Jousters At Applecroft

Jousters At Applecroft Applecroft School, Applecroft Road, Welwyn Garden City, AL8 6JZ

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 6 February 2018 Not applicable

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

p.1

This provision is good

 Children thoroughly enjoy their time at the club and choose from resources available to them. Staff regularly encourage children to take an active role in the day-to-day planning of activities, and speak to teaching staff to promote consistency in what children take part in.  The provider is effective in promoting opportunities for staff to develop their continuous professional development. She ensures that regular supervision and appraisals enable them to identify their own strengths and areas for improvements. Ongoing training opportunities are encouraged and staff display consistency in their approach to promoting children's enjoyment.  Staff provide children with daily opportunities for outdoor play. Children enjoy freely chosen activities and group games whatever the weather. They make suggestions and share their ideas, prompting new opportunities for children to explore.  Children are kind to each other. They build strong relationships and develop

p.1

This provision is good

attachments with children of differing ages. Older children happily engage in activities with the very young children. This supports all children to form secure friendships.

p.1

It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff are not effectively included in evaluating and reflecting on the setting. This means action plans to improve do not include the views and suggestions of the whole staff team to promote continuous improvement.  Sometimes, staff do not share information between themselves effectively to ensure that messages are shared appropriately with parents at home time.

p.1

What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

p.2

What the setting needs to do to improve further

 strengthen the self-evaluation process to include the views of staff  enhance the sharing of information between staff to ensure that information is passed to parents.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the activities children take part in, both indoors and outdoors and the interactions between children and staff.  The inspector observed an adult-led activity and discussed this with the supervisor.  The inspector accompanied a member of staff to collect children from their classrooms.  The inspector spoke to a number of parents during the inspection and took account of their views. She also spoke with children and staff throughout the inspection.  The inspector held a meeting with the owner and supervisor. She looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working at the club.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Parents speak highly of the staff team. They feel included in the time their children spend at the club and they are aware of upcoming activities and experiences their children are taking part in. Staff request parent and child feedback to support the routines and smooth running of the club. Safeguarding is effective. Staff attend regular and appropriate training to ensure that their knowledge and understanding of child protection remains updated. The club supervisor is the designated person with overall responsibility for safeguarding children and staff know to speak with her if they have concerns about children's welfare. Staff are aware of the signs and symptoms of abuse and have an effective awareness of the club policies and procedures. The provider has robust recruitment and induction procedures that ensure staff are suitable to carry out their roles and responsibilities. Ongoing suitability checks are part of the staff's regular supervision and appraisal

p.3

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

meetings with regular team discussions also promoted. The provider talks to children and staff and monitors the smooth running of the setting.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff know the children in their care well. The key-person system works effectively to ensure that children's care is tailored to their individual needs. For example, staff spend some time storytelling and reading books with children as they arrive at the club, after a day at school. Staff regularly observe young children and are attentive to what they are interested in. They use children's ideas and suggestions to plan a range of activities and experiences that are fun, enjoyable and engage children. Children make independent choices about their play and show strong imaginative skills. For example, they dress up and act out a range of different roles. They laugh together and pretend to be police officers and animal characters. Staff motivate children and listen attentively to children when they speak, demonstrating that children's voices and opinions are important.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children demonstrate that they feel safe and secure. Good settling-in procedures mean that staff and parents work together to help children settle and feel confident. Children develop close bonds with friendly, caring staff who spend time ensuring that their care and well-being is promoted. For example, children confidently go to staff for support during an activity or for a cuddle when feeling tired. Staff engage children in conversations and join in with their activities, showing interest in the board games they play. Children are quick to invite staff to join them and are confident to explain how to play the games, including the rules. This promotes good opportunities for children to demonstrate their social skills and understanding of instructions. Staff promote suitable routines that support children's understanding of healthy lifestyles. They talk to children about good hygiene and encourage them to follow suitable procedures.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY496550 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 1032667 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 36 Number of children on roll 50 Name of registered person Jousters Childcare Limited

p.4

reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 07849676490

p.4

reference number

Jousters at Applecroft registered in 2015. The club employs eight members of childcare staff. Of these, three hold an appropriate early years qualification at level 3. It operates Monday to Friday during term time only and offers a breakfast club from 7.45am to 8.55am and an after-school club from 3.10pm to 6pm. A holiday club operates during some school holidays.

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