Junior Activity Scheme

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

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 25 July 2017 29 July 2016

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Previous inspection: Requires Improvement

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1

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This provision is outstanding

 Managers demonstrate exceptionally positive approaches. Their remarkable ability to rigorously review their work and implement highly effective, sustainable changes has played a significant part in the improvement of the scheme since the last inspection.  Staff have an excellent understanding of holiday care. They create a relaxed and welcoming environment, where children feel at ease and develop social skills as they interact with others. They balance this extremely effectively through offering children stimulating play opportunities that help build the skills that support their learning.  The excellent staff supervision reinforces their confidence in using innovative methods to interact and communicate with children. They exactly understand children's needs and offer them a wealth of exciting play opportunities.  Managers and staff use their higher qualifications exceptionally well to inform their

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This provision is outstanding

work. They make excellent use of new knowledge from training. They now present activities in an appealing way, which ignites children's curiosity and engages them.  Staff communicate exceptionally well with parents and do all they can to understand children's needs. For example, they offer taster sessions before the scheme begins. These help children to become familiar with the building and their support workers. They also enable parents to share detailed information about their children.  Through the use of local facilities, children gain an exceptionally meaningful awareness of their community and learn that their individual interactions are valued.

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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

 enrich even further the outdoor opportunities for the youngest children who prefer to play outside to enhance their enjoyment and further extend their interests.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities indoors and outdoors and accompanied children and staff on a trip. She talked with staff and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection.  The inspector completed a joint observation with a team leader.  The inspector held meetings with the scheme manager and the nominated person. She looked at relevant documentation, discussed the scheme's self-evaluation and saw evidence of the suitability of staff.  The inspector spoke to a number of parents during the inspection and took account of their views. She also viewed written feedback from parents.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

Senior staff's thorough review of procedures means that these are now highly relevant and ensure children's safety is paramount. This is further promoted through vastly improved staff induction. Staff receive extensive training, ensuring they have an excellent knowledge of their roles. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff have a comprehensive awareness of the issues that may affect the well-being of children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities. They are highly sensitive to signs that may indicate a child is at risk and understand how to report concerns. The manager's ongoing evaluation is scrupulously honest, ensuring that staff continue to make pertinent improvements. They have recognised the potential to offer younger children even more outdoor resources. Partnership working with other settings is exemplary. Staff exchange information with schools before children attend the scheme. They provide comprehensive

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

feedback, so that teachers are fully aware of children's activities and achievements.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

The exemplary organisation before the scheme means that children thoroughly enjoy their time and are cared for by skilled staff who understand their needs. Children have numerous opportunities to safely try exciting new experiences, reinforcing their skills in exploring and understanding their environment. Staff skilfully support each child's communication skills. They use sign language and picture prompts so that children understand the activities. Staff also use innovative procedures to gain children's feedback. For example, children use coloured cards and pictures of faces to indicate what they feel about activities. This information is then collated and actively used to inform further planning. Staff use children's interests as a way of engaging them. For example, children thoroughly enjoy the activities related to space. They develop skills in creativity and working together as they dress up as astronauts and use boxes to make rockets. They

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

eagerly explore sparkling rice and show great excitement as they find numbered stars.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Staff's excellent knowledge of each child's needs means that children quickly settle and build secure relationships with their support worker. The positive environment supports children's constructive interactions and promotes their emotional well-being. This builds their confidence and ability to deal with new situations. Exceptionally thoughtful staff aid children in developing social skills. For example, children become aware of the needs of others as they take turns when using large-play equipment. Staff support children in understanding safety. When using a soft-play area, the highly skilled staff enable children to take safe risks. Children begin to assess risks as they delight in developing new ways to balance on soft cubes. These activities are also successful in supporting children's physical development as they learn to climb, balance and be aware of space.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY477670 Local authority Luton Inspection number 1067280 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 4 - 9 Total number of places 25 Number of children on roll 31 Name of registered person Autism Bedfordshire

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 29 July 2016 Telephone number 01234 214871

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reference number

Junior Activity Scheme is run by Autism Bedfordshire and registered in 2014. The scheme employs 34 members of childcare staff. Of these, four hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 and 14 hold qualifications at level 3 or above, including two with qualified teacher status. The scheme operates from 9.30am to 3pm during one week of the summer holidays. It provides care for children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities and children who speak English as an additional language.

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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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