Polkadots Out Of School Care

Polkadots Out Of School Care Sussex Road Cp School, Sussex Road, Tonbridge, Kent, TN9 2TP

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 19 October 2016 24 October 2012

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 Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Inadequate 4

p.1

This provision is inadequate

 The provider does not have effective recruitment procedures. She does not ensure that suitability checks and vetting procedures are completed for all staff before they start working unsupervised with children. This puts children at risk.  The staff's safeguarding knowledge is inconsistent. Some staff do not know the possible signs that a child is at risk of harm or what action to take if they are concerned.  The staff's partnerships with teachers at the school do not ensure effective continuity for children. Staff do not seek information to help them complement children's learning while at the club.  Staff have not considered ways for children to make choices from the full range of resources available to further extend their individual choices and play.  Self-evaluation is not effective in identifying weaknesses in the provision including breaches of requirements of both the Early Years Register and the Childcare Register.

p.1

It has the following strengths

 Staff support children to settle well and provide a relaxed and calm environment. For example, children enjoy reading and relaxing on bean bags.  Children enjoy being outside. Staff provide children with the opportunity to be physically active outdoors.

p.1

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:

p.2

Due Date

 ensure all staff over the age of 16 years complete suitability checks, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check, and ensure those without the required checks do not have unsupervised access to children 27/10/2016

p.2

Due Date

 ensure all staff gain a secure understanding of safeguarding matters, including the procedure to follow if they have any concerns about children's welfare 01/11/2016

p.2

Due Date

 develop the partnership with the on-site school to enable staff to complement children's learning. 01/11/2016

p.2

Due Date

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

p.2

Due Date

 improve opportunities for children to make informed choices about their play  make effective use of self-evaluation to identify breaches in requirements and target areas for improvement to raise the quality of the provision for children.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke to parents and children to gain their views of the setting.  The inspector held a joint observation with the provider.  The inspector observed the quality of interaction between children and staff.  The inspector held a meeting with the provider.  The inspector read documentation such as policies and procedures, and suitability records.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

Arrangements for safeguarding are ineffective. The provider does not follow safe recruitment and vetting procedures for all staff to ensure their suitability to work with children. She does not ensure that all staff complete the required suitability checks, such as a Disclosure and Barring Service check, or gain references. New staff without checks do not have any restrictions placed on their roles and, at times, work unsupervised with children. Some staff do not understand the range of signs and symptoms that would raise concerns about children's welfare. In addition, these staff are not aware of what to do and who to contact if they have safeguarding concerns. This puts children at risk. The provider and manager supervise staff adequately and provide support for them to develop their practice. Self-evaluation is not used effectively to identify and tackle weaknesses including breaches in requirement and gaps in staff's knowledge and practice.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

Information sharing with the onsite school is not focused on how staff can provide complementary support for children's learning. Staff work well with parents to gain information about children before they start so that they can meet their needs fully. For example, they ensure that they are aware of children's allergies and with what children like to play. Children are confident to approach staff. For example, children choose stories and ask staff to read to them. Children enjoy the opportunity to explore nature. For instance, staff help them to find bugs and they show their friends and staff their favourite discoveries. Staff encourage children to be creative and explore their own ideas during art. For example, they use hole punches, threads and plates in different ways to create individual artwork.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

The weaknesses in safeguarding do not assure children's safety. Staff are happy to provide children with additional resources that are kept out of sight. However, young children do not always know what is available to them which limits their ability to make choices. Children are independent. For instance, at snack time they can choose from a range of heathy food which they enjoy preparing. Staff know children well and help them feel secure. Children enjoy sharing stories with them about events at home and discuss their school day. Children behave well. They play well together and staff are close by to provide support when needed.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY445319 Local authority Kent Inspection number 1059286 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 - 8 Total number of places 50 Number of children on roll 100 Name of registered person Megan Jayne Turley

p.4

reference number

Date of previous inspection 24 October 2012 Telephone number 07596 596 100

p.4

reference number

Polkadots Out Of School Care registered in 2012 and runs from Sussex Road School in Tonbridge, Kent. It runs a breakfast club from 7.40am to 8.40am and an after-school club from 3.15pm to 6pm on weekdays during term time. They also provide some school holiday care. There are six members of staff, four of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications.

p.4

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.

p.4

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.

p.4

reference number

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

reference number

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

p.5

reference number

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

p.5