St Thomas After School Club

St Thomas After School Club St Thomas Parish Centre, St Thomas Road, Lytham St Annes, FY8 1JL

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 24 May 2017 8 December 2016

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3

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

 Although the provider has begun to introduce staff supervision sessions, they are very much in the infancy and have not yet had a positive impact on the quality of staff’s practice. Staff’s interactions with children are inconsistent and are not always of high quality.  The key-person system is not well established. Staff are not clear on all aspects of their roles to support children’s overall development.  Partnerships with the school’s children attend are not highly effective. Staff do not gain enough information from teachers so that they can plan activities that will complement children’s existing skills.  Self-evaluation procedures are not fully effective to help identify weaknesses in practice and how they will be addressed. Staff, parents and children are not always included to support a collaborative approach to the development of the club.

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It has the following strengths

 Children’s attitudes about the club are positive. They comment that they enjoy coming to the club to play with their friends after a busy day at school. They say the staff are nice and kind.  Children are very friendly and welcoming to visitors. They are polite and well behaved.  Older children are caring towards the younger children and will often encourage them to join in. This helps younger children to feel settled.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 develop staff's knowledge of the key-person system so that they are clear about their role and each child benefits from good quality play experiences  develop the programme of professional development for staff to raise their knowledge and skills to a higher level  build further partnerships with schools and plan more activities that complement and build on children's existing skills  strengthen self-evaluation, setting clear targets for future developments and include the views of staff, parents and children.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector had a tour of the club's facilities. She accompanied staff collecting children from two local schools and observed activities, both indoors and outdoors.  The inspector and provider discussed the systems for planning children's play experiences and the organisation of the environment.  The inspector held a meeting with the provider, who is also the manager. She looked at relevant documentation, including evidence of the suitability of committee members and staff working in the club and the procedures for supporting and coaching staff.  The inspector spoke to members of staff, parents and children during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

The provider has addressed weaknesses identified at last the inspection. However, self- evaluation lacks rigour, in order to ensure practice continues to improve to at least a good level. In addition, views from staff, parents and children are not always gathered. The provider has sourced support and guidance from the local authority which has been beneficial, such as introducing staff supervision sessions. However, this has not had a positive effect on driving good quality practice. In addition, staff's professional development is not focused sufficiently on developing the quality of their interactions with children. Safeguarding is effective. The provider has worked with staff to ensure their safeguarding knowledge is secure. They have received further training to help cement their understanding of a range of safeguarding issues. The provider has robust recruitment and induction procedures in place.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

Some staff are qualified and all staff have experience of working with children. However, the quality of their interactions with children varies. Some staff do not always do enough to help children become fully engaged in their play. This means that children do not benefit from high-quality interactions. That said, when staff's interactions are purposeful, children enjoy engaging with them, drawing them into their play. Children are generally occupied and often seek out their friends to play small-group games. However, staff do not obtain sufficient information about what children are learning in school. This means they are less effective in planning activities to complement the teaching that takes place elsewhere.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

The key-person system is not well established. Staff have a general overview of children's care needs. However, staff are not always clear about their key-person role. They do not find out enough about children's current interests and what they are working towards at school. This means children do not benefit from tailored play opportunities. Staff collect children from two different schools and as children get together they are excited to see each other. They share tales with each other of how their school day has been. Children have good opportunities to be physically active. They enjoy playing a range of physical games with their friends, such as football and swing ball. This helps to support their good health. Children have opportunities to be independent as they play an active role during meals and snacks. Children learn some skills that they will use in later life. They are confident on safety procedures, such as how to cross the road.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY494707 Local authority Lancashire Inspection number 1080602 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 40 Number of children on roll 60 Name of registered person St Thomas After School Club Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 8 December 2016 Telephone number 07757360397

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reference number

St Thomas After School Club registered in 2015. The club employs four members of childcare staff, including the provider. Of these, two hold appropriate early years qualifications between level 2 and level 5. The club opens from Monday to Friday, term time only. Sessions are from 7.15am to 8.45am and 3.20pm to 5.30pm.

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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

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

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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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