Victory House Children's Centre

Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated. Victory House Playscheme Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY358902 Inspection date 27/10/2008 Inspector Mauvene Burke

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Setting address R C C G, Victory House, 5 Congreve Street, LONDON, SE17 1TJ Telephone number 020 7252 7522 Email Type of setting Childcare on non-domestic premises This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Introduction

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under Sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of the registered early years provision. ‘Early years provision’ refers to provision regulated by Ofsted for children from birth to 31 August following their fifth birthday (the early years age group). The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children’s learning, development and welfare, known as the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Introduction

The report includes information on any complaints about the childcare provision which Ofsted has received since the last inspection or registration whichever is the later, which require Ofsted or the provider to take action in Annex C.

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Introduction

The provider must provide a copy of this report to all parents with children at the setting where reasonably practicable. The provider must provide a copy of the report to any other person who asks for one, but may charge a fee for this service (The Childcare (Inspection) Regulations 2008 regulations 9 and 10).

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Introduction

Children only attend this setting before and/or after the school day and/or during the school holidays. The judgements in this report reflect the quality of early years provision offered to children during those periods.

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Introduction

The setting also makes provision for children older than the early years age group which is registered on the voluntary and/or compulsory part(s) of the Childcare Register. This report does not include an evaluation of that provision, but a comment about compliance with the requirements of the Childcare Register is included in Annex B. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Description of the setting

The Victory House out of school club was registered in 2007. It is situated on a residential road in the London borough of Southwark and operates from a hall in church premises. There is no outdoor play area attached to the premises, but children have access to the playground situated across the road. A maximum of 40 children aged four to eight years may attend the setting at any one time. The out of school club is open each weekday from 08:00 to 09:00 and 15:00 to 18:00 during school term time and from 08:00 to 18:00 during the school holidays.

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Description of the setting

There are currently two children attending who are in the early years age group. The provision is also registered on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register.

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Description of the setting

The after school club and the holiday play scheme are managed by different managers. Both managers have suitable childcare qualifications.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children's welfare is not sufficiently safeguarded in this setting because the provider has not ensured that adults working with children are suitable to do so and is in breach of the conditions of registration. Areas for improvement have been accurately identified but formal systems to implement these are not yet fully in place. Although children are making satisfactory progress in their learning and development, systems to observe and assess children's next steps of learning have not yet been fully integrated into the service; the manager recognises that this is an area for future improvement. The setting has a satisfactory partnership with parents and understands the need to develop links with the local school to support children's learning and development. A suitably inclusive and welcoming service is provided for families so that the individual needs of children are generally supported.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall, the early years provision requires significant improvement. The registered person is given a Notice to Improve that sets out actions to be carried out.

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further?

To comply with the requirements of the EYFS the registered person must take the following action by the specified date:

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further?

 ensure that at least one person with a current paediatric first aid certificate is on the premises at all times when children are present. There must also be at least one person on outings who has a current paediatric first aid certificate (Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare) (also applies to both parts of the Childcare Register) 30/01/2009  request written permission from parents for seeking emergency medical advice or treatment (Safeguarding 10/11/2008 This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 and promoting children's welfare)  ensure that adults looking after children, or having unsupervised access to them, are suitable to do so and that Ofsted is notified of any change to the person who is managing the early years provision (Suitable people) (also applies to both parts of the Childcare Register) 10/11/2008  display the certificate of registration on the premises

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further?

where childcare is provided (Documentation) (also applies to both parts of the Childcare Register) 27/10/2008 To improve the early years provision the registered person should:

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further?

 develop staff's skills in questioning and challenging children to support and extend their learning  continue to develop the planning and assesment systems to ensure all activities and experiences are tailored to children's individual needs and extend partnerships with parents in order to gather sufficient information about children's starting points  ensure staff have an up-to-date understanding of safeguarding children's issues and that policies are in line with the Local Safeguarding Children Board  promote positive attitudes to diversity through activities and resources that encourage children to talk about similarities and differences and the reasons for these and help children to value aspects of their own and other people's lives  establish systems to monitor and evaluate the quality of inclusive practice and develop the partnership with parents, staff and other professionals, such as teachers, to promote improvement.

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provision

The provider has not ensured that there are rigorous and robust recruitment procedures in place to ensure that the adults working with the children are suitable to do so. There is no evidence that staff have completed suitable vetting procedures or have the required qualifications, and the provider has not ensured that at least one member of staff has a current paediatric first aid certificate. The manager working with the children in the holiday play scheme is currently not known to Ofsted, as the provider has not informed the regulator of changes to the leader. The certificate of registration is not displayed, so parents are unable to see the conditions of registration. The setting is in breach of these conditions, in that it is caring for children who are three years old, whilst being registered to care for children only from the age of four years. All of this compromises the safety and well-being of the children attending the provision.

