Clover Hill Out Of School Club

Clover Hill Out Of School Club

Inspection report for early years provision

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Clover Hill Out Of School Club

EY331438 Unique Reference Number 12 December 2006 Inspection date Julie Larner Inspector

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Clover Hill Out Of School Club

Clover Hill Community Primary School, Glenhurst Drive, Whickham, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, NE16 5SJ

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Setting Address

07886856739 Telephone number kingsmeadow.nursery@virgin.net E-mail Team Valley Nursery Limited Registered person Childcare Type of inspection Out of School care Type of care

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Setting Address

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?

Clover Hill After School Club is run by Team Valley Nursery Ltd. It is based within Clover Hill Primary School, which is situated in the Whickham area of Gateshead. The children have access to the library, main school hall, studio and reception classroom. There is also an enclosed outdoor play ground. The after school is registered to offer care for a maximum of 26 children aged from three to under eight years, although the group also cares for children over eight years. There are 29 children on roll. The breakfast club opening times are from 07.30 to 08.55 and the after school operating times are from 15.15 to 18.00. The group operates five days per week, term time only. Five members of staff have been employed to work in the breakfast club and out of school club, all of whom have relevant childcare qualification. The setting receives support from the local authority.

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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 opportunities for physical exercise as they use the outdoor play area and the hall as part of the routine at their request. They are gaining an understanding of appropriate personal hygiene. They understand they need to wash their hands before snack as they line up to use the toilet. Staff vigilance and explanations ensure that children keep their hands clean until they have eaten their food. For example, one child tries to play with the play dough after coming in from the toilet after washing his hands, staff explain that they need to keep their hands clean and can play with this after they have eaten. Consistent staff practice ensures that children are protected from cross-infection as they clean the tables before children sit down for their snack and again before tea. Children play with clean equipment that is well-maintained.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children take care of their own personal needs independently in some areas. They use the comfortable area when they are tired and lie down to rest during the session. First aid training is compulsory for all staff to ensure that children's welfare can be safeguarded. Staff show appropriate knowledge of what to do if children are unwell. They phone their parents to collect them if they have been sick or pass on information if children are not feeling well and discuss what to do next.

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Helping children to be healthy

Staff collect information about children's individual needs, such as health needs and dietary requirements. A sound procedure is in place to ensure that all staff are well informed about these, for example, all staff read and sign the children's details forms. However, staff practice of reading and signing these details are not always consistent. A list of dietary needs are displayed in the kitchen as guidance for staff preparing food, to ensure children's individual needs are met.

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Helping children to be healthy

Snack and tea times are a social time for the children. They enjoy sitting together and talking about their day. They choose from a selection of healthy chopped fruit and vegetables and sandwiches. Children's independence is encouraged by some staff at meal times as they allow children to choose which foods they want to eat and persuade them to pour their own drinks.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children's safety is maintained due to staff checking the areas they use on a daily basis before the children attend, however, these are not always consistently recorded. Staff ensure that risks to children are minimised as they store cleaners out of reach of children, for example, hidden behind books on a high level shelf. Staff talk to children to help them learn about basic every day safety. For example, they encourage children to sit on their chairs properly and explain that they could hurt themselves by falling off if they do not do this. New staff are made aware of maintaining safety through a mixture of attending training and experienced staff showing them how this is achieved in the group.

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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 Staff have an adequate understanding of the policies that must be displayed to maintain children's safety, for example, the fire procedure. They rectify issues quickly when they notice this is missing by replacing the policy outside of the door. Fire drills are not practised and recorded sufficiently to ensure that children will grasp a good understanding of these. Staff do not have sufficient understanding of how regularly these drills need to be carried out to ensure that the group operates in line with the fire officer's recommendations.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

