St Anne's After School Club

St Annes After School Club

Inspection report for early years provision

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St Annes After School Club

Unique Reference Number EY314759 Inspection date 26 July 2006 Inspector Yvonne Campbell

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St Annes After School Club

Setting Address St. Annes C of E Primary School, School Road, Oldland Common, South Gloucestershire, BS30 6PH Telephone number 01454 862500

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E-mail

Registered person St Annes After School Club Type of inspection Childcare Type of care Out of School care

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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 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?

St Annes After School Club opened in 2005. It operates from an allocated classroom in St Annes Church of England Primary School which is located in the village of Oldland Common, South Gloucestershire. It serves the children who attend the school and is managed by a committee of parents and governors. A maximum of 24 children aged four to eight years may attend the club at any one time. Older children may attend up to the age of 11 years. There are currently 40 children on roll who attend on various days. The club opens each weekday from 15.25 to 17.45 term time only. Children have access to several enclosed outdoor play

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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 areas. The club employs three members of staff. They have a mixed range of experience and qualifications. The joint leader has a level 3 qualification in childcare. The other joint leader is a teaching assistant at the school who is working toward a level 3. The third member of staff is a registered childminder who holds a level 2 qualification in play work and is also working towards a level 3.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children's health is actively promoted through well established practices. Staff ensure that they are familiar with the routine for washing their hands before snacks and after using the toilet or taking part in messy play. They know the importance of washing their hands thoroughly to remove dirt and germs as they take part in an activity using a machine to show how clean their hands are after washing. All rooms used by the children are maintained in hygienic conditions by the school's ancillary staff, who are responsible for cleaning the premises. Children have prompt attention to minor injuries which happen during play as all members of staff have current first aid certificates and the first aid box is fully equipped and accessible for use. The administration of medication to children is managed appropriately. The medication procedure is well thought through and includes obtaining prior written permission

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Helping children to be healthy

from parents. Children who are unwell are excluded from the club in order to reduce the risk of transferring infection to others. Parents are aware of this as they have copies of the club's sickness policy. Children are developing a positive awareness of healthy eating and they explore the tastes of a wide range of different foods at snack times. Staff make sure that there are choices within the nutritious selection they provide after school. For example, wholemeal bread is always used for sandwiches and each child chooses the filling they prefer. Choices include honey and a vegetable spread. Fresh salad of lettuce, cucumber and tomatoes is available along with the sandwiches. Fruit is provided in small portions so that children can try something which may be unfamiliar to them. For example, staff offer three varieties of apples, each with different coloured skin and texture. Children are encouraged to try the fruit and say which variety they like

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Helping children to be healthy

best. Children are learning about the preparation of food and some of the processes needed to turn raw ingredients into favourite dishes. For example, during cooking activities staff provide fresh vegetables for making soup. Children enjoy picking blackberries from the school field. They use the fruit to make a healthy pudding with a crumble topping of wholemeal flour and porridge oats. Parents say that their children's taste in food have widened considerably since they started attending the club. Children have opportunities to take part in energetic activities which promote their healthy physical development. They build up large muscle strength as they learn to

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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 climb and coordinate their movements playing on challenging outdoor equipment like the climbing frame and slide. They enjoy outside play in the field which is used in more robust play and team games. Children move freely and safely in the large open spaces running and developing their stamina and agility. Active play also takes place in the large main hall where children take part in indoor games such as skittles which are fun and improve their aiming and ball rolling skills.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are safe, comfortable and relaxed in the welcoming and familiar surroundings of their school. They move around with confidence and ease as they select their activities in the classroom which is specially allocated for use by the club. Children have a sense of belonging as examples of their art work is displayed on the walls. A wide range of good quality toys and play equipment is accessible to children. They have materials to promote development in all areas of learning. For example, they have access to art and craft items, sand, dressing up and realistic role play items such as hairdressing tabards. All play materials are kept in safe working condition and are regularly checked by staff. Broken items which are hazardous are removed and replaced. Also, all washable items are washed or cleaned to prevent the development of infection. Children are cared for in a safe environment as staff have a good understanding of

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

safety issues and take action to remove hazards and reduce risks. A comprehensive written risk assessment has been carried out by a committee member who has health and safety experience. Staff make daily checks of areas such as, the toilets, the doors and the heating to ensure that they are hazard free. Children are learning to take some responsibility for their own safety. For example, they are taught that they must keep the sand in the tray as it makes the floor slippery. They are also aware of the safety rules for using simple power equipment such as the battery operated hand drill which they use during construction activities. They obey the instructions given by staff and develop dexterity skills safely. Regular fire drills are practised in keeping with school procedures. Children and staff are familiar with the actions for evacuating the building in an emergency. The school has secure systems which keep children safe from uninvited visitors

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

during school hours. The gate is locked and visitors gain entrance using an effective intercom system and they sign a visitor's book. However, staff at the club do not have a set procedure for ensuring that the front door is locked again after parents have collected their children at the end of the day and this is a risk to children using the club. The car park is generally safe and children walk across the area to get to the field. However, car users are observed entering the area at moderate speed. The chair of the committee is aware that a control measure is required to deal this potential hazard. Children's wellbeing is safeguarded and promoted as staff have a good understanding of child protection issues. They know the four categories of abuse and some signs and symptoms which cause concern such as marks on non-accidental

