The Five Star Care Club

The Five Star Care Club

Inspection report for early years provision

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The Five Star Care Club

Unique Reference Number EY273967 Inspection date 27 March 2006 Inspector Jacqueline Mason

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The Five Star Care Club

Setting Address Ellison Primary School, Ellison Street, Newcastle, Staffordshire, ST5 0BL Telephone number 01782 297680 or 297684

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E-mail

Registered person Ellison 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 Five Star Care Club is run by a voluntary management committee. It opened in 2004 and operates from two rooms within Ellison Primary School in the Wolstanton area of Newcastle-under-Lyme. A maximum of 32 children may attend the out of school at any one time. The club is open each weekday from 07:30 until 08:45 and 15:15 until 17:45 during school term times. All children share access to a secure, enclosed outside play area. There are currently 59 children from 4 to 11 years on roll. Children come from the local area.

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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 committee employs nine staff on a part-time basis. There are three members of staff who have early years qualifications and two staff who are currently working towards an NVQ level 2 qualification.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Good arrangements are in place to encourage children to make healthy choices about what they eat. Children are offered a variety of fresh fruit as part of their snack time in addition to sweet and savoury choices. They are encouraged to select a fruit option in addition to less healthy crisps and chocolate choices. Special dietary needs are discussed with parents and carers to ensure that individual needs are met. Children are offered diluted juices, milk and water at snack time. Fresh drinking water is available at all times and children are encouraged to recognise when they are thirsty and develop independence in helping themselves to a drink. Children enjoy physical activity and outdoor play is encouraged during daylight hours. Good hygiene is promoted effectively. Well established routines increase children's awareness of the importance of washing their hands before eating and after art

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Helping children to be healthy

activities. Staff take appropriate steps to ensure that the physical environment is kept clean to prevent infection, for example, tables are wiped with an anti-bacterial solution before snacks are served. The arrangements for sick children help to ensure that the risks of cross infection are reduced. Staff act in the best interests of the children if they are unwell.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Staff have a satisfactory knowledge and understanding of child protection issues. They have a good awareness of the signs and symptoms of abuse but their procedures for reporting concerns are not robust to ensure that the welfare of children is safeguarded. Staff know what to do if children are lost or are not collected at the end of the session and have good written procedures that they follow. Security is good to ensure that children are not able to leave the premises unsupervised and the effective arrangements for the collection of children ensures that they are not able to leave with persons not nominated. Staff record the times of children's arrival and departures and parents and carers sign to say they have collected their child. Fire evacuation procedures are effective to ensure that children are protected in the event of needing to evacuate the premises in the event of an emergency. Children

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

know what to do to keep themselves safe. For example, they recognise the sound of the fire-bell, know where to line-up by the exit door and are aware of the assembly point in the playground. Children are cared for in a safe and secure environment that helps them to be settled and confident. They are able to choose from toys, games and equipment that are safe, clean and suitable for their purpose. Equipment is

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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 age-appropriate and there is adequate space within the classrooms to provide children with a range of activities that are enjoyable and promote all areas of development.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children enjoy attending the setting. There is a consistent routine that is followed that helps children to be settled and confident. For example, children know that on arrival they will wash their hands ready for snack and a drink. Children have generally good relationships with the staff and each other and mostly play well together. Adults interact well with the children and are actively involved in the children's play. For example, staff join in with board games and this encourages children to stay and complete the game. Staff have a good interest in what the children say and do and respond well to their interests. They facilitate activities well and know when to join in and when to allow children to operate independently. Children enjoy choosing from a good range of toys and games and are able to take part in a variety of activities that are interesting and stimulating. Children are helped

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

to become actively engaged in activities and make decisions about their play. Art and craft activities are planned and led by staff and a different activity takes place each day. Free-play activities are not pre-planned and children are encouraged to ask for games and toys that are not out, helping them to develop self-confidence. Children benefit from a good range of age-appropriate toys, games and activities that promote all areas of development.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Satisfactory procedures are in place to manage children's behaviour that are consistent to help children learn right from wrong and respect the views of others. Strategies to manage unwanted behaviour are appropriate to the age and level of understanding of the children. However staff are not vigilant at the beginning of sessions and it is at this time that children display levels of unacceptable behaviour that are not noticed or challenged because staff are busy calling attendance registers and organising snack time. Good behaviour is valued and praised. Children mostly play harmoniously together through the less structured part of the session, for example during free-play activities, and this is praised by staff. Children are helped to learn to share and take turns with popular resources such as programmable toys. Children are valued as individuals and staff work to ensure that individual needs are

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Helping children make a positive contribution

met. Staff have an adequate awareness of equal opportunities issues and encourage children to take part in a varied range of activities that help them learn about their own and other cultures, customs and beliefs. Resources to promote positive images of diversity are satisfactory. Staff work in partnership with parents and carers and there are suitable procedures in place to share information with them. Staff have friendly and trusting relationships with parents and carers and they are encouraged

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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 to share concerns. A complaints procedure is available to parents and carers although a system for sharing relevant information from complaints has not been identified. Policies and procedures are displayed and copies are made available to parents and carers to help them make informed choices about their children's care.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. All necessary policies and procedures, which are required for the safe and efficient management of the setting, are in place although some are out-dated and not consistent with current practice. Parents and carers are encouraged to look at the policies to help them develop an awareness of the provision. Documentation relating to children is stored securely and all necessary information is recorded. Most records are readily available for inspection although records of committee members are not kept in the setting. Not all committee members are fully aware of their roles and responsibilities towards the provision. Children are cared for by consistent staff who know them well, helping them to be settled and secure. Staff organise space well to promote children's self-confidence and encourage them to operate independently in the environment. Children's work is displayed imaginatively helping children to develop a sense of belonging. Children

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Organisation

are encouraged to self-select from the wide range of toys, games and activities selected each day by staff. Children are confident to ask for activities that are not out. Overall the provision meets the needs of the range of children for whom it provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the provision was asked to develop the child protection policy to include the actions that would be taken if an allegation was made against a member of staff and also to improve the accident records to ensure that parents sign to acknowledge entries. As a result of these recommendations the person-in-charge has attended child protection training and the procedures that would be followed in the event of an allegation being made against a member of staff has been included in the child protection policy. However, the processes that would be followed are not adequate to ensure that the welfare of children is fully safeguarded. The procedure for recording accidents has been revised and is now effective to ensure that parents are kept fully informed about any accidents that happen to their children. All accidents are reported to parents and they are required to sign the entry on the accident record sheet to acknowledge that it has been reported to them.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted since the last inspection.

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Complaints 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 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): • develop child protection procedures to ensure that the welfare of children is protected at all times • improve staff vigilance of children's behaviour to ensure that incidents of children displaying unwanted behaviour are observed and challenged • ensure that all records relating to the care club, including the name and address of committee members, are kept accessible • ensure that all committee members are aware of their roles and responsibilities.

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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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