Escape4kids

Escape4kids 12th Cambridge Scout Hut, 40 Gilbert Road, Cambridge, CB4 3PE

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 7 April 2016 Not applicable

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Inadequate 4

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Inadequate 4

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Inadequate 4

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This provision is inadequate

 The provider does not carry out risk assessments effectively. Not all aspects of the environment are made safe for children.  The provider does not always ensure that there are sufficient staff to promote the safety and welfare of children. At times, children are not within sight or hearing of staff.  Records of children's attendance are disorganised and it is not always easy to see which children are present each day and what their times of arrival or departure are.  At times, children's behaviour is poor and they are sometimes disrespectful to staff and each other. Staff do not manage children's behaviour consistently.  The provider does not have effective arrangements for the support and supervision of staff.

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It has the following strengths

 Children have enjoyable activities indoors and outdoors. They are involved in planning their experiences, which promotes their independence.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

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Due Date

 ensure children's safety by taking reasonable steps to ensure that children are not exposed to unnecessary risks 25/04/2016

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 ensure that children are unable to leave the premises without people caring for them being aware of the child leaving 25/04/2016

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Due Date

 ensure that there are sufficient staff present to ensure the safety and welfare of children, taking into account the type of activity and the numbers and ages of children attending 25/04/2016

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Due Date

 keep an accurate daily record of children being cared for on the premises which includes their hours of attendance 25/04/2016

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Due Date

 ensure that managers and staff develop the skills to manage children's behaviour in a consistent and appropriate way. 25/04/2016

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Due Date

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

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Due Date

 use supervision meetings with staff more effectively to promote consistent high-quality support for all children.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the activities and spoke to children and staff at convenient times.  The inspector spoke to the provider during the inspection. A range of documentation was looked at, including staff suitability and training, some policies and procedures, and children's records.  The inspector looked at the premises and the resources available to children, indoors and outdoors.  Discussions were held with a small number of parents and survey forms were looked at.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

The arrangements for safeguarding are ineffective. The provider does not take sufficient steps to keep children safe. Basic safety procedures, such as securing the entrance door, are not carried out. Registers are disorganised and staff rely on parents to sign their children in and out of the club. Accurate times of children's arrival and departure are not always recorded. In one instance, on the day of inspection, a child who was present was not on the register. Although the provider carries out supervision meetings with staff and staff have some training, these are not used to raise the quality of the provision. Staff are, at times, unclear about their level of responsibility. They say they see themselves as helping hands rather than active members of a cohesive team. The provider takes out appropriate checks on staff to ensure that they are suitable to work with children. She understands her responsibilities to protect children from abuse or neglect.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is inadequate

In spite of the weaknesses in leadership and management, most children have an enjoyable time at the club. The provider promotes an ethos of independence, encouraging children to lead the activities. Children have a large selection of resources, indoors and outdoors, to choose from. They ride scooters, play quick hockey and toast marshmallows over a fire pit. A range of creative activities, such as glass painting, engages their interest. Staff encourage children to use their ingenuity to make dens from string, material and sticks. Nonetheless, at times, children's behaviour affects their enjoyment. Parents speak warmly of the club. They complete parent surveys which show that they believe their children benefit from a wide range of outings and in-house activities.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

Bearing in mind the nature of the premises and the extensive outdoor areas, there are not always enough staff present to keep children safe and support their play. Opportunities to interact with children and extend their play are sometimes missed because children in other areas need attention. On one occasion, a child wandered off unnoticed into an adult area. This room had not been risk assessed for children and contained stacked chairs, posing a risk to them. The room was adjacent to the unlocked entrance door which is out of sight of the main room used by staff and children. Another room along the corridor, belonging to another organisation, was not secured. As the provider has no means to say what hazards exist in the room, children are at risk. At times, some children's behaviour is poor and older children are not good role models for younger ones. They are disrespectful to staff and each other. While staff try to help children to manage their feelings, they are

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

sometimes inconsistent in their methods. This means children are not clear on what the expectations are. For example, sometimes they are challenged for using discriminatory language, and sometimes the language is ignored.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY477631 Local authority Cambridgeshire Inspection number 973410 Type of provision Out of school provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Age range of children 4 - 11 Total number of places 25 Number of children on roll 114 Name of provider Clare Louise Hickman Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 07591634672

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Setting details

Escape4kids was registered in 2014 and is privately owned. There are six staff including the manager employed to work directly with children. The manager holds a childcare qualification at level 4. Two other members of staff hold qualifications at level 3. The club's opening times are from 8am until 6pm each weekday during most school holidays, according to parental demand, with the exception of Christmas.

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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

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Setting details

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