Kidzzone, Aspire National Training Centre

Playscheme

Inspection report for early years provision

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Playscheme

Unique Reference Number 509028 Inspection date 10 April 2006 Inspector Deborah Wilkinson

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Playscheme

Setting Address Wood Lane, Stanmore, HA7 4LP

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Playscheme

Telephone number 020 8954 5759 or 020 8420 6731 E-mail amit@aspire.org.uk Registered person The Committee of ASPIRE Type of inspection Childcare Type of care Out of School care

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Playscheme

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 Aspire Play Scheme which has been operating for 10 years runs in the Aspire National Training Centre in Stanmore in the borough of Harrow. The scheme which is run by a committee. serves children and families from the local community and is committed to including children with special needs and disabilities. The number of children attending varies at each scheme, however a maximum of 20 children under the age of 8 may attend and children over the age of 8 are also in

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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 attendance. The group is operates during the school holidays and half term breaks.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children are cared for in clean and well organised surroundings. They are protected from the risk of infection because staff follow the procedures in place and carry out effective hygiene practice. Children learn about the importance of hand washing after using the toilet and before they eat their lunch. Children's welfare is protected by staff who act in their best interests should they become ill and there are written health policies that are shared with parents. However not all parents have signed the required consent forms. The majority of staff have a first aid certificate, and children benefit from their knowledge when the correct procedures are followed to treat a minor sports related injury. Children sit together with staff to eat the packed lunch they bring and there is a system in place to ensure fresh drinking water is always available. After lunch children have the opportunity to visit the café where they can buy tuck.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children participate in large physical activities when they join in the various sports activities which are part of the daily programme. There is access to outside play space, however because this is not located near to the building where the scheme operates it is not used on a regular basis.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children are well supervised. Because the centre is used by members of the public, there are systems in place to ensure children are accompanied when they go to the toilet or move around the building. There is adequate space for the children who mainly use the sports hall and its balcony for their activities. However due to the nature of the premises, the balcony where quieter activities are done is often noisy when the sports hall is being used. Children use a range of equipment that is safe and well maintained. They benefit from the overall safety awareness of staff who minimise the risk of accidents. All staff are required to read and understand safety procedures. Children's welfare with regard to child protection is protected by staff's understanding of what to do if they have a concern about a child's well being.

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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

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children participate in a daily range of activities which are mainly sports and arts and craft based. They have regular opportunities to go swimming in the centre's pool and make trips out to places such as the London aquarium or to go bowling. Generally children are happy and involved. While some enjoy practising their football skills and joining in the parachute games, others use the selection of craft materials or organise themselves to play board games. Children are supported and encouraged by staff who take time to ensure the activity is appropriate. For example, during a busy sports session, a member of staff and a younger child roll a ball to each other before going to join the group using the parachute. Children are consulted about activities they would like to do and the aim is to plan the programme around these preferences. However this does not always happen and

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

children who organise themselves to play Monopoly are unable to finish the game as the whole group has to take part in a drama session. Due to the noise level in the sports hall, children find it difficult to hear and their enjoyment of quieter activities, for example, watching a video is sometimes compromised.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are included and valued. They are encouraged in their activities by staff who value their contributions. Children are proud when their art work is praised and displayed for all to see and share. Integration is a key aim of the scheme. Children with special needs are welcomed and positive steps taken to help them integrate and participate fully in the programme. Activities are organised and if necessary adapted by staff who have undertaken training in this area. If applicable a carer attends with the child to ensure that their personal care needs are met. Children are well behaved and respond to staff who use positive language and discuss any issues that arise quietly with the child involved. Children are involved in setting the 'rules' which are reviewed each morning. This gives them the opportunity to discuss and agree what kind of behaviour is unacceptable. Strategies are in place

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Helping children make a positive contribution

such as encouraging children to share and negotiate and staff reinforce good behaviour and lead by example. Although any incidents are discussed with parents at the end of the day, a copy of the behaviour management policy is not included in the file. Children benefit from the partnership between staff and their parents. The doors of the sports hall are used to display information about the programme and draw attention to the daily activities and the availability of the written policies and procedures. Staff are available at the end of each day to discuss any issues relating

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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 children's behaviour, health and well being. Parents suggestions for venues for outings are welcomed and often acted upon.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The majority of staff have an appropriate qualification and the team work well together, many returning to work at the scheme each year. The children benefit from the managers commitment to improve the provision, by monitoring practice and arranging training for staff to help them develop and build on their skills. Knowledge of the written policies and procedures forms part of the staff induction process and helps them run the scheme efficiently. Responsibility for arranging and presenting the activity programme is shared among the team. While most of the required records are in place there are minor omissions. The procedure for confirming that all checks on staff are complete is not always followed. The setting meets the needs of the range of children who attend.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Since the last inspection, the manager has made significant progress. Recommendations and actions which were made to help develop practice have been implemented and systems reviewed. Children benefit from the procedure to protect their safety which ensures the suitability and qualifications of staff who work with them. The manager has completed an NVQ 3 in play work and the majority of staff have an appropriate qualification. The children's welfare is protected by the buddy system in which each child is allocated to a member of staff to help them during their time at the scheme. The written policies and procedures which guide staff, are also made available to parents meaning that they are kept informed of how the scheme operates and what their children are doing. Generally children's needs are met as the record keeping systems have been developed to include all the required information. However sometimes

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Improvements since the last inspection

staff are not sufficiently vigilant with regard to checking that consent forms are signed. Children have access to an area where they can sit if they do not want to join in the main programme and generally they can make choices from a range of equipment and activities.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted since the last inspection. The provider is required to keep a record of complaints made by parents, which they

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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 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): • have a system in place to confirm that all the required staff checks are in place • review the way in which quiet activities including watching videos are presented • ensure the required consents have been given by parents

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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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