Little Squirrels @ Arley

Little Squirrels @ Arley Upper Arley C OF E Primary School, Arley, Bewdley, DY12 1XA

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 8 March 2016 Not applicable

p.1

This inspection: Inadequate 4

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Inadequate 4

p.1

This inspection: Inadequate 4

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Inadequate 4

p.1

This inspection: Inadequate 4

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Inadequate 4

p.1

This provision is inadequate

 The provider does not take all necessary steps to safeguard children. Weaknesses in recruitment and induction practices compromise children's welfare, well-being and safety.  The provider does not ensure that all persons working with children have been subject to appropriate vetting procedures before they work unsupervised with the children. In addition, the arrangements for the induction of volunteer helpers are weak.  Children's safety is compromised because staff do not always identify the potential risks and hazards during planned activities that children take part in. Children are not given important information about how to keep themselves safe.  Key persons do not always consider the individual needs and interests of some of the children who attend. Activities are sometimes tailored towards older children. This means that younger children's needs are not met and their attention and interest are

p.1

It has the following strengths

 The club has established close links with the school where they are based. Information is exchanged between staff from the club and school staff which helps to promote partnership working.  Children enjoy mealtimes and they are provided with healthy options that contribute to a balanced diet.  Staff build close relationships with the children. Children are generally happy and settled.

p.1

What the setting needs to do to improve further

The provision is inadequate and Ofsted intends to take enforcement action We will issue a Welfare Requirements Notice requiring the provider to:

p.2

Due Date

 ensure that appropriate suitability checks are obtained for all adults working with children, including a Disclosure and Barring Service check 15/04/2016

p.2

Due Date

 ensure that those whose suitability has not been checked do not have unsupervised contact with children 15/04/2016

p.2

Due Date

 improve the arrangements for the induction of all staff and volunteers so that they understand their roles and responsibilities and have all of the required information with regards to the club's policies and procedures 22/04/2016

p.2

Due Date

 take the necessary steps to identify and help minimise hazards during activities to promote children's well-being and safety 15/04/2016

p.2

Due Date

 ensure that key persons understand the needs of all children and provide appropriate activities that take into account children's individual needs and interests. 22/04/2016

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the children engaged in a range of play experiences.  The inspector looked at relevant documentation, including evidence of the suitability of staff working in the club.  The inspector spoke to members of staff, a small selection of parents and children during the inspection and took account of their views.  The inspector held a meeting with the provider and met the headteacher of the school where the setting is based.  The inspector toured the club's facilities.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective. Recruitment procedures are weak. The provider does not ensure that staff obtain an appropriate Disclosure and Barring Service check prior to working at the club. This includes staff who work unsupervised and on their own with children. In addition, volunteer helpers begin working within the club with no attempt from the provider to obtain the required information about them. Furthermore, there is no induction process for these volunteers. Therefore, they are not always aware of the policies and procedures that are in place to help ensure children's welfare and safety. The provider and staff have not identified that the some of the planned activities are focused too heavily on the needs of the older children who also attend. As a result, the individual needs of early years children are not sufficiently considered. Most staff hold suitable qualifications to work with children and they receive

p.3

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

coaching and training to support them in their roles. However, the lack of effective monitoring and evaluation overall, means that children's welfare, safety and well-being are significantly compromised.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is inadequate

On most occasions, children benefit from access to a varied range of activities and experiences. However, staff do not always consider the individual needs of the children when planning and providing activities. For example, a planned first-aid training session is too complex and at times the content is unsuitable for some children. Consequently, children become restless and do not engage in the activity, and no alternative provision is made for them. When children can choose what they would like to do they enjoy exploring and playing in the well-equipped outdoor area. Children enjoy using their imagination while making dens within the climbing equipment. Their physical development is promoted as they engage in active play. Children are generally happy and they develop friendships with children from different age groups which helps to develop their social and communication skills.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

Children's welfare is compromised because of weaknesses in safeguarding practice and staff's poor judgement about the content of some activities. Staff give too little consideration to the potential risks and hazards that are present during activities. For example, staff encourage children to wrap parts of their bodies in cling film after watching a film clip about burns. However, they do not explain clearly enough why they are doing this and younger children do not understand the purpose of the activity. Staff do not effectively teach children about how to keep themselves safe because they do not warn them about the potential risks associated with this type of material. Furthermore, staff encourage the children to throw balls of cling film onto the floor, rather than putting them safely into the bin. Parents are complimentary about the club and they report that it is a much valued service. Staff develop relationships with children's parents so that continuity

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY480725 Local authority Worcestershire Inspection number 987383 Type of provision Out of school provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 4 - 11 Total number of places 20 Number of children on roll 41 Name of provider Little Squirrels Ltd Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 07487 827493

p.4

Setting details

Little Squirrels @ Arley was registered in 2014. The club employs three members of childcare staff. Of these, two hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3, including one with Qualified Teacher Status. The club opens Monday to Friday, term time only from 7am until 8.45am and 3pm until 6pm.

p.4

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.

p.4

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.

p.4

Setting details

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 reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/, write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.5

Setting details

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our website for news, information and updates at www.ofsted.gov.uk/user.

p.5

Setting details

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

p.5