Front Street Out Of School Club Ltd

Front Street Out Of School Club Ltd Inspection report for early years provision

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EY349454 Unique Reference Number 13 May 2008 Inspection date Jayne Utting Inspector

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Front Street Primary School, Whickham, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, NE16 4AD

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Setting Address

0191 433 5674 or 07981 820837 Telephone number

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E-mail

Front Sreet Out Of School Club 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 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?

Front Street Out of School Club has been registered since 2005. This registration takes account of the group's wish to become a limited company. The out of school group is based within Front Street School, situated in the Whickham area of Gateshead. The children have access to the dining hall, which has integral kitchen facilities available. Children also have access to outdoor play areas. A maximum of 60 children will attend from the ages of three to eight. There are currently 110 children on roll. The group offers a breakfast club, after school care and holiday club for the children attending Front Street Primary School and the local community. Sessions run from 08.00 to 08.55 and from 15.15 to 18.00, Monday to Friday term time and from 08.00 to 18.00 during the holiday periods. Six permanent members of staff and three volunteers work with the children. All the permanent staff have relevant early years

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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 are extremely well cared for in a completely child centred environment where top priority is given to every aspect of a child's development. The group has excellent arrangements in place to promote children's good health. For example, all children are reminded to wash their hands after using the bathroom and before eating. All children are beginning to understand the connection between these practices and staying healthy through the consistent and clear manner in which staff reinforce this message. All children have access to paper towels and anti-bacterial hand wash reducing the risk of illness and cross infection. If children become ill whilst at the club, effective procedures are in place to ensure their comfort. They are given one to one care and are separated from other children to protect them all from possible infection. This combined with the diligent recording of emergency contacts, medication permission and

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Helping children to be healthy

accidents, ensures children's health and well-being is very well promoted.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy an extensive range of physical activities that contribute to their good health and help them gain increasing control over their bodies. Outdoor play is a central feature of their care as they play in the secure outdoor area riding on scooters, playing football or with a variety of top quality outdoor equipment. The children have the opportunity to try out some exciting new activities during holiday club including cheerleading, kickboxing, break dancing and keep fit. These are carried out by appropriately qualified instructors and are thoroughly enjoyed by all children who take part enthusiastically. All staff acknowledge the benefits children obtain from frequent access to fresh air and regular exercise to support their physical development. Children are encouraged to make full use of the resources and activities provided and to test their capabilities within a safe and extremely supportive environment. Children have

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Helping children to be healthy

excellent supervised access to a fantastic log adventure course, ensuring there is ample opportunity to be active. These experiences boost fitness levels, increase stamina and help teach children that exercise is fun.

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Helping children to be healthy

The benefits of a healthy lifestyle are of paramount importance to the staff. They grow vegetables with the children in a specially cultivated part of the outside area. Children love digging up the potatoes and carrots and picking ripe tomatoes straight from the greenhouse and are encouraged to try new foods in this way. By talking to the children about foods that are good for them, the staff help the children to form a healthy approach to eating. Children enjoy free access to drinks throughout the day. They are offered suitable drinks such as water and fruit juice. Staff and parents discuss any specific dietary requirements a child may have whether for religious, cultural or medical reasons and the relevant information is recorded.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a safe and secure environment where they are supervised closely by staff at all times. This enables the children to move freely and independently protecting them from injury or accidents. Children are well protected because the setting has effective safety procedures which are understood and implemented by all staff. They have a good understanding of the action to be taken regarding a lost or uncollected child. There are effective security systems for entry into the building; the main door is protected with a video intercom phone and both the arrival and collection of the children is very well planned. There is an up to date record in place of persons with permission to collect children and parents let staff know if there

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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 is someone different collecting the children. Visitors are required to sign in and out of the group with staff ensuring they have no unsupervised access to children. This helps keep children safe.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Internally, many effective safety measures have been taken with socket covers, smoke alarms, alarmed doors and radiator guards in place. Staff are vigilant regarding safety and effectively implement procedures to minimise risks. For example, there is a detailed, recently reviewed risk assessment in place which is reinforced through the completion of a daily visual safety assessment of the facilities and resources, this being undertaken prior to the children's arrival. This process of visual risk assessment is ongoing throughout the sessions though this is not currently recorded. Electrical and fire safety equipment is regularly checked by the school and kept in a safe condition. The outdoor area is well planned and as a result is safe and secure for children to play in. All staff hold current first aid certificates, which means that children receive immediate and appropriate attention if required. Any children's accidents and the administration

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

of any medication are recorded. Participation in regular fire drills helps to raise the children's awareness of how to stay safe in emergencies.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Effective guidance from staff ensures that children are encouraged to be aware of safety both in and outside the setting in daily routines and activities. For example, children are encouraged to tidy up during the sessions. This encourages the children to begin to take responsibility for their own safety and well-being. Children learn other ways to stay safe through reference to effective group procedures that the staff consistently reinforce. The children are reminded to walk indoors, to tuck their chair under the table and not to have drinks near the computers.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are well protected during outings with detailed risk assessments undertaken prior to any excursion. Children know to stay together and to be alert to the potential dangers around them. The setting use only recognised transport companies with seat belts fitted in buses.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children choose from an excellent range of resources that are well organised to allow them safe and independent access. Toys are in very good condition and remain this way through routine checks by staff for breakages or any other problems. All staff show an excellent awareness of child protection issues. There is a comprehensive child protection policy in place and all staff have a thorough understanding of what to be aware of, who to contact and what to record. This ensures children are very well protected.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Staff have an excellent understanding of how children gain independence and they are given the freedom to explore and investigate through a range of stimulating activities. Sessions are organised to allow for flexibility and spontaneity, which gives scope for each child to choose what they want to do and introduce their own ideas. For example, one child's idea to hold auditions for a musical led to a group performance for staff and children. In addition, the well-organised environment allows all children very easy access to an excellent range of stimulating and high quality resources, encouraging them to make independent choices, allowing their play to evolve naturally and at their own pace.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Staff build excellent relationships with children. An extremely welcoming, stimulating and inclusive environment is created where all children are acknowledged and respected as individuals. Children interact with staff in a very relaxed and warm manner and they build excellent relationships with their peers.

