Marlow After School Club

Marlow After School Club Marlow Youth Centre, Wycombe Road, MARLOW, Buckinghamshire, SL7 3JD

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 01/12/2014 19/01/2011

p.1

early years provision

This inspection: 3 Previous inspection: 3 How well the early years provision meets the needs of the range of children who attend The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children 3 The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision 3

p.1

This provision requires improvement

 Children enjoy their time at the after school club and build positive relationships with staff and other children. Consequently they feel safe and secure.  Enthusiastic and caring staff motivate children so they are excited to try new activities.  Staff provide activities so that children learn skills ready for their next stage of learning.  Parents make positive comments about the care provided by the staff in the setting.

p.1

It is not yet good because

 Procedures are not sufficiently robust to ensure that there is always a member of staff with a current paediatric first-aid certificate on the premises at all times when children are present.  Children are not always encouraged to follow hygiene procedures and wash their hands before snack time to promote their good health.  Staff do not always promote healthy eating in the club to support children's well-being.

p.1

Information about this inspection

Inspections of registered early years provision are:  scheduled at least once in every inspection cycle – the current cycle ends on 31 July

p.2

Information about this inspection

 scheduled more frequently where Ofsted identifies a need to do so, for example where provision was previously judged inadequate  brought forward in the inspection cycle where Ofsted has received information that suggests the provision may not be meeting the legal requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage or where assessment of the provision identifies a need for early inspection  prioritised where we have received information that the provision is not meeting the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage and which suggests children may not be safe  scheduled at the completion of an investigation into failure to comply with the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage.

p.2

Information about this inspection

The provision is also registered on the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register. This report includes a judgment about compliance with the requirements of that register.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector observed interactions between children and staff indoors and outdoors.  The inspector met with the manager and deputy manager of the club.  The inspector sampled the club's policies and procedures and staff records.  The inspector spoke to parents, staff and children.  The inspector invited the manager to carry out a joint observation.

p.2

Information about the setting

Marlow After School Club registered in 2010 and is owned by a private provider. The club operates from Marlow Youth Centre, in Marlow, Buckinghamshire. The club is open to the children who attend all the local schools. It is open Monday to Friday after school from 3.30pm to 6pm, term time only. The children have access to the main hall and two side rooms. There is an enclosed outdoor play area. The club is registered on the Early Years Register, and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. There are currently 42 children on roll aged from four to 11 years. Of these, two are in the early years age group. The club employs five staff to work with the children, of whom two hold relevant childcare qualifications.

p.3

must:

 strengthen procedures to ensure training in first aid is regularly completed and that there is always a member of staff with a current paediatric first-aid certificate on the premises and available at all times when children are present.

p.3

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

 develop good hygiene practices so that children are encouraged to wash their hands before snack time to reduce risks of cross infection

p.3

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

 improve the provision of food at snack times so that healthy eating is consistently promoted.

p.3

who attend

Staff provide a welcoming and stimulating environment in the club for children as they arrive from school. Children choose from a range of activities already organised and they know they can add to these by making further choices from a store cupboard. This promotes children's independence and confidence. The children are excited and motivated as they see their favourite games and resources. They become independent learners as they set up activities and explore their imaginations. This promotes skills so that children are ready for the next stage of their learning in school. Children take responsibility over their personal belongings as they hang up their coats and bags when they arrive from school. They enter the club and happily find their friends. Children sit together on soft sofas and play electronic games together. Children of different ages build friendships as they support each other in taking turns. The youngest

p.3

who attend

children join in and learn from the older children which promotes their confidence and self-esteem.

p.4

who attend

Staff provide exciting resources to motivate and stimulate children's imagination. During the inspection, children explored a large cardboard drum full of Christmas decorations. They used tinsel, pine cones, and different materials to decorate candles and make Christmas trees. Staff encouraged children to think about how they were going to make things, which promotes their thinking and creative skills.

p.4

who attend

Children play games using toy guns and foam pellets. Staff encourage children to work together and organise the rules. They choose who is going to be the judge and the scorekeeper. The older children support the younger children as they keep scores and staff encourage children to think about how they might add the numbers up. This supports children's mathematics skills in school.

p.4

who attend

Staff include activities in the club that complement the learning opportunities children receive in school. Staff meet regularly with the teachers of the younger children and plan activities around what the child is doing at school. School staff share information with the staff working in the club on a daily basis and use communication books for the youngest children. Information on how children have been in school enables the staff to plan a range of activities which meet children's individual needs. Consequently, children develop skills which support their learning in school.

p.4

who attend

Parents comment that children are happy in the club and are developing in confidence. They are very happy with the wide variety of activities provided for their children and the care from the staff.

p.4

The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children

Children settle well and are starting to form positive relationships with staff and other children in the club. There is a key-person system in place for the younger children although children are encouraged to build positive relationships with all members of staff so that they can meet their individual needs. Staff keep accurate attendance registers and children understand they are not to leave the premises unsupervised, which ensures their safety. Risk assessments are in place and the premises are checked daily at the beginning and end of the session to support children's safety and well-being. Staff promote children's safety as they remind children not to run indoors and hide under tables in the club. They encourage children to think about the consequences of their actions so that they start to manage risks themselves. However, there have been some staff changes recently. Due to a lack of sufficiently robust

p.4

The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children

procedures in place, there was no member of staff with a current first-aid certificate on the premises on the day of the inspection. This results in children's safety not being fully promoted.

