Saint Marie's After 3's

After 3's

Inspection report for early years provision

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After 3's

Unique Reference Number EY300055 Inspection date 08 February 2006 Inspector Jannet Mary Richards

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After 3's

Setting Address St. Marie's R.C. Primary School, Edward Street, The Mosses, Bury, Lancashire, BL9 0RZ Telephone number 0161 764 3204

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E-mail

Registered person St. Marie's R.C. Primary School 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 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?

The After 3's out of school club has been registered since February 2005. It is managed by a committee comprising of school staff, governors and parents. It operates from St Marie's R.C. Primary School, close to the centre of Bury. The club has the use of a classroom in the school and also uses the library and two halls. The school playground is available for outdoor play. The club operates from 07:45 to 08:45 each morning and 15:00 to 17:30 each evening during school term times. There are currently 26 children on roll who attend for various sessions. Currently, three staff work with the children, two of whom hold

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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 relevant child-care qualifications.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children learn about the importance of good hygiene through clear routines such as hand washing before they eat their snack. Clear procedures are followed effectively to promote children's health and reduce risk of illness. Snack time is a relaxed and social occasion. Children’s healthy eating is promoted through provision of a range of fresh fruits each day, ensuring that children have some healthy options. They are able to access drinking water independently in addition to drinks provided at set times. Children benefit from frequent exercise and fresh air. They enjoy a choice of physical activities and can select whether to play indoors or out.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children are cared for in suitable premises which are organised effectively for care and play. At each session children enjoy an age-appropriate range of toys and resources, with sufficient choice to keep them occupied and interested, though the storage arrangements at the present time make it difficult for the children to access some resources. There are effective procedures in place to keep the children safe and minimise risk of accidents, such as weekly hazard checks and thorough risk assessments. There are some areas which are not covered by these at the present time, however, such as fire drills and use of the kitchen area. Children are supervised very well at all times and staff are vigilant, ensuring that they are safe as they play. The staff have a very good awareness of child protection procedures in order to safeguard the welfare of any children they may care for.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The children are very settled and happy when they attend the club. They are enthusiastic about the range of activities available to them and clearly enjoy attending. The staff know the children very well, since most of them also work with the children in the school and understand their needs and personalities. The children benefit from spending time with other children of different ages, with older children

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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 showing care and consideration for the younger ones, when they help them put their coats on or serve their drinks at snack time, for example. The children benefit from a wide range of planned activities. The staff listen to the children and incorporate their play ideas into the planning, which ensures that the interests of the children are provided for. There are a good range of art and craft activities and most days the children also enjoy outdoor play with a range of equipment.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children behave very well in the out of school club. They follow instructions well and follow the rules for safe play. They show care and consideration for each other and the play resources. The children enjoy taking responsibility by choosing what they play with and by helping with tasks such as serving snacks and tidying toys. Children engage a range of activities which effectively raise their awareness of diversity. They play with a suitable range of toys, for example, which have positive images of disability, race and culture. In addition they sometimes participate in activities to celebrate different cultural festivals such as Chinese New Year. The staff value children as individuals. They discuss their care needs with parents and carers and meet individual needs well. Relationships with parents and carers are good. The staff keep them well informed about what the children have done through

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Helping children make a positive contribution

informal discussion at the end of the day and through the informative notice board. In addition the club has very close links with the school which enable them to provide continuity of care to the children.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The staff team work very well together. They are clear about their roles and responsibilities and share duties to ensure that each session runs smoothly. They support the children well as they play and are very receptive to children's suggestions for activities, which helps to ensure that the children enjoy attending. The club is run by a committee which meets regularly and supports the club well. Good procedures are in place for supporting the staff and ensuring that they are suitable to care for children, though procedures for informing the regulator of changes are not yet developed sufficiently. The documentation relating to the care of the children is well recorded, with a minor omission on the medication records. Overall the provision meets the needs of the children who attend.

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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

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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 written records are kept of all medication administered to children, and parents sign the record book to acknowledge the entry • review how toys and resources are stored, to enable children to reach them more easily and increase choice • ensure that fire drills are practiced regularly, and that risk assessments include the use of the outdoor play area, the use of the kitchen area, and the security of the exit door when children are present • ensure that Ofsted is informed of changes in the committee and management of the provision.

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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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