Skylarks

Skylarks Bridewell Lane, BURY ST. EDMUNDS, Suffolk, IP33 1RE

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 27 October 2016 5 August 2013

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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 Good 2

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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 not met the legal requirement to inform Ofsted of the names of all those who make up the membership of the committee that runs the club. In addition to this, necessary suitability checks have not been initiated for these people.  The manager does not have a secure knowledge of recent changes to safeguarding matters, such as the indicators that children are at risk of being exposed to extreme behaviours and views.  Children who show an interest in reading and writing are not always supported in building on their literacy skills as and when they wish. The available resources are not always presented effectively to encourage children's participation.

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It has the following strengths

 Staff have a good understanding of how children learn through play. They support and facilitate children's play well and provide a varied range of toys and resources that motivates children to play and learn.  Parents are kept well informed about their children's enjoyment at being at the club. Staff share this information, both verbally and through written information.  Children behave well. Consistent boundaries are in place and children play happily together. They develop good friendships with other children. Staff act as good role models and actively encourage children to make safe and positive choices.

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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

 provide Ofsted with the necessary information of committee members, including enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service checks, to enable the full suitability checking process to be completed 30/11/2016

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Due Date

 make sure the arrangements to protect children meet all statutory and other government requirements, promote their welfare and prevent radicalisation and extremism. 30/11/2016

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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

 support children in building on their prior learning as and when they wish, enabling them to participate and enjoy their chosen reading and writing activities.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities in the main hall, the playground and on an outing to local parkland.  The inspector spoke with staff at appropriate times throughout the inspection.  The inspector looked at activity planning, records of children's activities and a selection of policies and other records.  The inspector held a meeting with the nominated person/manager.  The inspector checked evidence of the suitability and qualifications of staff working with children and the provider's self-evaluation form.  The inspector took account of written questionnaires completed by parents.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective. Ofsted has not been informed of changes to the committee and these persons have not obtained an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check. In addition, the manager is not aware of her duty to prevent children being drawn into situations which may put them at risk of harm. Despite this, staff do have a good awareness of the indicators of abuse and know how to report concerns. In this respect, children's welfare is protected. Management evaluates the quality of the provision. The views of children and parents are sought and their opinions are acted upon. For example, children asked for a playtime when they first came into the club as they had to immediately sit for the register on arrival. Staff accommodated this request and found that the beginning of the after-school session is now not so noisy. Staff are supported in their professional development, helping to promote consistently good

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

quality play experiences for all children.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Children are supported well to develop skills for life and enjoy their time in the club. Staff, generally, take into account children's individual interests when planning for each session. For example, they recognise children's particular interest in building with construction materials, so ensure these are readily available. Children are able to choose what they want to play with and staff facilitate this well, providing an interesting and stimulating range of activities. There is a good balance of child-initiated and adult-led activities. Children enjoy the activities led by adults, such as making stuffed animals from socks. They readily ask if they can make a toy and ask for instructions about what they need to do next. Staff know when to step back and when to intervene and extend activities. Children are encouraged to develop their individual creativity and explore different techniques, such as cutting, gluing and sewing. Children enjoy their finished products and

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

confidently show them off. Staff ensure that children have daily opportunities to be outdoors. Children enjoy outings to local parkland where they look at nature, feed the squirrels and collect leaves.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

Weaknesses in the leadership and management of the club have a negative impact on children's well-being and their welfare is not assured. Despite this, children are happy and settled in this warm and welcoming club and have secure emotional attachments to staff. They confidently seek staff out for a chat and invite them to join in their activities. A key- person system is in place that ensures that younger children get to know all of the staff well. During school term time, children are collected from their classrooms. This gives staff an opportunity to talk to the class teachers about any concerns or issues. Staff actively encourage children to make safe and positive choices. For example, children are reminded about the safe use of scissors and when on outings they talk to children about road safety. Children are familiar with the consistent routines, such as washing their hands before eating. They manage their personal hygiene and self-care needs relevant to their age.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 251631 Local authority Suffolk Inspection number 1063813 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 50 Number of children on roll 124 Name of registered person Skylarks Breakfast, After School & Holiday Club Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 5 August 2013 Telephone number 07958 179 588

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reference number

Skylarks was registered in 1998. The club employs 12 members of childcare staff. Of these, 10 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The club opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Session times are from 8am to 8.45am and from 3.15pm to 6pm, during school term time. A holiday club also operates from 8.30am to 6pm, during the school holidays.

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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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