A satisfactory range of equipment is enjoyed by children. Staff create different areas to provide children with choices about what they wish to play with. Children confidently move around their environment to play with construction, computer games and creative materials that interest them. They easily make choices about what they want to do as they search through low level shelves and boxes to find craft materials and games. Staff provide a range of equipment that appeals to children and use their knowledge of individual children's likes to plan for their play with activities such as play dough and gloop. They show an understanding that children's moods change and respect children's wishes when they want to relax.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff have an adequate awareness of child protection issues which enables them to safeguard children's welfare. They follow written procedures and pass on any concerns through the relevant channels, such as their line manager, and to outside agencies when this is necessary.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children come into the setting and busy themselves with the activities that are on offer. They are interested in what is available and keen and confident to share their own ideas. They realise there are no pom-poms to decorate their reindeer cards and are innovative as they begin to make their own from red wool by wrapping it around their fingers. Some children persist at great lengths alone to work out how to do this. They watch other children then take great pride in showing staff the pom-pom that they have made.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Staff take an interest in the children they care for. They ask them about what they have been doing at school and talk about the Christmas School Fayre as they look at the prizes together that are stored in the room. Children are confident in talking about their home life as they tell staff about their Advent calendars.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Staff ask children what they want to do on a daily basis and children are involved in more formal planning as staff gain ideas from them for future sessions. Children have developed positive relationships with staff and are happy to help them look for items in the room and enjoy conversations with them. Some staff have lovely relationships with children and know them well. For example, one staff member notices one of the children to be 'not quite himself' and asks if he wants a cuddle, which the child quickly responds to and enjoys as he says he is tired.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Staff show a good understanding of how to help children learn about diversity. Whilst equipment does not reflect diversity, this is an area the group are currently working towards and they have

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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 identified and ordered toys that will be readily available in daily sessions. Staff plans include tasting sessions and introducing music from different cultures. Children happily play with all of the toys that are available and staff's awareness of how to challenge discrimination ensures that all children are valued.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children's behaviour is good. They enjoy cooperating together and helping each other. For example, on the computer they show each other which keys to press to control the pinball machine and ask other children if they want help to get started. Children celebrate their achievements by doing a dance when they get a high score on the computer game. Children easily make decisions as they move around the room to play with different equipment and know what they want to drink with their snack.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Partnerships with parents are friendly. Parents are informed about what goes on in the group through daily discussions when they collect their children and newsletters that are sent home. However, information about policies is less accessible.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children are supported well due to high staff ratios. Staff make appropriate use of the space and resources to ensure that children are safe and stimulated in their play; because of this, children are settled and enjoy their time at the group.

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Organisation

Staff work well together as a team. They communicate effectively to ensure they are all aware of the children's needs. A sound induction procedure for staff ensures that they are aware of their roles, the policies and procedures of the group and have an understanding of the National Standards. Satisfactory deployment of staff ensures that staff working with the children are experienced and hold relevant qualifications. Additionally, staff attend regular support groups to gain new ideas about activities that are appropriate to the age of children they care for.

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Organisation

The necessary paperwork is in place, kept in a confidential manner and organised to a satisfactory standard although certain forms, such as those for recording complaints, are not easily accessible to staff.

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Organisation

Overall, the provision meets the needs of the range of the children for whom it provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the previous inspection the group agreed to: ensure that children are supervised at all times; ensure staff use space well, for example, by making certain areas welcoming to children and that they offer the necessary facilities for a range of activities which promote children's development; and to ensure that staff are deployed effectively within the premises to ensure the safety and welfare of children.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The group have implemented procedures to ensure that all of these issues have been successfully addressed. Children are supervised at all times. Staff accompany children to the toilets, which are in a different part of the school, to ensure that children are not at risk.

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Improvements 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 The group have changed use of the rooms they use. At the previous inspection they were mainly based in a reception classroom. They now primarily use the library and the school hall, when this is available. Staff ensure that the room is set up for children's play. For example, they have a floor area where children can enjoy construction and board games, a comfortable area where children can rest or play quietly and tables set up for craft and creative activities. This ensures that children have access to a range of activities which promote their development.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Staff deploy themselves effectively in the group. Due to the change of rooms, staff are not left alone with children for considerable periods. They leave doors open from the library to the kitchen when they prepare snacks to ensure they can communicate with each other effectively. In addition, food is prepared before children arrive to ensure that staff time is focussed on children's play and less time is spent in the kitchen which further contributes to children's welfare and development.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since the last inspection there have been no complaints made to Ofsted that require 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

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): • practise regular fire drills and make certain that staff have a good understanding of how frequently these must be carried out to ensure that any fire officer's recommendations are adhered to • ensure the relevant paperwork is consistently completed, for example, risk assessments • provide easily accessible, good quality information about the group for parents and carers

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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 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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