Play With Us Childcare Provision Ltd

Play With Us

Inspection report for early years provision

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Play With Us

Unique Reference Number EY291923 Inspection date 25 October 2005 Inspector Shawleene Campbell

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Play With Us

Setting Address Winsor County School, East Ham Manor Way, Beckton, London, E6 5NA Telephone number 0207 476 2323

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E-mail

Registered person Play With Us 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 inadequate - notice of action to improve. The registered person does not meet the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

Play With Us is a private organisation. It opened in January 2005 and is located within the grounds of Winsor County School. The group operates from two portacabins, play hall and sports hall situated within the main school building. There is a secure enclosed outdoor play area. The group is located in a residential area of Beckton in Newham, within reach of a shopping centre and Dockland Light Railway Transport. A maximum of 32 children may attend the group at any one time. The operating times are as follows: Breakfast Club from 7:30 to 9:00; After School Club from 15:15 to 19:00 – term time only. The Holiday Play Scheme operates from 8:00

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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 to 18:00. There are currently 3 children aged from 4 to under 8 years on roll. Care for children over 8 years is also provided. Children attending the group come from the local catchment area and are pupils of Winsor County School. There are adequate staff employed to work with children. They hold either NVQ level 3 or play work qualifications.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is inadequate. Children enjoy physical exercise and learn the importance of being healthy by engaging in free play and organised activities in the sports hall. However, children’s personal hygiene care is not sufficiently encouraged, such as washing hands before and after lunch time to minimise the spread of cross infection. Staff hold current first aid certificates and there are appropriate procedures in place to respond to accidents. Though parents do not acknowledge entries in the accident book and staff do not record medication administered. This compromises children's health. Lunch time is a social occasion where children talk to their peers, and through planned topics children are encouraged to try different cultural foods. However, staff do not talk to children about healthy options. For example, having healthy choices at lunch time rather than take away foods when they have forgotten their pack lunches.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is inadequate. Children’s safety is not given consideration and staff lack the skills and knowledge to identify potential dangers. Children benefit from moving around in a spacious environment, which allows them to be independent. However, staff deployment is inadequate, as a result children's safety is put at risk. There is no clear procedure for outings and staff do not recognise the importance of obtaining parental permission. Children are not sufficiently safeguarded from abuse or neglect because staff’s knowledge of child protection procedures and their role in protecting children is poor. All children learn about the importance of fire and road safety from organised talks from professional workers.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is inadequate. Children are not offered a broad range of activities to sustain their interest and provide sufficient challenge. Children wonder aimlessly around and create imaginary

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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 games to entertain themselves, such as making paper aeroplanes, wrestling, kicking a paper ball and a folded rain coat in a pouch. Therefore children display unwanted behaviour to attract attention and to amuse themselves. When resources are provided, children enjoy playing basketball and display extreme delight as they score a basket. They are developing their skills in turn taking; negotiating space; working as a team and refereeing the game. Children benefit from daily outings such as going to the Cinema and visiting the Science, Childhood and Theatre Museum. However, overall staff provide random activities and there are few opportunities for children to self select resources independently. There is limited focus and incomplete activities on offer to sustain and extend children’s play.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children learn about the world and the wider community through planned outings and topics, for example Black History Month and trying different cultural foods from around the world. Children learn to appreciate and value each other’s culture by discussing similarities and differences. There are good positive images displayed around the room, which builds upon children’s self esteem and confidence. Though there are very few resources on offer that promote equality of opportunity. Children are generally well behaved, although at times they behave boisterous; pay little attention to instructions by staff; and are disruptive through lack of stimulation. Relationships with parents are friendly. At the point of registration information is given to parents about the weekly activities and at the end of the session parents are informed about children’s play. Parents receive good information about the

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Helping children make a positive contribution

organisation by a monthly newsletter, which includes fundraising events, trips and topics. However, procedures for ensuring relevant parental consent are obtained lacks sufficient detail and acknowledgement. Therefore this does not maximise continuity of children’s care.

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Organisation

The organisation is inadequate. The person in charge has a level 3 qualification and staff regularly attend training to update their child care practices. However, systems are not sufficient to ensure that staff are suitably qualified or vetted which has a negative impact on children's safety and well being. Staff are unclear about their roles and systems are not sufficient to support staff to provide a stimulating well-balanced programme. The induction programme for staff is ineffective to promote the welfare, care and learning of children at all times. Not all mandatory records are in place and readily available for inspection and this limits the settings ability to act promptly in an emergency. The setting does not meet the needs of the range of children for whom it provides.

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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

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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 inadequate - notice of action to improve. The registered person does not meet 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, the registered person must take the following actions: • keep a written record, signed by parents, of medicines given to children, and ensure that parents acknowledge entries in the accident book • implement rigorous risk assessment procedures to ensure children’s safety at all times • provide a broad range of activities and play opportunities that are appropriate to the ages and interests of the children attending • make sure that there rigorous procedures in place to ensure all staff are adequately vetted and suitably qualified before having access to children. • make sure relevant documentation is readily available for inspection • develop staff's knowledge and understanding of child protection procedures These actions are set out in a notice of action to improve and must be completed by the date specified in the notice.

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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:

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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 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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