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provision

Policies and procedures are in place but not all are being implemented effectively. For example, the equal opportunities policy states that the environment and resources reflect the multicultural society, but they currently do not, and the safeguarding children procedures are not in line with those of the Local This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 Safeguarding Children Board. Written permission has not been sought from parents at the start of placements giving the setting consent to the seek emergency advice or treatment. A risk assessment is in place, but daily assessments have overlooked the potential hazard of having uncovered low-level electrical sockets accessible to children.

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provision

Parents currently receive some information about the setting and are actively encouraged to provide feedback about the service being offered to their children via the use of a questionnaire. Some parents provide the setting with some information about what their children can do and what it is they would like the setting to help their children with.

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provision

The manager of the holiday play scheme is in the process of developing processes that will help to improve and develop the setting, for example, making observations of children in order to plan effectively for their individual needs, involving all parents at the initial point of the placement, and working in partnership with the manager of the after school club to ensure that the individual needs of children attending both provisions are known. This will be done through developing a partnership with the schools that the children attend.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are provided with suitable opportunities to help them make progress across all areas of learning and development because the manager has sufficient knowledge of the early learning goals. Basic plans are in place but the format currently in use does not allow enough flexibility for staff to manage and note children's current interests or how to plan to include these interests and use them to extend children's learning and development. Staff currently offer more of a supportive role in this very relaxed environment, allowing children to be independent through selecting their own resources and activities. However, as a result of this relaxed environment, staff are not always on hand to question children in order to make them think and challenge their learning.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The environment is planned to promote children's creativity. Children are engaged in creating jewellery, imaginative drawings that are decorated with a range of materials, such as glitter, wool and crepe paper, and painting. They have opportunities to construct using bricks and enjoy playing 'group' board games. They demonstrate confidence when approaching the staff and initiate conversations during table top activities. The children work very well together. They negotiate with each other and take turns, but often need a gentle reminder from staff to remind them of the importance of sharing. Children have good opportunities to play outdoors in the park situated a few minutes away, where they have first hand contact with the natural world and freedom to explore and be physically active. They have access to a computer and are able to 'click' onto the programmes that they require.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are learning to keep themselves safe when indoors and out. When staff ask them what they have to do before going outside on the road, children say they have to hold hands with their partner and stay close to the wall rather than the road. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 Children are learning to keep themselves healthy. They wash their hands after using the toilet and before eating, because they know that their hands get dirty and 'germy' when playing outside and with the toys. Children are provided with healthy snacks consisting of fresh fruits and they have access to fresh drinking water.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are confident in their surroundings. They select the toys and the resources they wish to use from what is available. However, resources are somewhat limited, for example, books and resources to develop imaginative play are in short supply. Further to this, there are no resources that promote equality of opportunity and so children have little opportunity to learn about and to value diversity in others. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Annex A: record of inspection judgements

The key inspection judgements and what they mean

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Annex A: record of inspection judgements

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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of children in the Early Years Foundation Stage?

How well does the provision promote inclusive practice? Satisfactory The capacity of the provision to maintain continuous improvement. Satisfactory

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Foundation Stage led and managed?

How effective is the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement? Satisfactory

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Foundation Stage led and managed?

How well does the setting work in partnership with parents and others? Satisfactory

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Foundation Stage led and managed?

How well are children safeguarded? Inadequate

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Years Foundation Stage promoted?

How well are children helped to stay safe? Satisfactory How well are children helped to be healthy? Inadequate How well are children helped to enjoy and achieve? Satisfactory How well are children helped to make a positive contribution? Inadequate

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Years Foundation Stage promoted?

How well are children helped develop skills that will contribute to their future economic well-being? Satisfactory

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Years Foundation Stage promoted?

procedures set out in the guidance available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register are: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The registered provider does not meet the requirements of the compulsory and or voluntary part/s of the Childcare Register.

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 take action as specified in the early years section of the report 30/01/2009

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 take action as specified in the early years section of the report. 30/11/2008 This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Annex C: complaint/s made to Ofsted

This section of the report includes details of any complaint/s made to Ofsted when:  we took action for the provider to meet the requirements of the Early Years Register; or  we asked the provider to take action in order to meet the requirements of the Early Years Register; or  the provider had already taken any necessary action to meet the requirements of the Early Years Register.

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Annex C: complaint/s made to Ofsted

We will not report on any complaint where the provider met the requirements of the Early Years Register or did not require any action by Ofsted or the registered provider.

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Detail of the complaint/s

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted since registration.

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Detail of the complaint/s

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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