Sneakers Kids Klub at Oak Hill

Sneakers Kids Klub at Oak Hill Inspection report for early years provision

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260553 Unique Reference Number 03 May 2007 Inspection date Christine Lynn Williams Inspector

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Wirehill Drive, Lodge Park, Redditch, Worcestershire, B98 7JU Setting Address

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E-mail

Sneakers Childcare Ltd 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 outstanding. The registered person meets the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

Sneakers Kids Klub at Oak Hill out-of-school care opened in 2001 and is one of eight settings owned and run by the same provider. It operates from a designated children's centre within the grounds of Oak Hill First School in the Lodge Park area of Redditch. A maximum of 24 children may attend at any one time. The club is open each weekday from 15:00 to 18:00 during term time only. All children share access to a secure enclosed outdoor play area.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

There are currently 20 children aged from four to eight years on roll, although children up to the age of nine are also catered for. The club serves the children attending Oak Hill First School.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The setting employs two full time and one part-time member of staff, of which two are fully qualified and one is working towards a qualification. The out-of-school club forms part of the facilities offered to local residents by the Children's Centre. Also provided on the site is a Local Education Authority (LEA) Nursery, wrap around care facilities, a stay and play crèche and drop-in sessions from health professionals.

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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 outstanding. Children learn the importance of good personal hygiene through clear messages and learning from example. Good toileting and hand washing resources encourage children to be independent in their self-care and staff act as excellent role models. For example, they wear aprons and gloves when preparing food and encourage the children who help at snack time to do the same. Effective steps are taken to prevent the spread of infection. Daily cleaning routines ensure that toilet and food preparation areas are always hygienic and toys and equipment are regularly cleaned. Children's medication needs are clearly recorded and daily contact between parents and key workers ensure staff are kept well informed and up-to-date about children's health issues. Staff are highly committed to maintaining high levels of hygiene at all times. They are trained in first aid, heath and food hygiene and constantly monitor the effectiveness of their

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Helping children to be healthy

routines. Spot checks and a reflective approach means they are always alert to possible health risks and can act quickly in identifying any improvements necessary to further protect children.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children delight in the many purposeful activities used to help them eat healthily and keep active. Drinks and fresh fruit, such as bananas and plums, are available immediately they arrive from school, followed by a selection of wholesome, nutritious snacks. Drinks of water and juice are available throughout each session and snacks include carefully chosen healthy options such as wholemeal bread. Staff work closely with the school and children's centre to promote a thorough understanding of healthy eating, using imaginatively designed activities such as making wall displays to show which foods are healthier than others. Two children are chosen each day to help staff at snack time and this is used to best effect in supporting them to make the link between what they eat and their health. Children's individual dietary needs are carefully considered, with staff working closely with parents to record, regularly update and plan a range

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Helping children to be healthy

of foods that are suitable for all the children attending.

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Helping children to be healthy

Physical play is an integral part of children's time at the setting and helps them to develop extremely positive attitudes to the importance of fresh air and exercise as part of a healthy life-style. Children enjoy an outstanding level of activity and stimulation all through the year, with a versatile range of innovative activities aiding their co-ordination and keeping them fit. For example, they can often move freely from inside to outdoors during the summer months for such things as ring games, water play, or using balls and bats. Effective and creative use of indoor space, also allows children to enjoy a specially designed programme of muscle warming and stretching games set to music and there is time to run around the school playing fields, kicking a football or just letting off steam after a long day at school.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Children thoroughly enjoy their time at the setting and benefit from effective adult support offered within a caring and stimulating atmosphere. They move freely and safely around their large care room which can be easily divided to create two areas, so that both boisterous and quiet activities can take place at the same time without effecting the enjoyment of either group. Children enjoy a high level of involvement in how the setting is run and this allows them to freely choose what they want to play with and to use resources effectively to follow their own interests and fully develop their own play ideas.

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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 Children develop a clear understanding of how to keep themselves safe through topics, activities and talking about key risks and how to deal with them. They have developed their own safety and behaviour rules such as no fighting or running in the room and staff are proactive in talking to children about safety issues including stranger danger. Clear boundaries are set when children play outside on the school field, so that they learn to be responsible for ensuring they play within safe limits and develop a range of safety strategies that they can use effectively at other times in their lives. For example, cones are used to set boundaries around the school playing fields and children are given clear messages about how far they can go before they are no longer visible to staff. This ensures they have the freedom to run around and enjoy outside

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

spaces, while still remaining safe. All aspects of safety have been given an exceptionally high priority within the setting. Staff understand, and are very committed to, their responsibility for children and use a comprehensive risk assessment, spot checks, site security and fire prevention strategies to best effect in ensuring practice fully reflects policy. Fire precaution routines are well considered, security arrangements are effective and there are outstanding routines in place to ensure that all children arrive safely at the club. For example, the youngest children are collected direct from their classroom, while older children meet up at a central point within the school or are escorted to the club by teaching staff. These arrangements are further enhanced by detailed register systems and signing-over processes which are used to track children's whereabouts, their expected arrival times and record when they have left the

