Barn Owls After School Club LtdOfsted inspection, 22 Feb 2006

Barn Owls After School Club

Inspection report for early years provision

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Barn Owls After School Club

Unique Reference Number EY312457 Inspection date 22 February 2006 Inspector Loraine Wardlaw

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Barn Owls After School Club

Setting Address Ranvilles Junior School, Oldbury Way, Fareham, Hampshire, PO14 3BN Telephone number 01329 841679 E-mail headteacher@ranvilles_jun.hants.sch.uk Registered person Barn Owls After School Club Ltd Type of inspection Childcare Type of care Out of School care

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Barn Owls After School 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?

Barn Owls After School Club is a newly registered breakfast club and out of school provision in Fareham. It is one of three privately owned and managed out of school provisions and operates from Ranvilles Junior School. Children have use of a library, computer suite, one classroom, music room, kitchen and adjoining enclosed school grounds. The provision serves children from the school and other local schools. The setting is registered for 30 children from 4 years old and currently have 18 children on roll. The provision is currently open five morning sessions during term times from 07:45 to 09:00 for breakfast club and from 15:15 to 17:30 on a Tuesday,

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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 Wednesday and Thursday. On Monday and Friday the setting offers transport to another out of school club that is run by the same company. During some school holidays the setting is open from 08:30 to 17:30. Six staff are employed to work with children on a part-time basis, four of whom hold recognised early years qualifications.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children enjoy a clean and well maintained environment as staff have a sound awareness of health and hygiene issues; for example, they wash the tables before children sit down to eat. Accident and medication records are appropriately maintained to ensure that children's welfare is not compromised and staff are suitably trained in first aid. Children wash their hands before tea time, which helps develop their self care skills and safeguards their health. Children at the breakfast club enjoy a family, nutritious breakfast sitting down together to eat a choice of cereal with milk, toasts and fruit. In the after school, club squash or water are offered with the toasts, and children choose from a variety of spreads and apples. Staff take into consideration children's dietary requirements to ensure that they remain healthy. Children experience a fair amount of physical activity, especially in warm weather.

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Helping children to be healthy

They play swing ball, football, use skipping ropes, hoops and have the use of a parachute for games, which encourages them to lead a healthy lifestyle. Children enjoy fresh air when they independently choose to watch a school football match in cold weather. Limited resting facilities are available, so not many children have the opportunity to relax and unwind in comfortable furniture.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children are cared for in a fairly secure environment where staff supervise them appropriately as they move around the setting. Staff head-count children when they are divided into groups and adult child ratios are adhered to; for example, when a group of six children go outside onto the grass area one staff member counts them out and goes with them. Staff complete visual risk assessments on the rooms and any identified hazards are reported to the head of the school to be actioned. Children are suitably safe in the event of a fire because most staff are aware of the procedure and drills take place regularly. Children have access to a basic range of toys, such as board games and small worlds toys; but construction toys, role play resources and books are few in number. Children are aware of the toys stored in the cupboard and ask a member of staff to get it out for them as they do not enter the cupboard for

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

safety reasons. Staff have a sound knowledge of the child protection procedure and of signs and symptoms of abuse, which means that children are appropriately safeguarded from harm.

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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 The provision is satisfactory. Children enjoy coming to the club and settle well at their activities. They are happy and speak positively about the setting. Although a limited choice of resources and toys are available, children particularly enjoy board games, such as mouse trap, monopoly or drawing, which are set out for them each session. They take part in some planned art and craft activities, such as painting or making Valentine's cards. Staff relate well to children and build open relationships with them, which means that children can freely express their ideas and choice of activities. For example, a small group wished to watch the football match, and at teatime children discussed whether or not they wished to watch a video or to paint. The consensus was to paint, so many

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

children enjoyed the free art with colourful, new paints. Breakfast and tea time is a sociable occasion with all children coming together at the table to eat. Conversations take place about what they enjoyed doing during the half term holiday, which promotes children's interpersonal skills.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children are treated as individuals and with equal concern but do not play with resources to help them appreciate others in the diverse community. Staff work with the school to support children who have specific needs to ensure that they make progress. Children learn about what is acceptable behaviour because staff deal with instances of challenging behaviour swiftly and through discussion. Children are shown a yellow or red card when they push the behavioural boundaries within the setting but generally children behave well. They learn to share and take turns when playing their games, using their negotiation skills appropriately. Children experience satisfactory continuity of care between the home and the club due to some verbal communication between staff and parents and regular newsletters. However, there is not an information board available for parents and the group's main policies and

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Helping children make a positive contribution

procedures are not on display for them. Parents speak positively about the club and are keen on the flexible care arrangements, which allows children to be transported safely to other clubs in the area run by the same company. Although parents are aware of how to make a complaint, the complaints procedure is not up-to-date, does not include a complaints log and is not freely available to parents.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Appropriate recruitment and vetting procedures are in place to ensure that staff are suitable to work in the club. There are some channels of communication between management and staff, and the majority of staff hold appropriate qualifications. The owners/managers are committed to raising the quality of the club and encourage staff to attend training. Children's accessibility of resources is reliant on what staff get out each session and on them asking staff for a particular resource. Space is used appropriately to ensure children's needs are suitably met. Ratios are kept well, which ensures children are supported in their care and play. Most of the necessary documentation is in place but not all of it is available for inspection and for parents to

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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 access, neither is it organised well. The majority of records are up-to-date to promote children's welfare. The setting meets the needs of the range of children for whom it provides

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Complaints since the last inspection

There are no complaints made to Ofsted 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): • provide comfortable resting facilities for children to relax • increase play resources and resources that cover positive images of culture and disability • ensure the complaints procedure is updated in line with new regulations and keep a complaints log to be shared with parents • devise a notice area for parents and include policies and procedures

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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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