Natural Steps After School Club

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. Natural Steps After School Club Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY305089 Inspection date 04/02/2009 Inspector Susan Victoria May

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Setting address ''The Globe'', 12 Portman Road, Reading, Berkshire, RG30 1EA Telephone number 01189 514444 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

Natural Steps After School Club registered in 2005 and is managed by a committee responsible to the Community Mission Project. From February 2009 the setting will offer a nursery provision. Both provisions operate from, "The Globe", a community building situated on the Portman Road trading estate. The nursery is housed in a purpose built provision within the community building and is open from 7.30 to 18.00 Monday to Friday for 53 weeks of the year. The after school club has the use of the youth hall, kitchen, restaurant and toilet facilities with a secure outdoor area for play. The after school club operates from 15.00 to 18.00 Monday to Friday during term time only. The provision serves the needs of families in the surrounding area and out of school children are collected from 10 primary schools. The provision offers some full day holiday care. Children may attend for a variety of sessions.

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Description of the setting

The provision is registered for a maximum of 96 children in the early years age group. They are also registered on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. There are currently 40 children on roll in the out of school provision aged from four to 11 years, of whom seven are within the Early Years Foundation Stage. There are currently no children on roll in the nursery. The setting supports children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities and children for whom English is an additional language.

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Description of the setting

There are currently five staff who work with the children. Of these three hold appropriate qualifications.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is satisfactory. Staff meet children’s individual developmental needs appropriately and support most aspects of children’s welfare and learning effectively. Policies and procedures successfully promote an inclusive environment and information obtained from parents, carers and other professionals enable staff to meet children’s different needs. Children enjoy friendly relationships with the staff and play happily in the warm environment staff create. The self-evaluation system is currently informal, however, the manager has identified the strengths and some of the areas for improvement within the setting and is working to improve the experiences of the children who attend the setting.

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further?

To further improve the early years provision the registered person should:

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further?

 continue to develop systems for observation and assessment for all children in the Early Years Foundation stage  continue to develop staff's knowledge and understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage to enable them to provide appropriate support and input when planning for children's needs This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 To fully meet the specific requirements of the EYFS, the registered person must:

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further?

 put in place a record of the risk assessments for specific outings clearly stating when it was carried out, by whom and date of review (Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare) (also applies to the compulsory part of the Childcare Register) 27/02/2009

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provision

Children are cared for in a warm, secure and friendly environment. To ensure children play safely and enjoy their time at the setting written risk assessments and checks, such as ensuring toys are maintained well, and strict security measures ensure, the premises and equipment remain safe. However, when off site, while there is a general procedure in place and staff are alert to possible hazards, there is no formal method of identifying and therefore minimising risks to children for each specific outing. There is a clear recruitment policy in place which ensures all staff who are employed are vetted for their suitability and undergo a sound induction process. Staff members are appropriately qualified and deployed to provide sufficient levels of support for the children attending. Drivers have all appropriate details checked and are accompanied by staff when collecting children from schools. Records, policies and procedures that support the setting to promote

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provision

positive outcomes for children are generally well maintained and reviewed. All policies and procedures to protect children including accident and medication procedures are in place. Staff protect children from harm as they clearly understand their role in child protection and are able to put procedures into practice when necessary. Staff form good relationships with parents and are proactive in building links with the schools from which children attend, for example, there are sound links with other early years practitioners to ensure individual children's needs are provided for. Staff keep parents informed through verbal discussion, at the end of each session, about what the children have been doing and the care they have received.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are happy and settled within the environment, quickly becoming involved in an activity of their choice. For example, children enjoy a game of football, use art and craft materials to develop their creativity and build with construction toys to promote and reinforce existing and new skills. Children's progress towards the early learning goals is generally well supported. Staff have an understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage and are aware of future events and activities. Planning is informal, usually based on children’s interests and completed by the manager with some input from staff. However, the systems for observing and assessing individual children’s development does not effectively recognise or assure consistency when planning for their next steps. Children’s social skills develop as they assist one another and have regard to staff requests. Children are This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

keen to express themselves and their ideas because staff use appropriate questioning and discussion techniques to help children think for themselves. They enjoy free access to a range of mark making and creative materials, such as pencils, paper, glue and scissors. Games and activities are used suitably to promote problem solving. For example, children have access to table top and electronic games that require them to devise strategies to out wit their opponents.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children enjoy a varied range of meals and are beginning to learn about healthy eating through planned activities, displayed posters highlight nutritional foods and promote discussion. Meal times are social occasions as the children choose what they want to eat and sit together in the bright, clean restaurant. Children are encouraged to follow good hygiene practices and staff provide clear role models, effectively promoting their good health. Staff provide appropriate levels of supervision and help children develop a clear understanding of how to keep themselves safe as they remind them of the possible consequences of their actions. There is an outside play area and a park nearby for fresh air and exercise, and children enjoy an appropriate range of physical activities as they access the sports hall. For example, they regularly use equipment such as hula hoops, bounce on the trampoline and play games such as tag. Children learn about the wider

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

world through a good variety of resources, such as small world toys, books and role play equipment, and through celebrating different cultures and festivals. 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

Grade 1 is Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Grade 2 is Good: this aspect of the provision is strong Grade 3 is Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is sound Grade 4 is 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? 2 The capacity of the provision to maintain continuous improvement.

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Foundation Stage led and managed?

How effective is the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement? How well does the setting work in partnership with parents and others? How well are children safeguarded? 3

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Years Foundation Stage promoted?

How well are children helped to stay safe? 3 How well are children helped to be healthy? 2 How well are children helped to enjoy and achieve? 3 How well are children helped to make a positive contribution? How well are children helped develop skills that will contribute to their future economic well-being?

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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: Met

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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 (Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare) 27/02/2009 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 the last inspection.

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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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