Northumberland Heath Primary School

After Three Club

Inspection report for early years provision

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After Three Club

Unique Reference Number 101447 Inspection date 03 May 2005 Inspector Karen Elizabeth Screen

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After Three Club

Setting Address Abbeymead Primary School, Mead Road,Abbeymead,, Gloucester, GL4 5YH Telephone number 01452 618608

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E-mail

Registered person Louisa Lowe 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 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 After Three Club operates from Abbeymead Primary School, which is situated in the residential area of Abbeymead on the outskirts of Gloucester. The club use the hall which has its own kitchen area, an adjacent room, toilets, playing fields and playgrounds. The club serves children attending the school and is privately owned. The After Three Club is registered to provide care for 40 children aged between 4 and 8 years old. There are 67 children on roll who attend for a variety of sessions. The club is open from Monday to Friday between 15.00 and 18.00 during the school term.

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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 Four of the seven adults working with the children, have or are working towards a Playwork qualification. At the moment the group is not supporting any children with special needs or children learning English as an additional language.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children enjoy the range and variety of snacks provided. They understand which foods are healthy and good for them, but favour and choose the less healthy options first. Drinking water is always available, but younger children are not encouraged to pour their own, therefore missing the opportunity to develop confidence in their physical capabilities. Older children’s self-esteem is raised as they volunteer to help prepare and serve the drinks, however staff do not seize the opportunity to enlist children’s interest and support in preparing the snacks. Children know the hygiene routines and independently wash their hands before eating and after using the toilet. Staff do not consistently ensure that soap is always available. There are appropriate arrangements to care for children when they are ill during the session. Children have a positive attitude to exercise and make good use of the outside play

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Helping children to be healthy

areas. They are not always able to enjoy daily exercise in wet weather, because staff do not make regular provision within their planning to offer a choice of energetic indoor play, such as soft ball or team games. Children’s health is protected within a clean and tidy environment, where the staff demonstrate a clear understanding of the treatment of minor accidents and the administration of medicines.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children are safe in the setting because staff are vigilant and carry out regular, well-documented risk assessments; but they do not always ask visitors to record their presence. Staff respond quickly to potential dangers, such as cordoning off an area of the floor which had become slippery due to water dripping from a leaking ceiling. Children know to stop what they are doing and listen when the whistle is blown. In this way children’s safety is reinforced, as the danger posed by the leak is explained. Children are interested and want to play with the available toys and resources, which are safe and in good condition. In fine weather, the organisation of the inside space meets the needs of children by providing well-defined areas for quiet play, table-top activities and group games. Children are protected by staff who are clear about child protection procedures. Established staff are aware of the possible signs of children at risk and of their

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

responsibility to report their concerns without delay, according to local Area Child Protection Committee Procedures. Newer members of staff are less confident but are

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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 clear that they should speak to a senior member of staff if they have cause for concern.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children are happy and keen to attend, some collected early resist leaving. They make confident choices from the activities provided and are interested and enjoy their play. However weaknesses exist in the range and types of media with which children can express their creativity; and the opportunities for children to extend creative opportunities for themselves. Older children influence the choice of resources, activities and experiences provided, through consultations with the staff about what they would like to be provided; and their thoughts on those already organised. Younger children’s views are not routinely sought. Children enjoy excellent relationships with staff and other children. They learn to take turns and to cooperate well with others. Children benefit from staff who are interested in what they say and do and who are involved in their activities, such as Table Pool; and respond quickly to requests from children for activities which are

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

not on offer. Good provision is made for children to develop their manual dexterity, such as through playing table tennis. Fewer opportunities exist for children to develop their imaginative capabilities, for example through dressing up.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. All children are valued and included as individuals, but weaknesses still exist in the experiences provided to help children appreciate and value each other’s similarities and differences. Children behave very well and respond promptly to guidance about rules and boundaries. Positive relationships between staff and parents, contribute to children’s confidence in the club. Parents are involved through the newsletter and requests for resources and equipment. Policies and procedures are shared with parents, but this does not extend to providing prior information about the activities and inhibits a genuine understanding of what is on offer and the delivery of a full partnership with parents. Staff are aware of where to seek help if they feel a child needs extra support. New children are helped to feel at ease, for example through support from a long-standing club member 'showing them the ropes'. In addition older children are encouraged to

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Helping children make a positive contribution

help younger ones. Children's involvement in the wider community is mainly restricted to participating in activities such as celebrating Diwali.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The After Three Club meets the needs of the range of children for whom it provides.

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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 Many well-chosen and good quality resources have been purchased since the last inspection. These are kept in the storage cupboard and listed on a sheet kept near the main desk. This means that children can request to use them at any time. Policies and procedures are relevant and help to ensure the smooth running of the club. The organisation of the early welcome does not afford all children the opportunity to share their news and views. Good organisation of staff rotas, supply cover and training, helps to ensure good staff ratios are maintained and staff turnover reduced. This helps to ensure that the care of the over eights does not adversely affect the care of the under eights. The owner is taking positive steps to ensure that minimum staff qualifications are met. As a result, four of the seven adults working

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Organisation

with the children have, or are working towards, a Playwork qualification and there is always a member of staff present trained in first aid and child protection.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The club has achieved variable success in addressing the issued raised during their last inspection. These related to safety, access to resources and opportunities for children to be creative. Children are now safer, because staff draw-up action plans to find solutions to any potential safety problems which cannot be resolved straight away. They record their findings and detail the appropriate action needed in order to minimise the identified risk. This is followed through, by recording the solution found and the date it has been achieved. Children are also well protected by a team who are in a good position to manage a child protection concern. However children are not so well protected when staff fail to record visitors to the premises. Overall children have greater autonomy because improvements have been made to enable them to make greater choices within the planned activities. Older children are

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Improvements since the last inspection

consulted over the choice of resources, activities and experiences made available. However there are few opportunities for younger children to participate in planning their own play. Insufficient emphasis is placed on enabling children to express their creativity, through self-selection, from a wide range of two-dimensional and three-dimensional materials; and to help them to combine media and materials to their own design.

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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

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

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • further improve the range and types of media with which children can express their creativity; and the provision for children to extend creative opportunities for themselves, or act upon their own ideas.

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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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