KIDS Hayward Adventure Playground

Kidsactive

Inspection report for early years provision

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Kidsactive

Unique Reference Number EY274361 Inspection date 14 December 2005 Inspector Gulnaz Hassan

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Kidsactive

Setting Address The Hayward Playground, Market Road Gardens, Market Road, London, N7 9PL Telephone number 020 7607 0033

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E-mail

Registered person Kids' Board of Trustees Type of inspection Childcare Type of care Full day 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 good. The registered person meets the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

Kidsactive was registered in 2004. It offers out of school and day care provision for children with special needs. It operates from a single storey purpose built building and consists of three rooms including a soft room and a kitchen, office and bathrooms. It is situated in the Caledonian Road district in the London Borough of Islington. All children share access to a secure enclosed outdoor play area. The setting offers after school sessions each weekday from 15:30 to 17:30 hours and holiday play schemes from 09:00 to 17:30. Various pre-booked day time play sessions are also available for children to attend with their carers and teachers.

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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 Weekend play sessions are also available. A maximum of 30 children over the age of five years may attend the provision and there are currently 21 children under eight on roll. The setting also cares for a number of children over the age of eight years. The setting employs three full-time permanent members of staff. Two of the staff including the manager hold appropriate play and early years qualifications. One member of staff is working towards an appropriate early years qualification. The setting also employs a number of temporary staff.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children benefit from snacks and meals that are nutritious, balanced and that are suitable for their time of attendance at the centre. The staff devise menus that are healthy, varied and that appeal to children's taste and meets with their dietary requirements and preferences. Children have access to readily available drinking water at all times. Children's health within the setting is supported well by staff who have good knowledge of the necessary health and hygiene practices, which are shared with children. For instance, children know why they must wash their hands before eating and after using the toilet. They are encouraged to be involved in daily hygiene practice such as helping to tidy up tables before and after meals. The recording of accidents requires further documentary detail such as the full names of staff and parental signatures.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children play outdoors on a daily basis and have good opportunities to enjoy physical exercise and learn about the importance of a healthy lifestyle as they join in free play and organised activities using the good range of apparatus and outdoor play equipment available.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Children are cared for in an exceptionally safe environment that is warm and welcoming to children and their carers. Children's risk of accidents inside and outside the premises have been minimised very well by an exceptional range of risk assessments carried out by staff that cover all areas and possibilities of danger to children. Children are cared for in a clean and generally well-maintained environment. The effective organisation of equipment and resources mean that children can move around and play with larger play equipment safely indoors and outdoors. They make independent choices in their choice of play as activities and resources are easily accessible, for example on table tops and in low level cupboards.

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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's welfare is very well protected as staff have very good knowledge of child protection issues and have excellent knowledge of procedures to follow in the event of suspected abuse. There are detailed child protection policies and procedures available to support their practice.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children are settled, relaxed and confident in the setting where they experience opportunities to take controlled risks, to develop independence and autonomy in a supervised centre. They move confidently from area to area exploring resources such as the soft room and other play activities. Staff plan effectively to develop valuable play experiences for children in an environment that focuses on space and freedom. Children make independent choices and access the resources easily. Children's ideas and initiatives are valued and welcomed by staff who promote children's choices by actively encouraging children to make choices about their play and to choose new resources. Staff organise interesting and new activities for children so that children have the opportunity to participate in structured activities as well as free play. For instance, children are introduced to new creative art techniques using a variety of media that

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

extend their learning and enjoyment and offer sufficient challenge. Children also enjoy regular outings to places of interest such as Clown Town.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Good displays and a suitable selection of resources reflecting diversity help children to develop a positive sense of identity and gain a greater understanding of the wider world. Children's individual needs are met at an exceptional level by a team of committed and dedicated staff who know the children very well. Children's personal needs are well met and staff ensure that children are treated with dignity and their privacy respected. The centre provides an excellent service exclusively for children with a range of special needs and disabilities. Children thrive and enjoy very good relationships with the core adults and the other staff in a setting that works extremely hard to draw out children's various abilities often working on a one-to-one basis with children. Children's special and welfare needs are further enhanced as staff work closely with other referring agencies and professionals.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are involved in drawing up a range of centre rules which are frequently discussed and reinforced so that children generally behave well. Staff manage challenging behaviour to an excellent standard maintaining communication, acting calmly and giving children the space to calm down. Staff have good knowledge and understanding of using positive strategies to manage more general behaviour.

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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 Children benefit from good relationships between centre staff and their parents and carers. Relationships are further enhanced by regular opportunities for siblings to spend time together at the centre where staff arrange for siblings to attend play sessions together.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The setting meets the needs of the range of children for whom it provides. Children are well cared for by three qualified core staff who are committed and dedicated to the service they provide. They know the children well and as a result children are secure and well settled in the setting. The setting has rigorous induction procedures and suitability checks in place for all staff including all sessional and occasional staff who regularly help to look after children so that children's welfare is not at risk by being cared for by unsuitable persons. All records, policies and procedures are available and generally well detailed with some minor exceptions, such as in the detail of staff and children's record of attendance that is not sufficiently detailed as to times of arrival and departure. Staff have the necessary knowledge and understanding of working with children who have

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Organisation

special needs this helps to promote children's health, safety and welfare well.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted since registration. 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 good. The registered person meets the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.

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WHAT MUST BE DONE TO SECURE FUTURE IMPROVEMENT?

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): • ensure that the accident book is clearly signed by parents and staff • ensure that the attendance register includes clear details of the arrival and departure times of children and staff

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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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