M & A Club

M & A Club Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY396706 Inspection date 18/05/2010 Inspector Tony Anderson

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Setting address Shade Primary School, Rochdale Road, TODMORDEN, Lancashire, OL14 7PD Telephone number 01706 812 913 Email admin@shade.calderdale.sch.uk Type of setting Childcare on non-domestic premises to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It rates council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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You may copy all or parts of this document for non-commercial educational purposes, as long as you give details of the source and date of publication and do not alter the information in any way. Royal Exchange Buildings St Ann's Square Manchester M2 7LA

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T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk 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.

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Introduction

Please see our website for more information about each childcare provider. We publish inspection reports, conditions of registration and details of complaints we receive where we or the provider take action to meet the requirements of registration. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Description of the setting

M & A Club opened in 2009 and is registered to a private individual. It operates from Shade Primary School in Todmorden, Lancashire. Children have access to the large school hall and external playground facilities. The club is open Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 9am and from 3.15pm to 6pm during term time and from 8am to 6pm during school holidays. It is on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. The club is registered to cater for up to 24 children under eight years old, of whom none may be under two years. It also offers care to older children up to 11 years old. There are currently 64 children on roll; of these, 31 are under eight years and, of these, nine are within the Early Years Foundation Stage. The club has procedures in place to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and for those who speak English as an additional language. There are currently five members of

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Description of the setting

staff, the majority of whom hold relevant early years qualifications. The manager holds a qualification at level 3 and two staff are qualified at level 2. The club has links with the local authority.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is satisfactory.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The well-deployed staff provide children with an interesting diet of learning- through-play activities. Most aspects of welfare and care are promoted successfully to cater for children's individual needs. Staff are starting to make observations of young children at play to monitor their progress over time but do not yet link these observations sufficiently to children's next steps of development. Partnership arrangements with parents, carers and external agencies, including the host school, are good and these provide additional support to children's learning and development. Management systems and procedures to monitor and evaluate the performance of the club are underdeveloped. The capacity for further improvement is satisfactory.

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further?

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

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further?

 further develop and extend methods of self-evaluation in order to ensure that areas of strength and those for improvement are more robustly identified and acted upon  improve the use and effectiveness of observations of children in order to identify and act upon their next steps of development  ensure that full records are maintained of the regular risk assessments of the site and equipment. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

Recruitment and required vetting systems to support the safeguarding of children are fully in place and staff are appropriately qualified for their roles and responsibilities. Welfare policies and procedures, such as the undertaking and recording of regular fire drills and the care given to children in the case of occasional minor accidents, are good overall. However, there are inconsistencies in the recording of the frequent risk assessments of the site and equipment. Staff provide a well-planned range of activities from which all children are encouraged to choose. Equality of opportunity is promoted effectively in this inclusive club in which children are encouraged to join in celebrations of world faiths and festivals. Staff make occasional written observations of young children at play in order to monitor their progress, but these procedures are at an early stage of development and there are few links to the six areas of early years learning or to individuals'

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the early years provision

The club's links with parents and carers are good and a number of wall displays are used well to provide a range of helpful advice and information. Parents and carers have regular informal discussions with their child's key person and are encouraged to sample the recorded observations. Occasional questionnaires are used effectively to provide parents with a voice. Those spoken with at the inspection were impressed with the club's provision. The club's relationships with external agencies, including the host school, are good and are used well to add additional support to children's development. The leadership is committed to improving the provision but currently the club's systems of self-evaluation are informal and at an early stage of development.

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and outcomes for children

The warm and friendly environment is liked by children, who say that they enjoy their frequent visits to the club. Staff encourage and promote independence through, for example, inviting children to help themselves to a wide range of suitable snacks including sandwiches, fresh fruit and an array of sliced vegetables, plus pitta bread and coleslaw. At breakfast time, cereal and toast are always available in addition to water and juice. Hand washing before eating and after visiting the toilet is very much part of the everyday routine and is consistently practised by children, thus helping to keep them safe and healthy. Meal times are also used well to promote speaking and listening skills as children sit around a large table in the main hall of the school.

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and outcomes for children

Children enjoy playing outside in the main school's playground after their afternoon snack. The dedicated staff supervise them well and encourage them in their games and chosen activities. Children have access to a wide range of external resources which help to support healthy exercise and physical development. For example, one group of children kicked a large plastic football against a wall and others played an active chase and catch game with their friends. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 Staff set out the internal accommodation into a number of play and learning zones which provide enjoyment and challenge to young children. They support children's safety and comfort through the wide range and size of mats, which they place on the wooden floor. There is a good range of toys, games and activities on offer and many are linked to the six areas of early years learning. Children enjoy playing

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and outcomes for children

games of their own choice and some like to draw and colour pictures, while others enjoy the challenge of construction kits or board games which have a link to mathematical development. Children's smiling faces are testament to their positive attitudes and good behaviour. They are keen to contribute to the community through, for example, their helpful tidying up.

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and outcomes for children

The club's flexible planning, which is designed to provide a range of opportunities for children to learn through play, evidences its well-organised provision. Staff frequently use praise and encouragement in order to promote young children's self-esteem and confidence. As a result of the dedication and active support of staff, children make good progress in their learning of future skills. 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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children in the Early Years Foundation Stage?

The capacity of the provision to maintain continuous improvement

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and managed?

The effectiveness of leadership and management in embedding ambition and driving improvement The effectiveness with which the setting deploys resources 2 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 2 The effectiveness of the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement The effectiveness of partnerships 2 The effectiveness of the setting’s engagement with parents and carers

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Stage

The quality of the provision in the Early Years Foundation Stage 3

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 2 The extent to which children feel safe 2 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 2 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 2 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 2

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Stage

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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