Spring Park Junior School

O.S.C.A.R's Inspection report for early years provision

p.1

101737 Unique Reference Number 20 August 2007 Inspection date Linda Janet Witts Inspector

p.1

Wortley Road, Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire, GL12 7JU Setting Address

p.1

E-mail

O.S.C.A.R's Registered person Childcare Type of inspection Out of School care Type of 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

p.2

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.

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 inadequate - notice of action to improve. The registered person does not meet the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

Oscars Out of School Club first registered in 1997. It is run by a voluntary management committee and operates from within The British School, Wotton-under-Edge. It caters for the children of this school during term times. The provision extended to offer holiday care in 2007. Children from all local schools are welcome. The group is registered to accept a maximum of 24 children aged between four and eight years, at any one time. Older children are also accepted. There are currently approximately 160 children on roll.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The group has the use of two playrooms, used also by the kindergarten. The group also has the use of the school hall and outdoor play facilities. A team of staff are employed. Several of them have relevant qualifications in childcare, education and playwork. Holiday staff, employed by another local registered setting, are also used, to cover the hours of operation.

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

p.2

Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children are encouraged to be healthy. They eat snacks that include a choice of fresh and dried fruit, bread sticks, toast and savoury biscuits. Children bring packed lunches from home during the holiday club. Parents are not encouraged to provide healthy foods or told about limited storage facilities. After-school, a snack table is set up and children can help themselves to snacks, giving them control over their eating. They ask for drinks, as they wish. Lunchtime arrangements during the holiday club do not help children to eat socially and learn good manners. Children really enjoy cooking activities. The cooking activities offer creativity and also the opportunity for children to learn about food from around the world and healthy eating. For example, they make 'healthy', 'Italian' pizzas.

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

The children's play and eating environment is suitably maintained by staff, who ensure that the areas are kept clean. Tables are routinely cleaned before food is served. Children are independent in their personal hygiene and they all routinely wash their hands before they eat. Children can relax as they wish in the book corner or area of their choosing. In the event of a child becoming unwell or injured suitable arrangements are in place to treat and protect children from infection. The group ensures that there is always a person trained in first aid on site. Accident records are maintained and shared with parents.

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

Children show that they are physically active as they engage in their play activities. They move around the play space with confidence. Many are keen to play outside. After-school good use is made of the school field and playground to offer fresh air and exercise, whatever the weather. Outside areas are available for use during the holiday club and are used for various activities. For example, children play ball games and use scooters initiating their own games with them. Water games are popular.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is inadequate. Children's safety is compromised because children are not fully safeguarded from those who are not appropriately vetted. Also security measures to protect children from unwanted visitors and to prevent them from leaving unsupervised, are not always implemented during the holiday club. Fire drills although routinely carried out during term-time, are not carried out during the holiday club. Therefore, the children and staff, including those who do not routinely attend the host school, are not familiar with emergency evacuation procedures. A documented risk assessment is in place. It lacks detail about the security measures that staff are expected to implement. Copies of the risk assessment are given to staff but there is no system in place to ensure that all staff are aware of their responsibilities to keep children safe. At times, supervision of children is insufficient. For example, during the holiday club, deployment of staff results in

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

children being unsupervised and older children are used to escort younger children to the toilet facilities, situated a considerable distance from the club rooms.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children have access to resources which are suitable and safe for use. Children take care when using resources and carry equipment safely. They can help themselves to resources, stored in low level storage units, to enable them to do so safely.

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 Staff training gives them confidence that they will safeguard children's welfare, in the event of suspected child abuse or neglect. The club has a clear policy to follow and an action flow-chart displayed for reference.

p.3

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children report that they enjoy their time at the club. They arrive with enthusiasm and busy themselves. They are confident and enjoy the company of the other children, of different ages. Children are empowered to make choices and are able to play and develop at their own pace and in their own way. Children attending the breakfast or after-school clubs are able to choose from a good range of activities, set out attractively to aid selection. Children can change or extend activities as they wish. They like to draw and colour, use their imagination as they play with small world resources and construction pieces. They play snooker and pool, and join in team games played outside. Craft activities and cooking are popular with the children attending all clubs, including the holiday club.

