Live Wires Club Ltd

Live Wires Out of School Club

Inspection report for early years provision

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Live Wires Out of School Club

Unique Reference Number EY318549 Inspection date 16 May 2006 Inspector Elizabeth Patricia Edmond

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Live Wires Out of School Club

Setting Address Easingwold Community Primary School, Thirsk Road, Easinwold, York, YO61 3HJ Telephone number 07791 051881

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E-mail

Registered person Live Wires Out of School Club Ltd 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?

Live Wires Out of School club has been registered to the current owner since December 2005, but has been in operation with other owners since 2002. This is a privately owned and managed setting. It operates from a portacabin which is situated in the grounds of Easingwold Primary School. The premises consists of one large playroom and adjacent office and toilet facilities. The property has access and facilities for those with disabilities. The group uses the school grounds for outdoor play. Mainly children who attend the adjacent school use the out-of-school club although

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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 children may attend from other local schools. Transport can sometimes be arranged for these children. There are currently a total 64 children under 8 years on roll. Older children also attend. The club is open 5 days per week from 08.00 to 18.00 but can open earlier by arrangement with the management. During term time children are escorted to and from school at the appropriate times. The owner employs 2 staff who hold appropriate qualifications. Additional relief staff are also available.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. The children are cared for in a warm, clean environment where they learn about sensible hygiene practices. The children remove their outdoor shoes to keep the carpet clean for floor play and they independently wash their hands after using the toilet, reminded by the clear signs or sometimes the staff if necessary. Sensible hygiene measures mean that children can enjoy contact with the club's hamster. The children enjoy the healthy snacks provided. They relish the bread sticks and vegetable sticks and confidently ask for extra dip for the celery. They particularly enjoy the fresh fruit and yoghurt afterwards and the children learn about having biscuits or cakes for a treat. Snack time is a happy occasion and children develop pleasant table manners. However, the children do not fully develop their self help skills because staff usually prepare and serve the snacks. The children develop a positive approach to being active. They enjoy the newly

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Helping children to be healthy

purchased hula hoops and confidently show off their skills with these. The children also develop their physical skills in the outdoors. They rush off excitedly to play rounders on the school field and the staff help them to organise themselves into teams. Some children say that their favourite thing about the club is that they are able play outdoors on most days.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. The children play freely in an environment where risks are identified and minimised. The children are confident in the emergency evacuation procedures and they explain clearly the different escape routes they have practiced. The children access a suitable range of play equipment which is in good condition; the new owner has been vigilant in removing equipment which was not in good condition and is now beginning to develop the range to provide additional choice and variety. The staff have a good understanding of how children can play safely with recycled materials to develop their play and the children confidently help themselves to the materials they need to make their models or dens. The children are suitably protected through the adult's understanding of child protection issues. All staff have attended basic training on this matter and the local

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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 guidance is kept on file for reference. However, the child protection policy does not refer specifically as to how the provider would handle any allegations made against staff.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. The children are happy and settled at the club and they enjoy their time there. They enjoy the ownership that they feel over the premises because they can help themselves to whatever they want and they are pleased with the new hamster. They develop positive relationships and share a sense of fun with their best friends. They quickly find their favourite area to play and some are excited when the staff say that the field should be dry enough to play on. Some children rush off to find the rounders equipment and begin to organise the game, others choose quieter table top games or art and craft activities. Some children prefer to develop their play in the role-play area. The recent topic of animals and veterinary services has captured their imagination. Children of all ages enjoy making box models for their pretend pets until all the boxes are used up. They read the books and leaflets about animals and are thrilled when the real hamster is

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

allowed to visit the pretend vet's surgery for a short time during a quiet period. This promotes the children's creative development and encourages their interest and knowledge in their environment. The children have great fun using discarded boxes when new furniture is delivered. The free access to the range of model making tools means that they can develop their own ideas. Staff help the children to negotiate so that they all have the opportunity to contribute their ideas to the project.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. The children develop comfortable relationships with the staff and their peers. They chat happily about their families and their holidays. There are resources showing positive images of diversity in our society and all the children have equal access to the activities. However, the children display a degree of gender rivalry. Whilst this is on the whole good humoured and staff help the boys and girls to work together on joint projects, it does occasionally spoil their play. The seating arrangement that the children have instigated emphasises a gender divide. The children are relaxed, confident and generally behave well. They develop pleasant table manners; they usually remember to say 'please' and 'thank you' and ask politely to leave the table. They learn to tolerate the different interests of other children and refer to their quirky behaviour quite fondly. The new owner has made a relatively smooth transition for the children and the

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Helping children make a positive contribution

parents. Information about the changes has been made available as soon as

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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 possible. All information for parents is in the process of being reviewed although there are some gaps in this. For example, there is no system for logging complaints yet and some policy statements, whilst in place in the staff file, are not in the folder for parents. Parents who contribute to the inspection process are very pleased with the standard of care. They mention in particular the healthy snacks provided and the new owner's commitment to improving the facilities as beneficial to them and their children.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The new owner has been able to make a smooth transition for the children, parents and the staff. This has provided the children with a good sense of continuity and stable environment. For example, the new owner has changed as little as possible regarding procedures for health and safety. This has meant that the children and staff continue to be secure in the procedures. The staff are beginning to work well as a team to support the children's care and development. They fall in to their roles easily to help the children to play rounders outside, to play quietly indoors and they alter their plans for deployment as children move around. Overall the needs of all the children attending are met. The information and records kept about the children are satisfactory and plans to review all the details are already underway. All the required policy statements are in place but have not yet been fully adopted and signed by the current owner and staff.

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Organisation

Similarly the operation plan and the parents' folder still contains some information which relates to the previous ownership.

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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

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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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): • further clarify within the child protection policy how any allegations against staff would be handled • ensure that all policy statements are fully adopted by the new owner and staff and that they are made available to parents • establish a system for logging any complaints made 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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