Waterloo Meadows Play Centre

Waterloo Meadows Play Centre Elgar Road, Reading, Berkshire, RG2 0BN

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 28 May 2015 14 April 2010

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Previous inspection: Good 2 How well the early years provision meets the needs of the range of children who attend Requires improvement The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children Inadequate 4

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision Inadequate 4

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

The setting does not meet legal requirements for early years settings

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This provision is inadequate

 The provider demonstrates a weak understanding of the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the Early Years Foundations Stage and is also failing to meet requirements of the associated Childcare Register.  Children's safety is significantly compromised as the provider has failed to ensure all staff are suitably vetted and safe to work with children. Safeguarding procedures are ineffective as staff's knowledge and understanding of child protection procedures are weak. Not all staff know their roles and responsibilities with regards to referring concerns they may have about children's welfare.  Staff do not take prompt or effective action to address inappropriate language used by some older children. This disrupts the play for younger children and does not provide good role modelling.

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It has the following strengths

 Children have opportunities to play physically outside in the fresh air.  Parents spoken to at the inspection talked positively about the activities and experiences available to their children.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage the provider must:

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 implement robust systems to determine the suitability of all staff, including gaining an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check for all members of staff, and maintain records of the identity checks and vetting processes completed; including the Disclosure and Barring Service reference number, the date it was done and who obtained it  ensure that all staff have up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding issues, including being able to identify signs of possible abuse, and know what to do if they have a concern about a child's welfare  ensure that older children's behaviour does not impact on younger children's play

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 make better use of ongoing self-evaluation to identify areas where improvement is needed.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 ensure that every person caring for children is alert to any indications that a child may be suffering from harm (compulsory part of the Childcare Register)  train all staff on the written statement of procedures to be followed to safeguard children from abuse or neglect (compulsory part of the Childcare Register)  implement effective systems to ensure that any person caring for, or in regular contact with, children is suitable to work with them and has a enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check (compulsory part of the Childcare Register)  ensure that children's behaviour is managed in a suitable manner (compulsory part of the Childcare Register)  ensure that every person caring for children is alert to any indications that a child may be suffering from harm (voluntary part of the Childcare Register)  implement effective systems to ensure that any person caring for, or in regular contact

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

with, children is suitable to work with them and has a enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check (voluntary part of the Childcare Register)  ensure that children's behaviour is managed in a suitable manner (voluntary part of the Childcare Register).

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed staff practices and their interactions with children, and completed a joint observation with the deputy manager.  The inspector spoke to staff and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection.  The inspector looked at children's registration details, staffing documents and a selection of the club's policies and procedures, including safeguarding.  The inspector checked evidence of recruitment, suitability and qualifications of staff working with children.  The inspector spoke with some parents.

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who attend. This requires improvement

Children settle well at the holiday club and participate in a suitable range of activities. Some children enjoy watching the television for quieter activities, while others engage in activities that promote their creativity, such as drawing and designing. This supports their coordination, writing and imagination development. Children spend the majority of their time outside. They develop their physical skills, such as by balancing as they explore the adventure playground and join in with chasing games in teams. Staff join in with these games, which the children enjoy and laughter can be heard as they are all caught. Overall, games such as these promote the children's physical, personal and social development.

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inadequate

Children's safety is not guaranteed as not all staff working and having unsupervised access to the children have been checked to ensure they are suitable. Children play in a clean and suitable environment. Staff support children's independence well. Children see to their own self-care needs and pour water from the jugs available when they are thirsty. Children benefit from the praise they receive from the staff. However, do not effectively monitor the behaviour and language of older children. As a result, inappropriate name calling and words that older children use in conversations are heard by younger children, and no action is taken to address this.

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provision is inadequate

Those making up the leadership team have failed to fulfil their roles and responsibilities for safeguarding children. Recruitment processes are not effective in ensuring that staff are suitable. In addition, staff do not all have a sufficient awareness of their roles and responsibilities in child protection despite some having only recently attended training. This demonstrates that training, supervision and evaluation practices are ineffective. This means the provider demonstrates a weak capacity to drive improvement. Partnerships with parents and others are generally effective. Staff regularly exchange verbal communication between teachers and parents, which promotes continuity of care.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 955484 Local authority Reading Inspection number 836969 Type of provision Out of school provision Registration category Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 4 - 13 Total number of places 50 Number of children on roll 100 Name of provider Reading Borough Council Date of previous inspection 14 April 2010 Telephone number 01189 372506

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Setting details

Waterloo Meadows Out of School Care registered in 1989. The club operates from Waterloo Meadows Children's Centre and is situated in central Reading, Berkshire. The club offers before and after school care and is open five days a week, during school term times. In addition, it offers a holiday club, which is open every weekday, from 8.30am to 5.30pm, during the Christmas, Easter and half term school holidays. The club employs 6 staff, of whom 2 staff hold early years qualifications at level 3.

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Setting details

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.

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Setting details

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

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Setting details

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Setting details

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

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