Junior Activity Scheme

Junior Activity Scheme Richmond Hill School, Sunridge Avenue, LUTON, LU2 7JL

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 29 July 2016 Not applicable

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3

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

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3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Outcomes for children Not applicable

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This provision requires improvement. It is not yet good because:

 Staff do not always take all reasonable steps to ensure children's safety when transporting them in cars. They do not always implement the thorough risk assessments that are in place.  The management team does not always use the induction procedures to ensure all new members of staff understand their role and responsibility, with regard to the safety of children.

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It has the following strengths

 Children's individual needs are given priority. They choose where and with what they want to play. If children need to sleep, they are settled by a familiar member of staff and given a comfortable place to rest.  Children enjoy many sensory experiences. They sit quietly in the sensory room exploring light and texture. Children enjoy stroking the fur of soft toys and the feel of ribbon as they wrap it around their fingers and toes. They laugh as staff gently splash them with water at the swimming pool.  The well-qualified staff team uses a variety of methods to communicate with children. They gain children's attention and use short sentences and clear words. They carry visual prompt cards and use sign language. These are some of the methods staff use to support children who speak English as an additional language especially well.  Parents speak extremely highly of the scheme. They describe it as being a life saver to

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It has the following strengths

them through the summer holidays. Parents comment on how amazed they are at how quickly their children settle and look forward to each day. They also talk about the invaluable support and advice they receive as parents to children who have special educational needs or disability.

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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

 improve risk assessments to ensure all reasonable steps are taken to protect and safeguard children at all times 12/08/2016

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Due Date

 strengthen the induction procedures to ensure all staff have a thorough understanding of their role and responsibilities. 12/08/2016

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed children's play, both indoors and in the outside area.  The inspector looked at a selection of children's records, policies and procedures and a range of other documentation, including the safeguarding policy.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager and spoke to the staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector checked evidence of the suitability and qualifications of staff working with children.  The inspector accompanied staff and children to a local swimming pool.  The inspector took into account the views of parents and the scheme's self-evaluation.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff are knowledgeable about issues relating to child protection, and the course of action to take if they have concerns about a child's welfare. However, on occasion, staff do not implement the thorough risk assessments that are in place to ensure that all children are kept safe. For example, the child locks on cars are not always activated as the risk assessment requires. The management team monitors and evaluates the quality of the provision. After each holiday scheme they seek the views of children, parents and staff. These are taken into consideration for the following year, such as looking at what activities were the most effective. The management team implements robust vetting procedures to ensure that children are cared for by suitable adults. Managers arrange an induction day for staff members before each scheme begins. However, some new members of staff are not able

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

to attend. Consequently, their induction procedure is not thorough enough to ensure they have the best knowledge on how to communicate the most accurate information regarding children's safety. Managers source appropriate professional development opportunities for themselves and members of staff. They attend training, such as on play therapy, in order to develop their understanding of how to promote the play of every child attending.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff support children very well as they play in the school environment. Children enjoy the many, varied activities available to them. They complete puzzles well, supported by staff who use clear words and sign language to prompt them. Staff support children to play imaginatively as they model how to pretend to make and drink cups of tea. Staff gain relevant information about children's interests from parents. They also make contact with each school that children attend in term time. Staff plan activities to help children develop their skills in line with what they are learning at nursery, school and at home. Staff observe children's enjoyment and play throughout the session. They record significant events and share these with parents, and where relevant, with teachers. This contributes to children's ongoing progression towards the early learning goals.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

On occasion, some staff expose children to risk by not taking all reasonable steps to ensure children are safe while travelling in a car. This is a breach to the welfare requirements. However, staff support children very well in the school environment and during their swimming session. Through the week each child is allocated a member of staff. Staff take time to read documents and speak to parents regarding children's individual needs. This helps them to quickly establish strong relationships with children. Children enjoy the freedom of playing outside whenever they choose. They use the space for running, and enjoy playing on the swings and climbing on the climbing frame. Staff are vigilant as they supervise children. They have access to a trampoline and this is only used when a trained member of staff is in attendance. Mealtimes are social occasions, as staff eat with their allocated children. Staff use this time to talk about the activities children

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

have been involved in, such as swimming, and help them to look forward to the afternoon session.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY477670 Local authority Luton Inspection number 983366 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 3 - 9 Total number of places 25 Number of children on roll 32 Name of registered person Autism Bedfordshire

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 01234 214871

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reference number

Junior Activity Scheme was registered in 2014. There are 31 members of staff. Two members of staff hold qualified teacher status, and 18 members of staff hold qualifications at level 2 or above. The scheme operates from 9.30am to 3pm during one week of the summer holidays. The scheme supports children who have special educational needs or disability and children who speak English as an additional language.

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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

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

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