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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 Children are fully engrossed in an extensive variety of activities, which contribute to their imaginative, physical, creative, and language skills such as role-play, drawing, construction, IT, ceramics, baking, decorating pots and pebbles, treasure hunting and science experiments. Children thoroughly enjoyed making a variety of fish and starfish and proudly showed off their finished creations to much praise and encouragement. They also have fantastic fun playing computer games together as well as completing a variety of tasks using problem solving and teamwork skills. For example, children were given two crates and some wooden planks and had to successfully work together to cross their team to safety over the crocodile swamp. Fully involved in the children's activities staff help and encourage the children ensuring they gain

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

the maximum benefit from these and their time at the club. The holiday club provides children with a variety of trips away from the setting. These are purposeful, promote their learning and development and are planned around the children's interests. For example, they learn about animals and play on the zip wire at Broom House Farm, have play days in the park, enjoy the interactive displays at the discovery museum and let off steam at soft play.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. There is an overriding commitment to equal opportunities evident throughout the setting and its practice. Staff act as excellent role models for the children fostering a positive attitude to diversity, ensuring children develop respect for individual and differing needs. A good range of resources including books, dolls, dressing up clothes and bright wall posters are readily available and highly visible to the children. These introduce them to images of people of varying abilities and from other cultures and countries, encouraging them to celebrate the diversity of the world around them. In addition, children not only experience more familiar celebrations and festivals such as Christmas and Easter, they also learn about other religious and cultural celebrations such as Chinese and Islamic New Year, Diwali and Hanukkah. Staff aim to ensure that activities within the setting reflect the culture and background of all children who attend.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

For example, the group undertook a project on Italy and invited a parent into the setting to cook some authentic foods and teach the staff and children some basic Italian words.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Staff work hard to ensure that the individual needs of all children are met and that they are cared for in a consistent and appropriate manner, collecting good comprehensive information from parents in order to achieve this.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children's behaviour is very good. They learn about sharing and valuing others through the excellent example provided by the staff. Staff are always there to gently support, praise and encourage children in their daily routines and activities thereby developing their self-esteem, confidence and sense of belonging. Staff are calm and composed when they speak to children and employ good behaviour management techniques, explaining clearly and calmly why certain actions are not acceptable. The children are very happy and content in the group and respond well to encouragement from the staff. Practice is well supported by a detailed policy on behaviour management and recent relevant training.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children with learning difficulties and disabilities are welcomed into the setting and there is an extremely positive attitude towards inclusion. Staff ensure these children are sensitively helped to fully participate in all activities, which are adapted appropriately. The setting is proactive in ensuring appropriate training is taken thereby developing their expertise in relation to the standard of care they offer to the children.

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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 The setting has formed excellent relationships with its parents. Detailed and informative information is given to parents before their child starts ensuring they are familiar with the aims and objectives of the setting and their key policies. Parents are able to participate fully in the exchange of information necessary for their child's ongoing care. Information relating to policies, planning and daily activities as well as other general information about future events is available on a dedicated parent's notice board. This includes a copy of the setting's complaints procedure, though this needs to be updated to include the address of the regulator. Parents have extremely positive views about the out of school and holiday club, its staff and their commitment to the children referring to it as “a reliable, safe and friendly place that my kids love".

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. Staff take an extremely professional approach to their work, a fact reflected in all aspects of the out of school club including the well organised layout of the room, the effective safety measures taken and the range of activities and opportunities available to the children. Well-planned activities combined with excellent staff-to-child ratios help children to settle well and feel secure.

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Organisation

Detailed and informative files and notice boards are available to keep staff and parents informed about different aspects of the out of school and holiday club. An extensive and detailed range of policies and procedures such as child protection, behaviour management and equal opportunities are used to inform practice and protect the welfare of the children who attend. There are well-maintained registration systems in place to record attendance, as well as effective recording systems for medication administration, accidents and allergies. These are all meticulously kept, monitored and efficiently stored. Children are made aware of visitors present that day so they are aware of why strangers are in the setting. All staff are subject to rigorous recruitment, vetting and induction procedures. This ensures that they are aware of their roles and responsibilities and confirms their suitability to work with children.

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Organisation

The manager is totally committed to the staff and children and this is reflected in the effective and enthusiastic management of the setting. Regular meetings offer staff opportunities to discuss training needs as well as issues or ideas concerning the club. Very high priority is given to ongoing personal development, the manager working towards her degree and two further staff members working towards their level three qualifications. Staff are well supported and given clear direction through team meetings, appraisals and the open door style of management used. All staff are fully committed to the ongoing improvement of the setting and are very well motivated; ensuring that the care of the children and the service delivered is of high quality.

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Organisation

Overall, the provision meets the needs of the range of the children for whom it provides.

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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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Complaints 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

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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): • Update complaints procedure to include the address of the regulator.

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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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