p.4

The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children

Children of different ages join in a variety of activities together and build friendships. This supports their confidence and self-esteem. They sit and talk together with staff and other children and staff encourage and support the younger children to join in with activities. Children develop suitable attachments with all of the staff in the club. Staff know the children well and plan activities to support their needs. Consequently, children generally feel safe and secure in the club.

p.5

The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children

Children develop suitable self-care skills in the club. They are encouraged to hang up their coats when they arrive. Children develop independence as they choose when they want to have their snack and drink. There is a caf organised for the children and they help themselves to a variety of food. However, snack time does not consistently promote healthy eating as there are some unhealthy foods and sweets available for children to eat.

p.5

The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children

Staff follow suitable hygiene procedures and tables are cleaned before children use them to eat their snack. Hand washing is encouraged when children use the toilet although this does not always happen before snack time, which could lead to the spread of illness or infection.

p.5

The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children

Children have the opportunity for outdoor play every day as they go outside in the enclosed area and play ball games with staff. Children of different ages play football with enthusiastic and encouraging staff. This supports the children's physical development ready for school.

p.5

provision

The manager and staff have an adequate understanding of their responsibility of meeting the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Suitable policies and procedures to promote children's safety and well-being are in place and are shared with parents.

p.5

provision

Management and staff have a sound understanding of the safeguarding procedures of the club. They attend regular training and explain the procedures to follow if they have concerns about a child or another member of staff. Procedures are also in place for the use of mobile 'phones and cameras, as well as other forms of technology. This ensures that children's safety is safeguarded.

p.5

provision

Management follows suitable procedures to ensure all staff are suitable to work with children. They follow appropriate recruitment, induction and supervision procedures and management encourages all staff with their ongoing professional development. This helps to ensure that staff remain suitable to work with children.

p.5

provision

Documentation is suitably maintained, including attendance registers, accident records and parent details. Children take part in regular fire drills and an evacuation procedure is shared with parents. Management and staff have appropriate childcare qualifications in place. However due to staff changes, there was no member of staff at the club on the day of the inspection with a current first-aid qualification. This is a breach of requirements which has the potential to compromise children's safety and well-being. This is also a breach of the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register.

p.5

provision

Management are keen to work to improve the club. They take into account the views of parents, staff and children in the club as well as advice from their local authority early years advisor. This enables them to be able to identify their strengths and develop future areas for improvement. The manager is looking to recruit more staff as well as train the remainder of the staff to a level 3 qualification as she recognises the importance of this to promote children's development.

p.6

The Childcare Register

The requirements for the compulsory part of the Childcare Register are

p.6

actions)

The requirements for the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are

p.6

To meet the requirements of the Childcare Register the provider must:

 ensure that at least one person who is caring for children has an appropriate first- aid qualification (compulsory part of the Childcare Register).  ensure that at least one person who is caring for children has an appropriate first aid qualification (voluntary part of the Childcare Register).

p.6

Grade Judgement Description

Grade 1 Outstanding Outstanding provision is highly effective in meeting the needs of all children exceptionally well. This ensures that children are very well prepared for the next stage of their learning. Grade 2 Good Good provision is effective in delivering provision that meets the needs of all children well. This ensures children are ready for the next stage of their learning. Grade 3 Requires improvement The provision is not giving children a good standard of early years education and/or there are minor breaches of the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. We re-inspect nurseries and pre-schools judged as requires improvement within 12 months of the date of inspection. Grade 4 Inadequate Provision that is inadequate requires significant improvement and/or enforcement action. The provision is failing to give children an acceptable standard of early years education and/or

p.7

Grade Judgement Description

is not meeting the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. It will be monitored and inspected again within six months of the date of this inspection. Met There were no children present at the time of the inspection. The inspection judgement is that the provider continues to meet the requirements for registration. Not met There were no children present at the time of the inspection. The inspection judgement is that the provider does not meet the requirements for registration.

p.7

Inspection

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children’s learning, development and care, known as the Early Years Foundation Stage.

p.8

Setting details

Unique reference number EY406958 Local authority Buckinghamshire Inspection number 816283 Type of provision Out of school provision Registration category Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 40 Number of children on roll 42 Name of provider Rebecca Swain Date of previous inspection 19/01/2011 Telephone number 01628 484 887

p.8

Setting details

set out in the guidance ‘Complaints procedure: raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk.

p.8

Type of provision

For the purposes of this inspection the following definitions apply:

p.8

Type of provision

Full-time provision is that which operates for more than three hours. These are usually known as nurseries, nursery schools and pre-schools and must deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage. They are registered on the Early Years Register and pay the higher fee for registration.

p.8

Type of provision

Sessional provision operates for more than two hours but does not exceed three hours in any one day. These are usually known as pre-schools, kindergartens or nursery schools and must deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage. They are registered on the Early Years Register and pay the lower fee for registration.

p.8

Type of provision

Childminders care for one or more children where individual children attend for a period of more than two hours in any one day. They operate from domestic premises, which are usually the childminder’s own home. They are registered on the Early Years Register and must deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage.

p.9

Type of provision

Out of school provision may be sessional or full-time provision and is delivered before or after school and/or in the summer holidays. They are registered on the Early Years Register and must deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage. Where children receive their Early Years Foundation Stage in school these providers do not have to deliver the learning and development requirements in full but should complement the experiences children receive in school. achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children,

p.9

Type of provision

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. You may copy all or parts of this document for non-commercial educational purposes, as long as you give details of the source and date of publication and do not alter the information in any way. To receive regular email alerts about new publications, including survey reports and school inspection reports, please visit our website and go to ‘Subscribe’.

p.10

Type of provision

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.10