Elm Grove Childcare Club

Elm Grove Childcare Club

Inspection report for early years provision

p.1

Elm Grove Childcare Club

Unique Reference Number 155347 Inspection date 29 July 2005 Inspector Chris Mackinnon

p.1

Elm Grove Childcare Club

Setting Address Elm Grove First School,, Elm Grove, Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 5LQ Telephone number 07909 873507

p.1

E-mail

Registered person Kerry Osborne Type of inspection Childcare Type of care Out of School care

p.1

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

p.1

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.

p.2

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.

p.2

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

p.2

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

The quality and standards of the care are good. The registered person meets the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

Elm Grove Childcare Club opened in 2003. It operates from Elm Grove First School in Worthing, West Sussex. The club uses 3 classrooms, the school hall and swimming pool. Children have access to the school's outdoor play areas and adventure garden and off-site visits are made to the nearby park. The club opens Monday to Friday, 07.30 - 09.00 for breakfast club, 15.00 - 18.00 for after-school club and 08.00 - 18.00 as a holiday playscheme. The out of school setting cares for a maximum of 80 children aged from 3 to under 8 years at any session. Children from the school and other local schools attend and the

p.2

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 holiday playscheme is open to children from the wider community. The playscheme supports children with special needs and children who speak English as an additional language. There is a core staff team of 11 adults, all have experience of out of school settings. Early years qualifications or qualifications in playwork are held by 9 members of staff. All staff are first aid trained, with 3 members of staff qualified lifeguards.

p.2

Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children are healthy and active because staff follow effective procedures and practices which meet the children’s physical, nutritional and health needs. The consistent adult support and guidance helps children gain a successful understanding of hygiene and a desire to maintain independence in their personal care. Children explore, test and develop physical control in stimulating daily indoor and outdoor experiences. Staff have a good understanding of children’s development needs. Children are confident to try out new skills, ask for help when needed and set their own limits within the safe environment. Younger children successfully achieve new skills. Older children demonstrate a positive attitude to physical exercise; they enjoy the challenges of a versatile range of sports and games activities, such as swimming and adventure play, which they tackle enthusiastically. Children help themselves to easily accessible drinking water throughout the session

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

and enjoy fresh fruit and healthy snacks. The food provided is well-balanced and takes account of the individual and cultural needs of all children. The involvement of children in well organised and inventive cookery activities support their learning about healthy foods. A daily meal menu is decided by the children. The good quality of the games and activities and the high level of staff encouragement, contributes significantly to children’s understanding of a healthy lifestyle.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children enjoy sports and games and play in a welcoming and stimulating environment, providing plenty of space and many opportunities to develop and learn new skills. Care has been taken to organise the children's play areas to be secure and safe, so a wide range of challenging activities can take place. Risks of accidental injury to children are minimised because staff are vigilant and follow precise and established safety procedures. Clear and detailed risk assessments have been undertaken to reduce potential hazards. Staff have a successful understanding of how to achieve a balance between free and unruly play and setting safe limits. Staff involve children effectively in organising their

p.3

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 environment. This allows children to learn a sense of danger and gain knowledge about how to protect themselves from harm. Children use good quality equipment appropriate to their ages and level of development. Staff take care to regularly check the condition of outdoor equipment. Plenty of sports and games resources enable all children to be expressive, to enjoy their activities and have fun. Those with special needs are safely included, with sensitive adult support and adaptations made to resources and activities. Consistent communication with parents contributes to children’s safety, when on outings and when messy and adventure play occurs. Children are well protected by staff who have a clear understanding of child protection policies and procedures and give priority to children’s welfare.

p.3

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children enjoy their time greatly and are delighted by their experience at the playscheme. They achieve well because staff are skilled and accomplished in organising playwork activities and use their training and experience enthusiastically to provide high quality games and activities. Children make close and valued relationships with adults and others, increasing children’s sense of trust and helping them develop a strong sense of self. High quality adult-child interactions are extremely supportive and develop children's social and communication skills. Children join in and contribute to a diverse range of inventive and challenging play experiences. For example, obstacle course games and gymnastic ribbon dancing. The quality of activities and games provided is outstanding. Children are excited and thrilled by an extensive range of physically and intellectually stimulating activities, that

