The Cubit Street Play Centre

The Cubit Street Play Centre 3 Cubitt Street, London, WC1X 0LJ

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 14 February 2017 20 November 2013

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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:

 Leaders do not consistently check that all staff understand children's specific health needs, such as those children who require medication for known allergies. This breach relates to the requirements of the Childcare Register.  Staff do not make the most of opportunities to help younger children to gain confidence in vocalising and expressing fully their interests and needs.  Leaders have not identified all areas of the setting where improvement is needed, despite having a system in place for reflecting on the quality of the provision.

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It has the following strengths

 Staff form positive relationships with children and help them to develop a sense of belonging. Staff suitably support children's behaviour; they help children to make positive choices and to learn about boundaries and routines.  Staff plan interesting activities taking account of children's various and sometimes complex needs and abilities. Leaders seek detailed information about children's interests before they start and arrange the provision accordingly. For example, they offer children activities in the sensory area using specialised equipment.  Staff ensure children have access to a variety of nutritious foods and snacks. Staff encourage children to be independent in managing personal care tasks.

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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

 ensure that all staff are aware of children's individual health needs and allergies, to maintain their good health and well-being. 15/02/2017

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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 strategies to help build children's self-confidence, in particular to enable them to express their preferences  refine systems of self-evaluation to identify all weaknesses in practice and raise the quality of the setting.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke with children, staff and parents to gain their views on the setting.  The inspector held a leadership meeting with the manager of the setting.  The inspector looked at a relevant sample of policies and documentation, such as records of staff suitability checks and safeguarding procedures.  The inspector observed staff interacting with children throughout the inspection.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

Leaders have a confident understanding of the varying needs of the children. However, they do not consistently ensure that they share up-to-date information with all staff about children's specific medication, such as for known allergies. Despite this, there is no significant impact on children's health as the manager closely monitors all medication administered by staff. For instance, each child has a medical card and the manager signs in and out for all medication. Safeguarding is effective. Leaders ensure that child protection policies and procedures are implemented effectively. They offer appropriate opportunities for staff to take part in professional development and support staff in their roles with effective systems of supervision. Partnerships with parents are effective and leaders communicate with parents regularly to share information. Leaders value the importance of working with other agencies and make effective links with professionals to

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

support children's care. Leaders take account of the views of parents and children's feedback when evaluating their service. However, their use of self-evaluation processes has not successfully identified all areas of weakness in the setting.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff interact well with children and provide a broad range of experiences to engage them in learning. Children enjoy their time at the centre and show excitement to take part in activities. Children have opportunities to explore using their senses and to be creative. For example, children are curious to use toys in jelly, feeling the texture with their hands, while other children take part in lively drumming workshops to explore sound and rhythm. Staff ensure children are active and have play experiences outside. Staff make good use of their outdoor space. For example, they support children to learn how to pedal the bikes and develop their large muscle control. Children show confidence using large equipment, such as trampolines and swings.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

Children are happy in this welcoming setting. They seek comfort from familiar adults and staff use the key-person system well to help children settle in. However, at times, staff do not take opportunities to develop further children's self-confidence, in particular to help them to communicate their preferences. Staff make activities inclusive to children of all abilities and ensure the physical environment is safe and well laid out. However, not all staff are confident in their knowledge about children's specific medical needs to ensure children's well-being is always given the highest priority. Staff encourage children to try things for themselves and take on new challenges. Children enjoy helping with daily routines. For example, they are encouraged to cut up their own fruit at snack time.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY453147 Local authority Camden Inspection number 1063011 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 24 Number of children on roll 24 Name of registered person Action for Children

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 20 November 2013 Telephone number 02072787966

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reference number

The Cubit Street Play Centre registered in September 2012. It is an out-of-school provision for children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities. The play centre is based in the London Borough of Camden. It is open for children in the early years age group on some Saturdays and during school holidays, from 10am to 4pm, although the provision only operates for two days over the Christmas holidays. The play centre employs 62 members of staff, many of whom are on casual contracts. In total, 31 members of staff hold relevant childcare qualifications at level 3 and above.

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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

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

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