St Margaret Mary Catholic Primary School, Carlisle

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. Barracudas Activity Camp Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 148701 Inspection date 08/04/2009 Inspector Anne Jeanette Faithfull

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Setting address The Holt School, Holt Lane, Wokingham, Berkshire, RG41 1EE Telephone number 0845 123 5299 Email info@barracudas.co.uk 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 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

Barracudas Activity Camp at the Holt School, Wokingham, Berkshire registered in 2001. It is one of the 26 activity day camps operated by Young World Leisure Group Limited, at different venues throughout the country. The activity camp uses various areas and classrooms of the Holt School including the outside areas.

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Description of the setting

The activity camp operates each weekday during the Easter and summer school holidays only, from 08:00 to 18:00. The activity camp is registered for 150 children up to the age of eight years and of these 60 children may be in the early years age range at any one time. Children up to the age of 16 years may also attend. There are currently 150 children on roll, of these, 24 are within the early years age range. There are 12 members of staff working with the children; of these eight hold an appropriate childcare qualification. The setting is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall, the quality of the provision is good. Children are happy to attend and made to feel welcome by the very caring and enthusiastic staff team who are aware of and meet their individual needs well. All children are valued and included in the range of activities and experiences provided which also help to enhance their learning and development needs. Suitable systems of self-evaluation are used to ensure continuous improvement.

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further?

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

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further?

 ensure all children are informed of the steps to take in the event of an emergency  ensure children's health and hygiene are promoted at all times  ensure all children's times of attendance are recorded

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provision

Barracudas Activity camp is one of a number of holiday camps operated by Young World Leisure Group Limited. The company has a range of robust recruitment and vetting procedures in place to ensure all staff working with the children are suitable to do so. An annual appraisal system further identifies their on going suitability and training requirements. All the staff have already worked at the club in previous holidays and staff working with the younger children have completed further training on the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). The management team and staff are enthusiastic, cheerful and recognise the value of providing children with a varied day, which includes a range of activities, and experiences, which are exciting and fun. Staff are deployed well to provide a high level of This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 support and they are all committed to the continuous improvement of the club.

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provision

The management team uses a variety of ways to evaluate including the children’s and parents' questionnaires, observing the staff working with the children as well as completing the Ofsted self-evaluation form. They use the evaluations effectively to ensure areas of improvement are identified and acted on. The recommendations from the last inspection have been addressed.

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provision

Parents express their satisfaction regarding the care their children receive and the children thoroughly enjoy coming to the activity camp in the holidays. Good systems are in place to ensure information is available to parents daily, they are able to access the good practice manual, which informs them of how the club operates in the registration area. A parents' notice board further informs them of any events and health issues. Policies and procedures together with documentation and consents from parents support children’s welfare. However, the system to record the times of attendance of children is not fully completed at times by staff. Good systems are in place to ensure children’s safety such as a range of risk assessments and staff are aware of any contractors who are working in the school so do not use those areas as building work may be taking place. Children are aware of the areas they cannot access as they have been taped off with hazard

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provision

tape. Staff are very vigilant and go with the children when they are moving areas around the school. All staff have a clear understanding of safeguarding procedures and what to do if they are concerned about a child in their care.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are happy, settled and secure. Staff have implemented a FAB scheme for the children, which stands for fun, active, and behaviour. Staff readily ask the children to comment on if they have had a FAB time and this encourages the children to talk about how they are feeling giving them a sense of belonging and the opportunity to discuss the activities and experiences they have been involved in throughout the day. Children benefit from the range of activities provided for them by the staff; they are fun, challenging and suitable. Children have the opportunity to choose which activity they participate in and during the daily routine; they access a variety of activities including drama, trampoline, art and craft. They readily attempt any new activity as staff offer support, guidance and encouragement when appropriate.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children have developed good relationships with the staff and each other. Children are aware of the behaviour strategies in place, staff work with the parents to ensure each child’s individual needs, and specific behaviour strategies are followed. Children are aware of the safety rules in place for some of the sports equipment for example the trampoline and staff are vigilant in ensuring the children’s safety when using a wide range of different sports equipment. Some children have the opportunity to practise the emergency evacuation procedure however; if new children to the club attend on a different day when the evacuation procedure is not practised, they are not informed by staff of the steps to take in an emergency.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Staff have an understanding of the EYFS and when planning activities ensure areas of learning are met and identified. Children can free flow between the different This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 activities available in the area they are using. They change different areas on a regular basis throughout the day so the children do not become bored with the same sports activity or resources. Children have many opportunities to calculate and use numbers such as, playing snakes and ladders and counting the numbers on the dominoes. They enjoy creative activities individually or as part of a group. Staff encourage children to be aware of healthy eating and the five a day, fruit challenge encourages children to be aware of healthy eating. Children enjoy receiving a certificate once they have eaten five healthy fruits either at the club or at home. They can access their own drink in their base room when they return to

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

the room, however and although staff provide water and cups in the activity areas they do not remind or encourage the children to have a drink while participating in energetic sports activities. Staff remind children of health and hygiene procedures such as not to eat any food they have accidentally spilt on the floor and to wash their hands after using the toilet and before snack. However, staff ensure soap is available but at times children cannot access any hand drying facilities such as paper towels in the toilets to dry their hands. Children’s physical development is promoted in a variety of ways through the sports activities on offer and the participation of joining in various group games. They readily talk to visitors about coming back to the club in the summer holidays and are kept informed by the staff of any changes, which may be happening in the summer camp such as, the arrival of a swimming pool for them to use.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

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? 2

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Years Foundation Stage promoted?

How well are children helped to stay safe? 2 How well are children helped to be healthy? 3 How well are children helped to enjoy and achieve? 2 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: Met

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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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