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

During the holiday club, children can join in themed activities, planned for them, or alternatively they can undertake activities of their choosing. The weekly themes followed include, 'magic', 'space', 'seaside/pirates', 'jungle', 'exploration' and 'American Indians'. Children like the activities planned for some themes, for example, dressing up and making props to aid their transformation into wizards. However, the staff who acknowledge that some activities were initially over-directed, have in their quest to correct this, now leave children much to their own devices. Children are not actively encouraged to join in planned activities, as staff often fail to present the activities in an exciting, motivating manner. As a result, children choose not to join in, preferring to watch children playing computer games or watch films on the television.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is inadequate. Parents receive regular information about the club and activities offered. Letters are sent out and information is also prominently displayed on the club room entrance windows. The club policies and procedures are available to parents. However, the club's procedure for dealing with complaints does not reflect legislative requirements and does not include the up-to-date address of the regulator. The club does not have a system in place to record complaints, should any be received. Parents' views are sought, by means of questionnaires and via a suggestion box.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are welcomed into the club. Before and after-school the children attending are from the host school. During the holiday club, children from different local schools come together. They play well together and support one another. After-school staff have experience of supporting children with learning difficulties and disabilities. Staff know most children and their families well.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

Staff have high expectations for behaviour, when children attend the club before and after school. Inconsistent practice, during the holiday club, gives rise to incidences of unacceptable behaviour. For example, older children, who are role models to the younger ones, move about when eating at lunchtime. Some of the language they use is also inappropriate and goes unchallenged by staff.

p.4

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 Non-stereotypical play is promoted; children are not inhibited in their play and can choose to join in activities regardless of their gender. They see positive images of culture and disability within the play resources available to them. Activities are also planned as part of celebrations of different religious festivals. These introduce children to different cultures.

p.4

Organisation

The organisation is inadequate. The club does not meet the needs of the range of the children for whom it provides. Children's care at the club is compromised by poor organisation, particularly of the holiday provision. The leaders of the after-school and holiday clubs are not appropriately approved for the role. Evidence of suitability checks for other staff are not available for inspection. Deployment of staff, during the holiday club, fails to provide sufficient supervision of children. Holiday staff are not clear of their responsibilities relating to the management of safety risks. The group has failed to ensure that all legally required documentation is in place and maintained appropriately.

p.5

Organisation

The club leaders hold at least level three qualifications relevant to their role. Most staff are trained in first aid and child protection, although evidence of training is not readily available on site.

p.5

Organisation

The facilities available to children are suitable. They can move freely between the two play rooms and have regular opportunities to use the school's outdoor facilities and school hall. Resources are accessible to children and enable children to make choices in their play. Activities are planned to offer variety in children's play but these are not always appealing to the children attending. Healthy eating and good hygiene practice are promoted.

p.5

Organisation

Records of children's attendance, personal details, incidents and accidents are maintained well. They are clear and up to date. There is no system for recording complaints and no clear procedure to be followed should any complaints be received. Other legally required documentation is maintained appropriately.

p.5

Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the group was given recommendations for improvement of the provision. These were firstly to devise and implement a procedure for uncollected children. Secondly, to extend the range of resources so that there are sufficient activities to sustain children's interest. Also, to plan and provide a broad range of activities which cover all aspects of children's learning. Another recommendation was given to fully implement the behaviour management policy by positively reinforcing wanted behaviour. Lastly, it was recommended that the group provide additional storage so that resources are easily accessible to children and there are no potential hazards.

p.5

Improvements since the last inspection

In response to the recommendations made an uncollected child policy has been written and storage facilities improved. Children can now access resources safely for themselves. The storage arrangements enable children to initiate activities to sustain their interest. Staff now plan a range of activities to cover different aspects of learning, but children are not always keen to participate in what is planned. The inconsistencies in behaviour management remain an issue.

p.5

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 Despite the club's clear policy for behaviour children are not always helped to understand the behavioural expectations within the group.

p.5

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.

p.6

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.

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 inadequate - notice of action to improve. The registered person does not meet 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, the registered person must take the following actions: • ensure that all leaders are suitably approved for the role • make sure that all staff are fully aware of their responsibilities to promote children's safety. Ensure that the documented risk assessment is sufficiently detailed, detailing action to be taken to minimise risks, including security measures. Carry out fire drills during the holiday club operation to ensure that holiday staff and children are familiar with emergency evacuation procedures • develop a system to record any parental complaints and update the group's complaints procedure to reflect regulatory requirements and the current address of the regulator These actions are set out in a notice of action to improve and must be completed by the date specified in the notice.

p.6

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

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