The Kids' AcademyOfsted inspection, 12 Sept 2006

The Kids Academy

Inspection report for early years provision

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The Kids Academy

Unique Reference Number EY334029 Inspection date 12 September 2006 Inspector Jane Nelson

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The Kids Academy

Setting Address Springhealth Leisure Club, Pools on the Park, Twickenham Road, RICHMOND, Surrey, TW9 2SF Telephone number 02088 926238 E-mail office@thekidsacademy.co.uk Registered person Springhealth Lesiure Ltd (TKA Management Ltd) Type of inspection Childcare Type of care Full day care

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The Kids Academy

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?

The Kids Academy was registered in 2006 and is operated by TKA Management Limited. It operates from a single storey building located in the grounds of Pools on the Park in Richmond, Surrey. There is an enclosed area for outdoor play. The setting is registered to care for 36 children under eight years at any one time. There are currently 66 children aged 0-five on roll who attend for a variety of sessions. A flexible service is offered and parents can choose full day care, sessional care or crèche hours. The setting is open 08:00 - 18:30 Monday to Friday throughout the year. Six staff including the manager, work with the children, three of whom are qualified. Three members of staff are due to start working towards a child care

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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 qualification. The setting currently supports a number of children who speak English as an additional language. The setting receives support from the Local Authority.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children are learning to take responsibility for their own health and hygiene through procedures that are part of their daily routine, such as washing their hands after using the toilet and before lunch. Good hygiene procedures are followed by staff and regular cleaning of the bathroom area takes place, which minimises the risk of infection to children. Adequate nappy changing arrangements are in place. However it is not clear if guidance has been sought from the local Environmental Health Department, regarding the proximity of the nappy changing area to food storage equipment. Systems are in place to record accidents and medication appropriately. Not all parent's written consent is in place, in the event of children needing emergency medical treatment. Older children enjoy exercise and physical play, such as climbing on soft play equipment, and using a small slide and play tunnel in the garden. They have fun

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Helping children to be healthy

crawling though a play tunnel into a tent and throwing balls in the garden. Opportunities for babies to gain and increase mobility are limited, due to the organisation of space, and little equipment and furniture being available to encourage independent walking. Children have access to drinking water, they can help themselves to drinks, when they are thirsty, from a small water cooler and cups set out on a low surface. Some children need help operating the water cooler and ask staff when they want a drink. Children help themselves to a healthy snack of raisins, from a communal container. A hot lunch is provided and delivered from the Pools on The Park cafeteria for children staying all day. Children enjoy healthy food, such as vegetarian bolognaise or jacket potatoes, in accordance with their dietary needs. Staff sit with children at lunch time and help them with feeding if needed.

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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 safe and secure environment. They use a range of play equipment and materials which are safe and in good condition. These are stored safely, and set out on low surfaces on the floor, meaning children can play and help themselves to equipment safely. Space for older children's play is well organised and used appropriately, which means they are able to move around and play safely, both inside and in the outdoor area. The area used for babies has soft floor surfaces with tactile and pop up toys set out on the floor, meaning that babies can explore these toys safely. However there is

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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 limited space for mobile babies to move independently. Children are well supervised by staff and reminded to be careful in their play and with each other, for example they are reminded not to 'jump too high' on the soft play equipment. Babies are well supported by staff in exploring toys safely. Children's welfare is protected by the setting's clear and comprehensive child protection policy and staff's awareness of the action to take if they have concerns.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children have access to a range of play materials and equipment that encourage their development. Older children's independence is encouraged well, as play materials are set out in low storage units enabling them to choose what they want to play with. Older children arrive at the setting happy, they greet each other and staff on arrival. Children enjoy their play and chat to staff and each other while they play. A child concentrates, when building the train track and children use their imagination, cooking and undressing dolls in the home area. Children are excited when one child arrives with a birthday cake. They enjoy looking at the cake, talking about it, and watching a member of staff cut it into pieces, for each child to take home at the end of the session. Children have great fun during story time and join in with excitement during loud parts of a familiar story. Children enjoy good interaction with staff, who

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

chat to them while they play, make suggestions about what they can play with and encourage children's involvement during story and singing time. Babies have access to a range of tactile and exploratory materials, which encourage investigation. They are well supported in their investigations by close contact with staff, who sit on the floor with babies attracting their attention with shakers or noises from toys. Some babies, new to the setting, are distressed and are comforted by close physical contact with staff, however their distress affects other children in the room. There is no suitable equipment, such as wheeled toys, to encourage older babies mobility and the limited clear floor space means older babies have little space to gain confidence in independent walking.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Good relationships between staff and parents help children feel secure. Parents whose children attend crèche sessions, are very happy with the care provided, and compare the setting favourably to previous experiences. They say their children enjoy coming, praise staff and comment on the continuity of care provided by the same staff being present each day. Good systems such as 'stay and play' encourage parental involvement and a gradual settling in period helps children to settle and feel secure. Information is shared between staff and parents on a daily basis, which helps

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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 to provide continuity of the care children receive at home. Children have opportunities to learn about diversity through using a range of resources such as dolls ,books and play food that reflect differences. Core staff know the children well and talk about their siblings and families, which helps children feel valued. Children who have English as an additional language are supported by systems, such as, staff asking parents for some familiar words in the child's first language. Systems are in place to obtain information relating to children's needs through parents completing a registration form and ongoing discussion. Children behave well. Their self esteem is promoted through having their achievements and positive behaviour valued and praised. There are few disputes,

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Helping children make a positive contribution

children play alongside each other and enjoy joining in group activities such as singing songs and story time.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The setting has a detailed and comprehensive operational plan. Written policies and procedures are comprehensive and well organised and are discussed with parents when their child starts at the setting. Information for parents, about the setting, is provided in the form of a leaflet and visitors letter. The core staff group work well as a team which is reflected in parents views about the setting. Most of the necessary documentation is in place, however children's attendance records lack some of the necessary detail and staff's attendance is recorded in a separate format. Not all staff information is available on the premises. A staff handbook is in place, however, there is no clear induction process for new staff to ensure their familiarity with the setting's polices and procedures. Staff have access to training through the local authority to increase and update their childcare knowledge.

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Organisation

The setting is meeting the needs of the range of children for whom they provide.

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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. 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

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 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 take account of the following recommendation(s): • implement a curriculum for children aged under two years, such as, birth to three matters, to ensure the developmental, emotional and physical needs of all children are met; • ensure the proximity of food storage equipment to the nappy changing arrangements, complies with local environmental health department's guidance and recommendations; • develop induction system for new staff and ensure all staff records are on the premises; • obtain parents consent for emergecy medical treatment for all children; • make sure children's full names are recorded in the attendance register and develop a central system for recording children's and staff's attendance.

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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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