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's overall well-being is fully safeguarded at all times because staff understand child protection procedures and how to implement these when necessary. The supervisor has received specific training and all staff have easy access to detailed policies and reference guides which help them implement correct procedures. Lost and uncollected child procedures and staff's willingness to make notes on existing injuries and to discuss these with parents, ensures that the safety of children is always given a high priority.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children thoroughly enjoy their time at the setting and benefit from the club's friendly and stimulating environment. They develop close relationships with each other and are quick to involve staff in what they are doing, share their news and chat freely. Children use their imaginations widely, are creative and choose what they want to do. Although staff develop a basic structure to sessions, children's participation is highly valued and they are encouraged to plan, lead and develop activities and follow their own interests. Regular meetings are held with the children to allow them to express their opinions and make suggestions. For example, at one meeting, children asked for more physical play and wanted to show staff a range of stretching exercises to music known as 'Wake and Shake'. This was fully acted upon, with more opportunities provided for physical play, particularly indoors during the winter.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children show a strong sense of belonging to the club and are kept fully occupied and stimulated. A wealth of interesting activities are offered which allow children to interact with each other and staff facilitate children's play, while still allowing them to choose how they spend their time. As a result, children become fully absorbed as they make models from clay, dress up, use their imagination with small world toys, play snooker or enjoy board games. There is a picture gallery where children can display the drawings and crafts they have made, and special activities such as recycling, inspire children to think about and contribute positively to their local environment. A well considered balance of rest and actives times are offered throughout each

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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 session, with children able to make up their own games, play outside, be physical indoors or sit quietly to enjoy craftwork or just rest after a long day at school.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Children are welcomed and valued at the setting where they develop confidence and a sense of self-worth because they are made to feel that they matter. They are given a strong voice within the setting, help to make decisions, plan, exercise choice, and so feel that they have a sense of control in their lives. They learn to act positively and take responsibility for their own actions because of the outstanding opportunities they are given to take part in the club at all levels. For example, they meet with staff to plan activities, help at snack times, suggest improvements and develop the behaviour and safety rules that everyone follows. These are displayed around the room as a constant reminder and to show children that their views are valued. Staff are skilled at promoting caring attitudes and close relationships and this results in a strong community ethos being developed within the group.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children's individuality and the diversity of their backgrounds are highly valued. All resources and activities are planned gender-free and children gain a positive view of the world as they use a range of different resources that reflect the beliefs and cultures of a wider society. Additional resources are borrowed from a local multi-cultural resource centre and special days and cultural festivals are celebrated as part of activity themes. For example, the children recently celebrated the Year of the Pig during Chinese New Year by making paper fans. Staff have a strong commitment to working closely with parents and there are effective relationships with support services outside the group to support children who may have additional needs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

A close and supportive relationship with parents contributes significantly to children's well-being and helps them to feel confident that their children are well cared for after school. Parents are exceedingly well informed and staff take the time to talk to parents in detail at the end of each session and to gain their views and opinions through questionnaires. A checklist for new parents is used to ensure they know about such things as policies and routines, while leaflets, notice boards and newsletters, all help to keep all parents in touch with how the setting operates. Parental documents are updated every six months and then fully reviewed each year, with a well organised colour coding system used to ensure that up-to-date information is never confused with old information. Parents know how to raise complaints and concerns on behalf of their children, and this has been carefully considered to ensure that issues can be investigated

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Helping children make a positive contribution

fully, acted upon and that records will maintain confidentiality, when necessary.

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. Children's care is enhanced by the way the club is organised and run. The setting is exceptionally well organised, with all routines, policies and procedures having been carefully considered and thoughtfully addressed. Staff and management work closely together to ensure all required regulations are exceeded and that a reflective approach is used. A constant evaluation of how well things are going lies at the heart of the club's commitment to improvement and views about the strengths and weaknesses of the setting are sought from staff, parents and children and then acted upon. Staff are well qualified and there is a strong commitment to improving practice and keeping up-to-date through regular training. They use their time effectively,

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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 working alongside and collaboratively with children, to provide a most stimulating and enjoyable after school experience.

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Organisation

An exceptional level of documentation, policies and procedures have been developed which show a comprehensive understanding of the National Standards and reflect the outstanding level of support and care offered to children. Records are used effectively to ensure children's health, safety and well-being are always carefully considered and parents are consistently consulted and kept well informed. High levels of evaluation are undertaken by both management and the supervisor of the setting and this results in clear objectives being set and creative approaches made when problems arise. Overall the children's needs are met.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the provider was asked to make improvements regarding improving security to prevent unwanted visitors gaining access to the premises.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Since the last inspection the setting has moved from a mobile classroom into a newly built designated children's centre, sited within the school grounds. Security arrangements within this new building are good, with effective measures in place to ensure children cannot leave the premises unsupervised and there can be no unauthorised access to children. The entrance door to the building is fully secure with parents using a bell to alert staff that they have arrived to pick up their children. Internal doors kept locked at all times and children know never to open doors to visitors unless a staff member is present.

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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

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 outstanding. 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

No recommendations for improvement are made because the quality and standards of care are outstanding.

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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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