Puffins Club

Puffins Club

Inspection report for early years provision

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Puffins Club

Unique Reference Number EY300231 Inspection date 31 October 2005 Inspector Heather Morgan

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Puffins Club

Setting Address Clyst St. Mary School, Clyst St. Mary, Exeter, Devon, EX5 1BG

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Puffins Club

Telephone number 01392 874583 do not ring Puffins

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E-mail

Registered person Puffins of Exeter Limited Type of inspection Childcare Type of 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 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?

Puffins of Exeter After School Club opened in 1998. It has been in the current premises since 2002 and was re-registered under the company's new name, Puffins of Exeter Ltd in 2004. It is one of a group of childcare facilities operated by a company that was established in 1990. The after school club operates from a mobile classroom in the grounds of the local primary school in the village of Clyst St Mary, near Exeter. Children also have access to the school hall. The school playground and playing field are available for outdoor play. Children are collected from the adjoining primary school.

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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 The club is open each weekday from 15:30 to 18:00, during school term time only. A maximum of 16 children under 8 years can attend. The club is also open to children up to the age of 12 years and staff are currently supporting children with special educational needs. There are currently 27 children on roll. The setting employs 5 staff, 2 of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications, 3 staff are working towards a qualification. The staff team is supported by a senior management team from the company's head office in Exeter.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. The children are developing a good awareness of the need to adopt effective hygiene procedures. For example, they know that they need to wash their hands before they eat and they are reminded about hand washing after they have used the toilet. They are well cared for in the event of an accident as there are a number of qualified first aiders on the staff team. The children's continuity of care is promoted well through consistent use of documentation to ensure that parents are promptly informed of accidents and through effective communication with school staff when children are collected. An appropriate sickness policy is in place, which limits children's exposure to the risk of infection; parents are given clear guidelines on exclusion periods for children with infectious illnesses. The children enjoy regular opportunities to exercise and engage in sports activities as they make good use of the school grounds during fine weather and the school hall

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Helping children to be healthy

during wet weather. The children help themselves to drinks of water whenever they feel thirsty and enjoy a healthy snack when they first arrive at the club. They eat a variety of fresh and dried fruit, sandwiches and toast.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The children are kept safe and secure by staff who have a good awareness of safety issues and take appropriate steps to minimise risks to children. For example, they cover electric sockets, use a gate to restrict access to the kitchen area and supervise children's activities closely. The children are encouraged to think about their own safety and have contributed to the assessment of risks within the building. The children are very familiar with the procedures for collecting them from school and ensuring that they arrive safely at the club. Staff liaise closely with the school and with parents to confirm the whereabouts of any children who are expected to attend but do not turn up. The children access premises and resources that are well-maintained and provide a safe and suitable play environment. They regularly practise fire drills and are able to quickly and calmly evacuate the building in the event of an emergency.

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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 The children's welfare is generally given good priority and there are comprehensive procedures in place to address child protection issues. Staff are aware of the need to report concerns but they do not all have a sufficiently secure knowledge and understanding of child protection issues to ensure the procedures are implemented effectively.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The children all participate enthusiastically in the range of activities offered at the club. Staff plan games and activities based on the children's interests, and children also have good opportunities to initiate activities for themselves. Sessions are organised so that children have time to play indoors and outdoors, when the weather permits. There are also opportunities for them to rest or engage in quiet activities if they choose. Their enthusiasm for participating in the club's activities often results in them asking to stay longer when their parents arrive to collect them. The children enjoy celebrating special events such as birthdays and Halloween and are excited by the new activities these events offer, such as apple bobbing on Halloween. They encourage each other to join in their games and children of all ages are confident, communicate well with each other and demonstrate a great sense of

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The children are generally supported well in making a positive contribution to the activities of the club. Planned activities reflect their individual interests and they confidently initiate games and activities for themselves. The children play well together, inviting others to join their games and patiently explaining the rules to new or younger children. Children with special needs are supported well in participating in activities of their choice. The children's behaviour is generally good; they speak kindly to each other, have good table manners and respond well to the club's established reward system. The children have been working with staff to agree rules which support harmonious play. Occasionally the children become boisterous in their play and staff have not all developed consistent strategies for dealing with this effectively. Children benefit from the staff's strong commitment to working in partnership with

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Helping children make a positive contribution

parents. There are good relationships with parents, who feel relaxed and welcome within the club. They are well-informed about the club's activities and the regular exchange of information with staff supports their children's continuity of care well.

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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 The club is managed effectively by a team of appropriately qualified and experienced staff who demonstrate a good commitment to meeting the children's needs and providing them with enjoyable play experiences in a relaxed and comfortable environment. Staff rotas are organised well to ensure that children benefit from good levels of adult attention. Activities are planned to meet the individual needs of all the children attending. All regulatory documentation is in place and the club's comprehensive policies and procedures are implemented appropriately to promote children's health and safety and ensure continuity of care between the club, the school and parents. The group has a strong commitment to improvement and a pro-active approach to responding to changes in legislation. For example, they have reviewed their recruitment and

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Organisation

complaints procedures to reflect recent changes. The setting meets the needs of the range of children for whom it provides.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted since registration. 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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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): • ensure all staff have a secure knowledge and understanding of child protection issues • continue to develop a consistent approach to managing children's behaviour

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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 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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