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

are organised purposefully to relate to the developing needs of a range of ages. All children are self-assured in their play and confident to try new experiences. They make music, dance and invent stories that extend into absorbing and dynamic art and craft activities and projects. Children use clay and creative materials to represent their ideas and older children are adept at learning complex craft skills such as glass painting. Children are extremely imaginative. They create their own games and act out adventures, free from adult led initiatives in the outdoor maze and adventure area. Treats are provided for children, with fun-foods and a regular daily barbecue. Children can sign up for a selection of exciting outings, including the extremely popular weekly visits to the local cinema and highly valued bus trips to theme parks in the south east area. Children work well together. Younger children develop confidence and new skills

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

following the guidance of the older children in mixed group activities such as cookery and computer games. Younger children also gain confidence in using adventure equipment, with access to walkways, ropes and ladders for climbing and jumping and learning balance. All children respond enthusiastically to challenges to extend their physical confidence. Their physical skills are developed extensively. Many

p.4

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 opportunities are provided to improve and accomplish sport skills through a wide variety of organised activities, including swimming and ball games. Playscheme staff find out about children’s skills, interests and needs and build on this information effectively to help children achieve as much as they can. A flexible approach is taken to planning the activities and an excellent balance between adult and child led activities allow children to contribute and lead their own play. Staff are perceptive to children’s interests and use questions successfully to challenge children’s thinking and extend boundaries. Staff are highly effective in observing children’s progress and provide experiences that help children to be fulfilled and have enjoyment.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. All children are welcomed and play a full part in the pre-school because staff value and respect their individuality and the family context for each child. Their behaviour is good. Staff support children in sharing and turn taking; they set consistent boundaries, which helps them learn to negotiate with others and take responsibility for their own behaviour. Staff develop children’s understanding of right and wrong actions and children respond to prompts and reminders to care for their environment, the play-scheme resources and each other. Children have a wide range of opportunities to learn about themselves and each other but are provided with few activities that reflect diversity, limiting children's awareness of the wider world. Children learn about their local community through planned activities and taking part in well organised and interesting outings to local places of interest.

p.5

Helping children make a positive contribution

An effective partnership with parents contributes significantly to children’s well-being at the playscheme. Staff ensure that all parents know how their children are progressing and developing. Children benefit greatly from the involvement of their parents on outings and cookery projects, which contribute to their good heath, safety and development.

p.5

Organisation

The organisation is good. Staff enhance children's enjoyment and development by the good quality of the organisation and the consistent leadership and management of the playscheme. The premises are well organised to be secure and safe. The indoor and outdoor play areas are spacious and well prepared to maximise sports, games and adventure play opportunities for children. A generous supply of appropriate games and play resources support children successfully in having fun and learning new skills. All required documentation which contributes to children’s health, safety and well-being is in place and is regularly reviewed. Care has been taken by staff to

p.5

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 produce clear and detailed policy and guidance material to ensure the safe and efficient management of the playscheme. Children benefit from well qualified and experienced staff, who are effectively deployed and actively supported by the person-in-charge. A staff appraisal system is in place to support competence. The staff team consult regularly to ensure that the playscheme’s planning and procedures are consistently applied. All staff are committed to continuous improvement and development. They regularly review and improve the quality of their care and playwork programme as part of an accredited quality assurance scheme. Overall the provision meets the needs of the range of children attending.

p.5

Improvements since the last inspection

The playscheme has fully met the changes required to include details of the regulator (Ofsted) in the information provided for parents.

p.6

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

p.6

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

The quality and standards of the care are good. The registered person meets the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.

p.6

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): • develop more activities to reflect diversity and increase children's awareness of the wider world

p.6

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

p.6

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

p.6