The DX Club

The DX Club Inspection report for early years provision

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EY244258 Unique Reference Number 04 July 2007 Inspection date Emma Bright Inspector

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Duxford Primary School, St. Johns Street, Duxford, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB22 4RA

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E-mail

The DX Club 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?

The DX Club is managed by a voluntary management committee, made up of parents of children at the out of school club. It opened in 2003 and operates from Duxford Community Primary School in the village of Duxford. A maximum of 26 children may attend the club at any one time. The club is open five days a week from 15:20 to 18:00 during school term times. All children have access to a partially enclosed outdoor play area.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

There are currently 40 children aged from four to 12 years on roll. Children come from the local area. The club employs three staff.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children are well nourished and they learn about making healthy choices. For example, they enthusiastically tuck in to plates of pasta and choose from a good range of toppings such as ham, tuna and lots of fresh vegetables. Children help themselves to regular drinks throughout the session so that they remain well hydrated. They enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of meal

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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 times, chatting happily together and discussing their favourite foods. Children enjoy a suitable range of physical activities and make use of the outdoor area to participate in active games, such as football, tennis and team games. They develop manipulative dexterity in a good range of craft and construction activities, which helps to develop their coordination.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's health is promoted well and they understand the importance of personal hygiene as they wash their hands before meals. Staff act as good role models, wiping down surfaces before serving food to help children to stay healthy. Children's medical needs are met as parental consents for first aid or the administration of medication are obtained and most staff hold current first aid certificates. Clear procedures and record keeping systems ensure that children's individual dietary and medical needs are recognised and met.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children's overall welfare is protected by suitable procedures and documents that promote their safety. For example, sound recording systems ensure that parents are informed of accidents, incidents or injuries their child sustains whilst at the setting. However, written procedures for lost and uncollected children are unclear which affects children’s safety in an emergency. Staff have a sound understanding of child protection procedures, which are in line with those set out by the Local Safeguarding Children Board. They are clear about acting in children's best interests in the event of concerns for their welfare and this means that children are well protected and kept safe from harm.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children play in a welcoming and safe environment where risks are identified and minimised. A daily check of the premises is carried out at the beginning of each session to ensure all areas used by the children are safe. However, children are not consistently supervised in all areas and this affects their safety. Children learn to keep themselves safe as staff explain the dangers to them, which help them to develop their understanding of hazards and to take responsibility for themselves.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Good security measures restrict access to the setting and children practice the fire drill regularly and this promotes their safety. Children confidently select from a sound range of activities and resources, which have been chosen to support their play and this means they can follow their own interests. All resources and equipment are regularly checked by staff to ensure they are in good condition and safe for children to use.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children enjoy their time at the club and benefit from a range of activities that reflect their abilities and interests. They arrive and enter with confidence, greeting staff and each other. Children show great interest in what they do and particularly enjoy the good range of art and craft activities on offer. They create a ‘tardis’ from junk and make ‘American flags because it’s Independence Day’. Children enjoy each other's company and play well together, sharing resources and taking turns. They play with their chosen activity together or alongside staff, who listen to them and take time to engage them in conversation. In addition, children thoroughly enjoy the range of cooking activities such as making flapjacks, which they take home to share with their families.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

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 have time and space to relax after their day at school; some readily settle to read their books and others enjoy the range of computer games, cheering each other on as they progress. Staff plan a varied range of interesting activities, which means children pursue their own interests and choose what they want to play with. Children develop their imagination as they create complex structures form bricks, such as ‘a house with a gate that leads to a magical garden’. They demonstrate pride in their achievements and eagerly display their creations for others to admire. Children are happy and settled, and form positive relationships with the staff who offer them a warm welcome. Staff are sensitive to children's needs and this contributes to their sense of belonging and promotes their self-esteem.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children access a range of suitable resources, which promote a positive view of the wider world and help them to understand about their differences and similarities. There are appropriate systems in place to support children with learning difficulties and disabilities. Children behave well and demonstrate a clear understanding of what is expected of them as a result of familiar routines and consistent expectations. For example, they respond well to strategies such as using a 'waiting list' for popular resources such as the computer and clearly explain how they use it. This helps children play well together and learn to develop positive relationships.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children's individual needs are understood by staff as the setting gathers good information from parents to ensure these needs are well met and this contributes to children's well-being. However, children do not yet have sufficient opportunities to present their views which means they are not fully included in the life of the setting. Children benefit from good relationships between the staff and their parents; they share information on a daily basis, which ensures children’s changing needs continue to be met. All policies and procedures are in place to share information with parents and carers.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children benefit from a suitably prepared environment that enables them to make decisions and pursue their own interests. This contributes to their enjoyment at the setting. However, staff deployment does not effectively support children’s safety and welfare. Appropriate recruitment and vetting procedures ensure that adults are suitable and have the necessary skills and knowledge to work with children. However, the manager and staff do not hold appropriate qualifications which mean children do not benefit from a suitably qualified staff team. Policies and procedures are in place and followed to maintain children's safety and welfare.

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Organisation

Documentation that ensures children's health and safety is in place, such as parental consents and details of any medical needs; this is stored appropriately so it is easily accessible. Personal information is collected and stored with appropriate regard for confidentiality. Overall children's needs are met.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection, the provider was asked to make the kitchen inaccessible to children, comply with food hygiene regulations and ensure fire evacuation procedure is practiced and recorded. Children are unable to gain access to the kitchen, staff have attended basic food hygiene training and clear records show that the fire drill is carried out regularly. As a result

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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 children's health and safety is promoted. The provider was asked to improve resources promoting equal opportunities. A satisfactory range of resources has been purchased so children have access to some resources that reflect positive images of other cultures. The provider was also asked to ensure children are supervised at all times. This as not been sufficiently addressed and is reflected in this report.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since 1 April 2004 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

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): • update the procedures for lost and uncollected children to ensure they are clear • further improve opportunities for children to enable them to take a more active role in the life of the setting • ensure the manager has an appropriate level 3 qualification • ensure that staff are effectively deployed to ensure the safety and welfare of children • develop and implement an action plan detailing how at least half of all the staff will hold an appropriate level 2 qualification.

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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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