Amesbury After School Kids Club

Amesbury After School Kids Club Inspection report for early years provision

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EY364616 Unique Reference Number 16 April 2008 Inspection date Susan Mann Inspector

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Holders Road, Amesbury, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 7ND Setting Address

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E-mail

Jacqueline Ann Maggs 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 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?

Amesbury After School Kids Club opened in 1994 and changed ownership in 2007. It is a privately owned out of school club and operates from the Amesbury Sports Centre in Amesbury Wiltshire. The after school club is open each weekday from 07:30 to 09:00 and 15:00 to 18:00 during school term times. During school holidays the kids club opens each weekday from 07:30 to 18:00. It is registered to care for no more than 40 children aged between four and under eight years at any one time. At present, there are 61 children under the age of eight years on roll.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The after school club has access to the Community room and viewing area on the first floor with additional use of the sports hall. All children share access to a secure, enclosed outdoor play area. Children come from a wide geographical area.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The kids club employs four regular members of staff and one relief member of staff. Of these, four staff including the manager, hold appropriate early years qualifications. The setting receives support from the local authority.

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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 good. Children are happy and healthy at the club. They enjoy a wide range of healthy snacks such as fruit, crackers and toast. They may help themselves to drinks of water at any time throughout each session. In the holiday sessions, children enjoy sitting together to eat their packed lunches. They talk and laugh with one another as they eat. Children with allergies and other specific dietary needs are well catered for. Staff make clear and detailed records of individual needs and all of these are strictly adhered to protect children's good health.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's health is protected well by a range of effective practices and routines. For example, the club provides liquid soap to ensure they wash their hands well after using the toilet. Staff are suitably trained to administer first aid in the event of a child becoming injured or unwell whilst at the group. However, there is no sickness policy available for parents. This means that they do not have clear guidelines of when not to send their child to the club in order to limit the spread of infection.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's physical development is fostered well by daily opportunities for exercise. They use the large hall for games and activities such as using the parachute. They may also use the large and secure garden area for outdoor play and fresh air. Furthermore, children enjoy weekly outings to a range of exciting and highly suitable places such as countryside parks and playgrounds. All of these opportunities improve children's physical well-being and improve their general level of fitness.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are safe and secure. This is because staff make thorough regular checks on all areas of the premises to ensure that hazards are properly dealt with. Outings are well organised and all parents provide written consent. Locations are carefully chosen and checked to ensure they are suitable. Children wear florescent vests when off the group's premises to help staff monitor their whereabouts. Children learn how to keep themselves safe. For example, the group helps children to learn about the Green Cross Code so that they will be safe when crossing roads. Children receive stickers and a certificate to acknowledge that they know about road safety.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children have plenty of space to play. There is comfortable seating for them to sit and rest if they wish. They enjoy playing with a wide range of resources and equipment. These are rotated regularly so that children benefit from variety in order to maintain their interest and enjoyment. In the event of a fire or similar emergency, staff and children would follow a clear evacuation plan to ensure their safety. Children practise this to become familiar with the process, although these practises are not always recorded. This means that there is not an accurate record of when these have been done.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are protected from harm and neglect because the staff have a good understanding of how to safeguard their welfare. Clear recording and reporting procedures are in place. These are supplemented by a robust statement on child protection that clearly states the responsibilities of the setting with regards to child protection.

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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

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are settled and busy. They relate to each other very well. Older and younger children play happily side by side, enjoying one another's company. Staff prepare plans of topics and activities to provide a basic framework for the sessions. These are highly flexible and staff are very keen to accommodate children's individual needs and interests.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children can choose from a wide range of interesting and inviting activities, such as games, imaginative play and Information and Communications Technology (ICT). They develop their creative skills through using a wide range of art and craft media. For example, some children enjoy painting rainbows onto large sheets of paper. They talk about the colours they are using as they do so. Later, children paint plaster models they have made. They use small brushes to make fine strokes on the moulds and demonstrate a high level of control and concentration as they do this task. In another part of the room, a group of children kneel alongside a sand tray. They move model dinosaurs through the sand and build great mounds with their hands, exploring the texture of the sand as they do so.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children benefit from the caring atmosphere of the club. They learn about our diverse society through activities and by using a wide range of suitable resources. Staff have devised a robust equality and diversity policy which is implemented well to ensure practice is inclusive. Children benefit from the strong partnership that exists between the setting and their parents. Parents receive concise and useful written information about the aims and practices of the group so they are fully informed. In addition, they receive helpful updates on topics and activities, as well as information displayed on the group's notice board so that they know what their children will be doing.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children manage their behaviour very well. They are kind and considerate to one another as they play calmly. Staff provide good role models for children to follow, demonstrating great enthusiasm and enjoyment in their roles. Children are given lots of praise and encouragement to promote their good behaviour. The group has a policy statement on behaviour management which sets out appropriate strategies that will be used in the event of unacceptable behaviour. Children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities receive a good level of care to enable them to settle well. Staff are experienced in caring for children with a range of different needs, and liaise closely with parents to ensure these are fully met.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are given a high level of support when at the club. Staff are well trained and most are very experienced in providing childcare. All required documentation is accurately maintained to provide clear records. Procedures for recruiting staff are robust to ensure they are suitable to work with children. The provision is underpinned by a wide range of well written policies that are in line with the requirements of current legislation. Overall, the provision 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

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since registration 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. 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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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 a policy on sickness and share this with parents • ensure that emergency evacuation procedures are practised regularly in line with the setting's policy and that these are accurately recorded.

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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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