Shobnall Primary & Nursery School

Boomerang Safeplay Centre

Inspection report for early years provision

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Boomerang Safeplay Centre

145794 Unique Reference Number 26 October 2006 Inspection date Paul Martin Kitchen Inspector

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Boomerang Safeplay Centre

Unit 2/4, Harrier Court, Merlin Way, Bowerhill, Melksham, Wiltshire, SN12 6TJ

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E-mail

Gary Cooke Registered person Childcare Type of inspection Out of School care Type of 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

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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 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?

Boomerang Safeplay Centre opened in 2004. It operates from one room in a purpose-built building within the centre. It is situated on a large industrial estate at Bowerhill, Melksham, Wiltshire. A maximum of 40 children may attend the centre at any one time. The centre is open each weekday from 15.00 to 18.00 term time and 08.30 to 18.00 in the school holidays.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

There are currently 262 children aged from four to under eight on roll. Older children up to the age of ten also attend the club. Children come from a wide catchment area including Bowerhill and Melksham. The centre employs seven members of staff. Of these three hold appropriate early years qualifications.

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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 satisfactory. Children have ample opportunity to develop their physical skills in the activity centre. They run, balance, swing and climb. Effective hand washing and drying facilities are in place such as liquid soap and hand dryers. This helps prevent the spread of cross infection. The staff encourage children to wash their hands before eating and after using the toilet. Playrooms remain clean and staff check them before children arrive. Children are kept safe as staff are aware of children's allergies and special diets from the child record form. Accidents are recorded and parents notified, keeping them informed about any injury. There is no written parental permission for emergency medical advice or treatment. Children are therefore at risk in a medical emergency, from a delay in the medical advice or treatment, whilst staff seek consent.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are provided with a snack to keep hunger at bay. However, these do not always promote children's understanding of what constitutes a healthy diet as they are regularly provided with snacks such as chocolate biscuits and crisps. At lunch time they skilfully make their own sandwhiches of white bread and spreads. Later in the day, at the afternoon snack, children are encouraged to eat fruit. At these break times children are provided with fresh drinking water or squash in their own labelled cups. At other times they can freely access fresh drinking water from a filled jug.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. The safe play centre is bright, airy and child-friendly. There are murals on the walls and displays of children's art work which have been mounted attractively, aiding children's sense of achievement. Premises are suitable, safe and secure and prepared for children's arrival. An effective arrival and departure system is in place, to protect children's safety. Parents sign their name when taking and collecting their children, ensuring children only leave with the appropriate adult.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children enjoy an adequate range of play and learning equipment. The range includes computers, table football, books, snooker, games, painting and drawing. There is a suitable rest area for children where they can chat and read as necessary. Children also benefit from using the specialist play equipment in the main hall. All play equipment is regularly checked for safety and hygiene.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are kept safe by a system where all the external doors are alarmed so that staff are notified of any person leaving or entering the building. There are regular 'head counts' where the register is taken and an accurate record made. Fire drills are carried out at regular intervals where the fire escape plan is put into operation and the children assembled outside. Children are well supervised on the specialist play equipment by suitable numbers of staff ensuring their safety and welfare at all times.

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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 An effective procedure is in place to make staff aware of child protection issues. Staff have appropriate knowledge about the procedure to follow, in the event of concern. However, there are no written procedures to follow in the event of an allegation being made against staff. This is a requirement for all group care. The consequences are that children are not suitably protected should an allegation be made.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children enjoy a wide range of play and learning activities. They enter the premises eagerly and run to the various activities on offer. Children chatter excitedly as they crowd round the computer games, competing with each other. Older children dominate some activities at the detriment of younger ones. The result is that younger children cannot access these activities at their own level. Activities on offer include structured play such as painting and card making. Here children enjoy the satisfaction of taking home a finished product. When making cards, the group size is too large and the age range too big. The consequences are that younger children are not able to keep up with the instructions from staff. Free play includes table football, snooker and reading books in the quiet area. Children are happy and confident in the setting and they have a positive relationship with the staff, whom they call by their first name.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children relate well to each other. They patiently wait while taking turns to play a game on the computer. Children benefit from supervised care and attention within the setting. They are listened to and valued by staff members, thus increasing their confidence to learn new games such as table football. Throughout the day small groups of children are taken to the specialist activity in the public area of the centre. This is a very popular activity in the programme and children queue eagerly and excitedly while their register their name. On the activity they stretch their limbs, climbing and swinging on the challenging apparatus. They shout and scream in enjoyment as they compete with their friends and are reluctant to leave when staff call them. The centre however has no provision for outside play, therefore children do not experience daily fresh air. Young children are encouraged to be independent attending the toilet on their

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children are made aware of diversity from an appropriate range of resources. These include books, posters, puzzles and the computer. Staff use language which is positive and easily understood by the children. This helps children feel relaxed and experience a sense of belonging.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Staff have a positive attitude to children with a learning disability/difficulties. Parents and children are warmly welcomed into the centre and their individual needs discussed. Activities are adapted with the minimum of disruption ensuring children are well integrated. Individual children's needs are not always met due to the large group size and the big age range.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Behaviour is good however, as there are so many interesting and exciting activities for children to engage in. Children are inclined to race from one activity to another showing their enthusiasm

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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 and excitement. Staff use praise and encouragement ensuring, for example, that children understand running could cause an accident.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Partnership with parents is acceptable. Parents are happy to leave their children in the care of the staff with whom they have a warm relationship. Parents exchange relevant information about the children, to enable the staff to provide for their needs. A clear complaints policy and procedure is in place, which all parents are made aware of during their visit, including the complaints record.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The children benefit from a variety of activities which allow them to play and explore freely during the holiday periods and to relax and unwind after the school day. The staff are suitably qualified and experienced to care for children within this age group. All staff who are not cleared are not left unsupervised with the children. Sufficient staff have a qualification in first aid and can attend to a child correctly should there be an accident.

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Organisation

There are sufficient numbers of staff to care for the children at each session. However the grouping of children results in staff not being able to effectively support the wide age range. Consequently, younger children are not always able to access activities, for example on the computer, as these are dominated by the older ones.

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Organisation

Documentation systems such as the daily register and the group's policies and procedures are regularly reviewed and made available to parents and for inspection. Records are kept confidential and stored for the required number of years. The provision meets the needs of the range of children for whom it provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the provider was asked to ensure all food was healthy and nutritious, and ensure children wash their hands prior to eating and after using the toilet. They were asked to ensure that premises are maintained at an adequate and comfortable temperature and ensure there are effective procedures in place for checking that staff are suitably qualified and experienced. The food provided to children is still not totally healthy and nutritious. Staff ensure children always wash their hands prior to eating and after using the toilet. The premises are well ventilated and heated. The system for checking that staff are suitably qualified and experienced is in place and effective.

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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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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 Standards.

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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

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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 take account of the following recommendation(s): • ensure food provided is healthy and nutritious • obtain written permission from parents, at the time of the placement, to the seeking of any necessary emergency medical advice or treatment • ensure written child protection procedures include a statement about allegations of abuse made against a member of staff or a volunteer • ensure children are allocated to groups of an appropriate size for the activities undertaken.

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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

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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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