J's Out of School Club

J's Out of School Club

Inspection report for early years provision

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J's Out of School Club

Unique Reference Number 509903 Inspection date 21 September 2005 Inspector Ann Law

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J's Out of School Club

Setting Address Field Head, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, HD5 0JH

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E-mail

Registered person J's Out of School Club Type of inspection Childcare Type of care Full day care, Out of School 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 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 satisfactory. The registered person meets the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

J's Out of School Club is a voluntary organisation, managed by a committee. It opened in 1998 and operates from the school hall, or a classroom, in St John's C E (A) Junior and Infant school in Golcar, near Huddersfield. The club is open each weekday from 07.00 to 09.00 and 15.30 to 18.00 in term time. In the school holidays the club offers a holiday play scheme from 08.00 to 18.00. The club use the school grounds for outdoor play opportunities. There are currently 70 children aged from 4 to under 11 years on roll. The club employs six staff, of whom three, including the co-ordinators, hold appropriate early

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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 years or play work qualifications. The club operates within Aiming High, an endorsed quality assurance scheme.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children are aware of good personal hygiene practices and happily comply with well-established routines, such as washing their hands before tea. The setting is maintained in a clean manner and many policies have been adopted for health and hygiene. However, these are not fully implemented to ensure that all toys and resources are maintained in a hygienic manner. As a result, some dirty toys compromise the health of children. A very good variety of snacks are offered to the children, which they clearly enjoy. The wide range of fresh fruit and vegetables contribute to children's growing awareness of a healthy diet. Jugs of juice and water are constantly available for children to help themselves to throughout the sessions. This promotes their independence and meets their physical needs as they get a drink after strenuous activity. Children enjoy regular physical activity, both indoors and outdoors. Good use is

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Helping children to be healthy

made of the school field, tennis courts and playground for ball games to offer children plenty of fresh air and exercise. Indoor activities such as dancing, ring games and soft ball games encourage children's increasing knowledge of the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. However, facilities for children to rest in comfort after exercise are limited.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children have unrestricted access to a good range of age-appropriate toys and resources, which are well presented to facilitate safe self-selection. The premises are well maintained and offer children a safe environment to play. Staff are continually vigilant to ensure children remain safe throughout the sessions. For example, encouraging children not to play with building bricks at the back of the door. This helps children to take responsibility for their own safety and the safety of others. All of the required procedures and documentation are in place to safeguard children's welfare. Current Area Child Protection Committee guidelines are held, with contact numbers for reporting any suspected child abuse and sufficient staff are on duty with a valid first aid certificate. These measures contribute to keeping children safe on the premises and on trips and outings.

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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 The provision is good. Children are enthusiastic and self-assured in the club's relaxed environment. They settle quickly into their self-chosen play and eagerly take part in activities. Staff ensure that the resources are attractively set out to stimulate children's interest and the wide variety of activities keep them well occupied. For example, children can choose from painting, construction, computer games, small world play, physical play and drawing. Staff make good use of snack time to encourage children's conversational skills and ensure that all children have the opportunity to participate. This contributes to developing their social skills. Staff also allow children time to become engrossed in their chosen activity. For instance, children demonstrate good levels of concentration

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

and perseverance in building models. Staff value their creativity and take photographs of the models, promoting children's self-esteem. There are many opportunities for children to play co-operatively in the club, such as playing pool or playing on the computer. The children are very friendly towards each other and whilst displaying healthy rivalry and competition, they happily take turns and share the resources.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Staff value all children as individuals and provide them with a sense of belonging when they display their named art work on the walls for all to admire. Children have access to a sufficient range of resources which help to raise their awareness of diversity. Some age-appropriate furniture is available for the children. However, there is limited provision for sitting comfortably when reading or relaxing. This does not fully meet the physical or emotional needs of children and does not effectively promote their well-being. Relationships between the children are good, they are very aware of agreed codes of behaviour and work harmoniously together at tidy up time. Staff set clear boundaries for children and the children are secure in this knowledge, contributing to mutually respectful relationships. The older children are happy to set an example to the younger ones and as a result, all children are very well-behaved.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Parents are welcomed into the club by friendly staff who take the time to talk to them about their child's time in the provision. They are provided with detailed information regarding the provision, which allows them to make an informed choice about the childcare provided. Parents are appreciative of the service they receive.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children's needs are met through the generally effective organisation of the provision. A comprehensive range of policies and procedures are in place, but they

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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 are not always fully implemented to protect children's health and well-being. All of the required documentation is in place and the majority is maintained confidentially. However, staff files do not contain all the necessary information to fully evidence that recruitment and vetting procedures are robust and that sufficient numbers of staff hold appropriate qualifications for their positions. The organisation of the toys and resources and the friendly staff encourage children's independence and allow them to initiate their own play and learning. Staff are well-deployed and manage their time effectively to ensure that overall, the provision meets the needs of the children who attend.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the club was asked to make improvements to: policies for child protection and special needs; procedures for registration and health; staff qualifications and the storage of coats and bags. The club have adopted the general policies and procedures designed by '4 Children', specifically for out of school clubs. This has ensured that they contain all the necessary requirements to meet the National Standards for out of school care, however, not all are fully implemented to ensure their effectiveness. Half of the staff members are now qualified to level three in early years or play work and this has ensured that there is always a qualified member of staff on duty. The storage of coats and bags is now facilitated in the hall, which does not block up the area in the toilets and no longer poses a health and safety risk to children using the toilets.

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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 satisfactory. 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): • ensure that all the toys are maintained in a clean and hygienic manner • extend the range of furniture available to ensure that children have access to

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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 comfortable seating when resting and relaxing • ensure that the names and addresses of staff members are kept on the premises at all times and that staff files contain all the necessary information as laid out in the National Standards for out of school care.

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The quality and standards of the care

procedures set out in the leaflet Building better childcare: Compliments and concerns about inspectors' judgements 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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