources washed. Children show growing awareness of self-care and good personal hygiene through appropriate daily routines, for example, washing hands after visiting the toilet and before eating. This ensures that the spread of infection between children is appropriately minimised. Adequate systems are in place to record accidents, incidents and medication. However, the written records which are maintained of accidents and incidents are not, in all cases, maintained with the signature of parents. This has a potential impact on children's welfare. Children's physical develop is appropriately fostered through opportunities to be active both indoors and out. During outdoor session's children plant and care for flowers and

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Helping children to be healthy

bulbs, use equipment such as hoops, balls and skipping ropes. They also benefit from having regular access to the facilities sports hall where they enjoy group games such as dodge ball, badminton and rounders. These activities help them to develop their ideas about space and movement. Children's dietary requirements are taken into consideration when snacks are planned. Children enjoy the range of snacks which are provided, these include some healthy options.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children are cared for in a bright and welcoming area where they are secure and appropriately supervised. Space is suitably organised, creating a child-friendly environment which enables children to explore, and move freely, whilst being protected from harm. For example, staff carry out regular risk assessments on areas used by the children. Clear procedures for evacuation in an emergency are in place and some practises are carried out with the children; this develops their understanding about what is dangerous and how to keep themselves safe. However, procedures to be followed in the event of a child being uncollected and for the safe conduct of any outing have not be put into writing. This has a potential impact on children's safety and continuity of care. Children use a wide range of safe, good quality and developmentally appropriate resources. They can access resources themselves, which enables them to develop

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

their own play ideas. Low tables and chairs and other suitable equipment ensures that all children can sit, eat and play safely.

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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 Children’s welfare is mainly safeguarded regarding child protection. Staff have recently undertaken child protection training and understand their responsibility to act on any concerns. An appropriately written policy offers clear advice, however this does not include procedures to follow in the event of allegations being made against a member of staff.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children of all ages are happy and settled in the setting. They develop confident relationships with adults and peers which increases their sense of well-being. Children are valued and adults help children feel good about themselves by frequently providing positive support, praise and encouragement. Children readily participate in the varied range of activities offered. Their creative skills are encouraged and explored through box modelling, painting and collage and the finished results proudly displayed. They use their initiative in deciding what activities they would like to do and enjoy listening to music and making up their own dance moves. New skills are learnt as they try out different crafts and activities such as using plaster of paris, making hand puppets and designing 'art in a box'. Planned topics help children learn about their environment, have a sense of time and

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

awareness of other cultures. For example, children enjoy painting masks and creating models of local buildings.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are warmly welcomed into the provision and are valued and respected as individuals. Information is gathered from parents prior to children’s attendance to assist staff to meet children’s individual needs. Clear systems are in place to support and identify children with additional needs. Staff introduce children to other cultures and beliefs through planned activities and resources that promote positive images of the wider world in which they live. For example, children join in the celebrating of festivals, have free access to multicultural resources and are able to take part in activities which extend their awareness of the wider community. Children benefit from the consistent behaviour boundaries which are maintained. Staff deal with minor incidents sensitively, talking quietly to children reinforcing agreed boundaries, which helps them to learn right from wrong. Children are cared

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Helping children make a positive contribution

for by staff who work with the parents to meet individual needs for children's care. Parents have good access to the groups policies and procedures through an informative parents' notice board and a comprehensive welcome pack. All relevant ongoing information is exchanged on a daily basis, this keeps parents well informed regarding the care and activities of their own children.

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Organisation

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 organisation is satisfactory. Children benefit from continuity of care and a suitably organised environment. Staff are clear with regard to their designated roles and responsibilities and work appropriately together. They have a suitable regard for the children's welfare, which is supported by maintained record systems which are required for the safe management of the provision. Children are supervised appropriately and good ratios of staff to children are maintained. Children benefit from staff being given appropriate training opportunities to ensure they are well protected and cared for. For example, all staff have attended relevant first aid training. Recruitment and selection procedures which are in place do not currently include stringent enough systems to ensure staffs' suitably. This potentially compromises children's welfare. Overall, the

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Organisation

provision meets the needs of the children who attend.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Some improvement has been made since the last care inspection. It was recommended that the setting ensure regular fire drills are conducted; devise procedures for checking that staff are suitable to work with children and improve the cleanliness of the setting. The premises are now appropriately maintained to ensure the good health of the children. Emergency evacuation procedures are displayed around the setting and some practises are carried out with the children. Although recruitment and vetting procedures are in place these do not fully ensure that staff are suitably fit and healthy to care for children. This has the potential to impact on the care and welfare of children.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted 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 satisfactory. 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

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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 take account of the following recommendation(s): • ensure the record which is maintained of accidents is signed by parents • produce operational procedures for the safe conduct of any outings • develop procedures to be followed in the event of a child not being collected • ensure child protection procedures include procedures to follow in the event of an allegation being made against a member of staff or volunteer • ensure that there are effective procedures in place for checking that staff are suitable to work with children with particular regard to health.

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The quality and standards of the care

procedures set out in the leaflet Building better childcare: Compliments and concerns about inspectors' judgements 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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