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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 sites of the body and sudden changes in moods and behaviour. The manager has had recent child protection training and she is familiar with the school procedures for handling suspected abused as set out by South Gloucestershire local authority.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children are enthusiastic and excited about attending the club as staff provide an excellent range of activities which though recreational in nature, offer opportunities for valuable life experiences. They make sure that children are happy with the activities provided by involving them during the planning stages. Children are able share ideas of things they would like to do at the club and staff refine and extend these ideas to plan meaningful learning activities. For example, children enjoy imitation role play of being in a hairdresser's shop in a specially prepared area in the room. Staff provide items such as tabards, rollers and wigs for children to use. Children are also involved in the preparation for the activity as 'hairdryers' were made in craft. Their enjoyment is further increase by adult involvement when staff join in as models and allow children to 'style' their hair and to take photographs.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are engaged in activities which promote the development of life skills. They enjoy cooking and learn to make simple, healthy dishes. They also learn about changing liquid into semi solids such as making yoghurt from milk. Children are aware of their natural environment as staff use the extensive outdoor space well and encourage children to explore their surroundings and to respect and care for the creatures living there. They use binoculars to watch the birds building their nest in the tree and tempt them to return to their habitat by making feeders containing bird food which are placed near the trees. Children learn to be still and quiet so that they don't frighten the birds away. They have the opportunity to explore other habitats which are not within the immediate vicinity of the school. An excellent sample of sand from a Welsh beach is provided to enable children to explore the different things found in the

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

sand. They use magnifying glasses to see the details of patterns and colours on the small sections of broken shell. Children are confident and work well together during whole group activities. They produce presentations and plays which they perform to others including teacher and parents. Staff encourage these activities as a means of building self esteem. Children show their emerging talents not only during performances, but also in supportive roles such as passing on information to others through specially designed posters. Staff encourage children to be creative and they are learning to use natural materials during art work. For example, driftwood is used for making novel picture frames.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Individual needs met well. Staff have good all round understanding of each child from the relationships which are established during school time. There are regular discussions with parents at collection time and clear information about children's

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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 general needs is provided on the club registration form. Staff provide some activities to promote children's understanding of difference. They take part in projects which recognise cultural celebrations such as Chinese New Year. Staff encourage children to use the library to research different aspects of the culture. Children enjoy making craft items such as, oriental dragons and fans. Children who have physical disabilities enjoy attending the club as staff work closely with parents to ensure that suitable arrangements are made for care and activities. Independence is encouraged and support is offered as needed. Staff make sure that there is sufficient space to manoeuvre walking aids around the tables so children can have access to the activity of their choice. Staff work closely with the committee to

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Helping children make a positive contribution

secure additional funding in order to further enhance the play opportunities available to children who have different or stated needs. Children behave well. They are polite, friendly and are aware of the boundaries, showing respect during interaction with adults. They know some rules keep them safe and they ask permission if they need to leave the room so that staff are always aware of their whereabouts. Children work in cooperation with their peers in small groups. Sometimes, they are involved in whole group activities for special projects such as drama presentations. The club has a comprehensive behaviour management policy. This sets out what children should and should not do. Parents have their own copies and they are encouraged to help their children understand the rules of the club. A disciplinary procedure is in place to deal with persistent, unacceptable behaviour if necessary. Children are taught to look after the environment and vulnerable creatures within it.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

They take pride in helping to maintain their pleasant surrounds and enjoy being involved in small tasks such as sweeping up fallen autumn leaves and watering the flower beds in the front of the school. They are also developing awareness to environmental issues such as recycling and make a positive contribution by collecting the left over food from snack time for use in the compost bin. Staff work closely with parents and the committee to meet children's needs for quality after school activities. Parents are aware of plans for activities and are they actively involved with the running of the club as the management committee is parent led. Regular information is provided to all parents during daily feed-back and also through periodical newsletters.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children are very happy at the club and they are interested in learning as staff are well organised to meet their needs. Through skilful planning, they offer meaningful recreational activities which help children to develop some valuable life skills such as cooking and doing presentations. Staff are very experienced and they have the appropriate qualifications for working with children. However, further training is required for one member of staff who has supervisor's responsibility but is still working towards a level 3 qualification.

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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 staff have a high level of administrative support from the pro-active committee. They ensure that the written policies and procedures required by the regulator are developed, and are in place to support the daily practices which ensure the effective operation of the club. Staff keep policies and records of children and their parents accessible for reference. They are stored in a systematic way in a locked cabinet on the premises. All staff and members of the committee have clear criminal records checks and are safe to be in close contact with children. The record of attendance is maintained and is up to date as required. Staff take the register when children arrive in the room. They always know where children are located and parents must sign their children out at collection time. The setting meets

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Organisation

the needs of the range of children for whom it provides.

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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 Standard. 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): • assess the risk of children in regard to the security arrangements for the front door after school ends, and the safety procedures to ensure that children are not at risk when they walk across the car park.

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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 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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