Dovedale Out of Hours Kids' Club

Dovedale Out of Hours Kids' Club

Inspection report for early years provision

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Dovedale Out of Hours Kids' Club

Unique Reference Number 503961 Inspection date 17 October 2005 Inspector Linda McLarty

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Dovedale Out of Hours Kids' Club

Setting Address Dovedale Infant School, Herondale Road, Liverpool, Merseyside, L18 1JX Telephone number 724 1333 E-mail vicky@outofhours-kidsclub.com Registered person Victoria McBride Type of inspection Childcare Type of care Out of School care

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Dovedale Out of Hours Kids' Club

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?

Dovedale Out of Hours kids Club is one of 12 Out Of School settings run by the registered person. It opened in 2001 and operates from the school hall, welfare room, portacabin classroom and playground of Dovedale Infants and Junior School. The school is situated in a residential area of Mossley Hill in south Liverpool. The setting serves the pupils of the school. A maximum of 64 children may attend the out of school club at any one time. The out of school club is open each weekday from 08.00 to 09.00 and from 15.30 to 17.45. All children share access to an outdoor play area. There are currently 52 children aged from 3 to under 8 years on roll.

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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 setting employs seven full and part-time staff. Two of the staff, including the manager, hold appropriate early years qualifications. Three staff are working towards a qualification.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children are encouraged to wash their hands prior to eating snack, but hygiene routines are not sufficiently robust to protect children from infection. Tables are not cleaned prior to children eating snack, despite being used for various play activities. Children keep fit in enjoyable outdoor games and activities such as cricket, football and playing with hoops. Five staff have maintained current first aid certificates, which helps them to provide assistance based on up-to-date information. All necessary documentation is in place, which provides a sound framework for looking after children's overall health and safety. Children are encouraged to eat fruit on most days, but the daily choices also include cake, biscuits or other sweet items such as rice pudding, which is not encouraging healthy eating habits. Individual children's dietary requirements are respected because staff use information from the enrolment form to plan the food they offer.

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Helping children to be healthy

This means that children with specific dietary or religious requirements have their needs taken into account.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. The premises are spacious, safe, secure and suitable for the age range of children cared for. Children’s safety is promoted satisfactorily by the informal checking of the wide range of safe, clean, attractive toys, books and resources available to each age range. Although informal risk assessments take place regularly, the written risk assessment pro-formas are not completed. This means systems are not actively reviewed to monitor their effectiveness in promoting children's safety. Children's sensible behaviour helps them to play safely together. All necessary documentation is in place to support the way the setting protects children's safety, although during the inspection not all staff were aware of the fire evacuation procedures. Staff are not sufficiently vigilant when cooking snacks to ensure that children do not have access to the kitchen. The children's overall safety is monitored satisfactorily because staff are trained in

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

child protection, and have a secure understanding of their roles and responsibilities this. Children are protected because staff know how to record and report concerns relating to child protection issues in line with regional and national guidance.

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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

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children have their individual care, development, play and learning needs met well because staff plan activities based on their interests, and upon information from parents and carers. Children choose from an interesting and varied range of activities suitable for their age and stage of development. They enjoy outdoor games played alone or with staff support, table top games, craft work, simple cookery and quiet activities such as reading. Their self-esteem and confidence is fostered well because staff praise effort and achievement. Staff join in individual activities enthusiastically, for example, reading to children, playing table top games or physical games like cricket. This motivates children to join in, concentrate and persevere with activities. Children's decision making is developed satisfactorily as they choose from the selection of activities each day, and they play well together in a peaceful atmosphere.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

There sre sufficient staff to monitor and support activities. The routine is well established, and gives a familiar framework to the session with which children feel relaxed and secure.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. All children are welcomed and encouraged to access the full range of activities provided. Their ideas are valued in many friendly discussions. Staff participate enthusiastically when requested, which builds children's skills, confidence and self-esteem. Children are encouraged to learn about and respect differences in culture, race, disability and gender through playing with toys which represent their home life and the wider world. They learn about the cultures of others using good quality books, toys and resources, and when dressing up in ethnic outfits. Staff have access to the organisation's special needs co-ordinator, who has received training to support this role. This helps to ensure effective liaison with parents and external professionals, and to help staff meet the requirements of children with special needs. Staff plan activities which include all children. Children are learning a simple sense of right and wrong because staff explain their

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Helping children make a positive contribution

expectations of behaviour clearly. Children agree the club rules, which staff reinforce frequently at registration time, and these are displayed on the wall. Staff intervene in ways which help children learn the reasons why certain behaviours are unacceptable. This helps them to manage their own behaviour. The atmosphere is peaceful and relaxed because children are learning to play co-operatively with others. Children’s care is in line with the information received from parents because the staff seek, value and use written and verbal information sensitively. This ensures that the needs of individual children are known and respected by all staff. For example, children who have specific religious or dietary needs, or with health issues, have their

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Helping children make a positive contribution

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 needs taken into account when the sessions are planned. Information is exchanged effectively with parents at collection time which helps ensure that parents are well informed about their children's time in the setting.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children’s care, learning and play are satisfactorily organised because the manager has a sound awareness of the National Standards and how to meet them. The children-staff ratios give children satisfactory levels of support. Children’s welfare is safeguarded adequately because staff know and implement the policies and procedures satisfactorily, which helps to keep children safe, healthy, enjoying and achieving and making a positive contribution. Systems such as recording hours of attendance for children and staff help ensure that children have sufficient levels of adult support. Children are not left unsupervised with adults who have not been vetted, which helps to ensure that they are kept safe. All necessary documentation is in place, although they are not always used as working documents, for example, the risk assessment pro-formas. Overall the setting meets the needs of the range of children for whom it provides care.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the previous inspection the provider was requested to address the following recommendations: ensure that the visitor's book is used consistently; develop and implement an action plan detailing how at least half of all childcare staff will hold a level 2 qualification in childcare; improve storage arrangements so children can access resources independently and create a quiet area for children to rest; increase resources which reflect a diverse society; store children's records securely to maintain confidentiality and ensure that the regulator's address and telephone number are included in the complaints procedure. These recommendations have been addressed satisfactorily. The visitors book is now used systematically to record all visitors to the setting. The provider is implementing the action plan to ensure the required ratio of qualified staff for children under 8 years of age. Children can access resources from low level cupboards, and a

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Improvements since the last inspection

recent grant was used to purchase additional equipment which reflect a diverse society. The children have opportunities to rest - indoors at tables set up for reading activities, and outdoors when playing in the yard which has attractive seating areas. The setting has access to the school welfare room if sick children need to be isolated before being collected. This room can also be used for children to rest if required, with staff supervision. Records are safely stored in a lockable cupboard, and Ofsted's address and telephone number are included in the complaints procedure which is on display on the parents' notice board. In addressing these recommendations the provider has improved the way the setting

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Improvements since the last inspection

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 promotes the outcomes for children.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There are no complaints to report. 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 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 those responsible for the preparation and handling of food are fully aware of, and comply with, regulations relating to food safety and hygiene • improve the snacks offered so that children develop healthy eating habits • ensure that all staff know and can implement the fire drill procedures • ensure that no children have access to the kitchen unless it is being used solely for a supervised children's activity • continue to implement the action plan to ensure that at least half of all staff hold a level 2 qualification appropriate for the care or development of children.

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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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