Stevenage Play Learning & Activity Team Ltd

Stevenage Play Learning & Activity Team Ltd Featherstone Wood Primary School, Featherston Road, Stevenage, SG2 9PP

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 9 August 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 has failed to identify and minimize risks to children. They are not prevented from accessing hazardous cleaning products in the kitchen. There is an unlocked door at the other end of the building, through which unauthorised people can access the premises and children can leave the building.  The provider does not ensure that children's hours of attendance are consistently recorded. She has also failed to ensure that all required information is gained from parents about their child before they start. This does not ensure that children's well- being is fully protected.  The provider does not implement a key-person system as required. This does not ensure that children's individual needs and emotional well-being are adequately supported. The provider does not ensure that staff manage children's behaviour in a consistent way. This has a negative impact on others and does not help children to

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This provision is inadequate

understand about what is and is not acceptable behaviour.  Staff's supervision and professional development are not effective. The provider does not ensure that she uses supervision meetings to effectively tackle identified under performance to raise the standard of staff practice. Self-evaluation does not ensure that all legal requirements are met and promote the consistent development of the service.

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It has the following strengths

 Parents report that the staff are 'nice' and there seems to be plenty of activities for their children to get involved in. They also say that their children look forward to going and never want to leave.

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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

 keep a record of each child's full name, date of birth, the name and address of every parent and who the child normally lives with and their emergency contact details 25/08/2016

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Due Date

 ensure that all reasonable steps are taken to identify and minimise risks to children 25/08/2016

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Due Date

 ensure that staff effectively manage children's behaviour 25/08/2016  ensure appropriate arrangements are put in place for the supervision of staff to monitor personal effectiveness and identify individual ongoing training needs 25/08/2016

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Due Date

 obtain information from parents about any special dietary requirements, preferences and food allergies that their child has, and any special health requirements, before they are admitted to the setting 25/08/2016

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Due Date

 maintain an accurate daily record of children's hours of attendance 25/08/2016  implement a key-person system to ensure that children's individual needs and emotional well-being are appropriately supported. 25/08/2016

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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

 strengthen self-evaluation to inform priorities and set challenging targets for ongoing improvement.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed general play indoors and outdoors and the snack time routine.  The inspector talked with the children at appropriate times throughout the inspection.  The inspector completed a joint evaluation of an activity with the provider.  The inspector held discussions with the provider and staff. She looked at relevant documentation, such as self-evaluation and evidence of the suitability of those working in the setting.  The inspector took account of parents' views through feedback provided.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

Arrangements for safeguarding children are not effective. Risk assessments are poor. This is because the provider does not effectively recognise or reduce risks to children in the setting. Children have access to the kitchen, where hazardous cleaning materials, such as bleach, are stored. Children are able to access an unlocked door at the other end of the building and unauthorised people are able to access the premises. Therefore, children's safety is compromised. However, the provider and staff do have a secure knowledge of the possible signs of child abuse. They also know how to correctly implement procedures to refer any concerns that they may have. The provider and her staff do not ensure that children's hours of attendance are accurately recorded. The provider has also failed to make sure that parents give her all required information about their child before they attend. For some children, the provider does not have details of their full name, date of

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

birth, emergency contacts, the name and address of every parent and who the child normally lives with. Therefore, children's welfare is not assured. Performance management is not effective in supporting staff to consistently deliver a good quality service. The provider has recognised some underperformance among staff in relation to managing the behaviour of children. However, she has not ensured that effective action is implemented to improve their practice. Self-evaluation is ineffective because it does not identify fundamental weaknesses in practice. This has led to breaches of legal requirements, as outlined above. In addition, insufficient action has been taken to address those weaknesses that have been identified.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is inadequate

The absence of a key-person system means that some children's individual needs and interests are not adequately supported. This leads to them wandering around spending their time looking for things to do. Children enjoy being outdoors and take part in a wide range of vigorous physical play opportunities. They use and practise a wide range of movements. For example, they have fun working out how to climb up and then jumping off a tree stump. Children show good control of their movements as they skilfully manoeuvre wheeled toys around obstacles and people in their path. Children show an interest in craft activities. However, the noise levels emanating from older children using computer games are high. This distraction makes it difficult for young children to focus and concentrate.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

Behaviour management is weak. This is because staff do not consistently address or challenge unwanted behaviour. Children's safety is compromised. The provider does not ensure that all required information about children is gathered before they start. For example, staff are not aware that some children have allergies linked to particular foods. At the beginning of each session children are given information about what planned activities are on offer. They move freely around the setting and can chose to spend their time indoors or outside. Children are encouraged to make choices and are able to easily help themselves to a wide range of toys and equipment. At times children proudly share their achievements with staff and take part in positive interactions with them. However, children's opportunities to develop effective relationships with staff are hindered by the lack of an identified key person who can offer a settled relationship with each child.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

Children enjoy fresh vegetables as part of their snack. Parents are asked to follow the group's healthy eating ethos when they provide a packed lunch. Staff deployment ensures that children are always close to an adult wherever they choose to spend their time.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY482593 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 994057 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 - 12 Total number of places 40 Number of children on roll 173 Name of registered person Stevenage Play Learning & Activity Team Ltd

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 07514188258

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reference number

Stevenage Play Learning and Activity Team Ltd was registered in 2014. The holiday club employs 10 members of childcare staff, including the provider. Of these, five hold appropriate qualifications at level 2 and above. The club opens Monday to Friday from 7.30am until 6.15pm during school holidays only.

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reference number

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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reference number

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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reference number

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reference number

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reference number

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

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