Hitchin Fun Club, After School and Holiday Club

Hitchin Fun Club, After School and Holiday Club Highbury Infant School, Standhill Road, HITCHIN, Hertfordshire SG4 9AG

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Inspection date 17 August 2018 Previous inspection date 5 April 2016

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Previous inspection: Good 2 Effectiveness of leadership and management Inadequate 4 Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2 Personal development, behaviour and welfare Inadequate 4 Outcomes for children Not Applicable

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The provision is inadequate

n The provider does not have a secure understanding of the requirements of the early years foundation stage. Ofsted has not been informed about new committee members or provided with the required information to check the suitability of these individuals, one of whom is the new manager. The provider has not responded to Ofsted's requests, within the required time scale. n The provider does not implement robust recruitment procedures. Some staff working directly with children do not hold a Disclosure and Barring Service check. n Some staff are unaware of how to identify children at risk of extremist views and behaviours. n The club does not have highly effective links with children's teachers to fully support children's continuity of care and experiences further.

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It has the following strengths

n Children show that they are happy and confident individuals who enjoy attending the club. Key persons build supportive and sensitive relationships with children. n Staff provide children with a good range of activities and experiences. For example, children were inquisitive during a visit to the local fire station. They discovered how firefighters source water and why torches are an essential part of their equipment. n Staff work in partnership with parents to ensure that they are fully informed about the range of activities and experiences that is available for children. They value the nurturing and family orientated environment that staff create.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage and Childcare Register the provider must: Due date provide Ofsted with the required information to enable the suitability checks to be completed on committee members 31/08/2018

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

ensure all staff working with children are subject to a rigorous recruitment procedure, including obtaining a Disclosure and Barring Service check 31/08/2018

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

ensure that all staff have an up-to-date knowledge of all current safeguarding legislation. 31/08/2018

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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

n strengthen partnerships with children's teachers to extend on their interests and experiences within the club.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

Inspection activities n The inspector observed the activities indoors and outdoors and the interactions between staff and children. n The inspector talked to staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector completed a joint observation with the club manager. She joined children and staff on a visit to the local fire station. n The inspector held a meeting with the club manager and provider. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of committee members and staff working in the club. n The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is inadequate

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective. The provider has not notified Ofsted of new committee members within the prescribed time, or provided the required information to complete checks to verify their suitability. These new committee members do not hold a Disclosure and Barring Service check and have access to children's personal details. In addition, they also contribute to making decisions about the recruitment of new staff. Some committee members are also members of staff, including the new manager. The provider has not responded to Ofsted's requests to provide full suitability checks for the manager, such as the health declaration. Recruitment procedures are not robust. DBS checks for some staff working with children have not been processed. The designated members of staff who have lead responsibility for safeguarding do not provide all staff with ongoing guidance, such as recent safeguarding

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is inadequate

legislation. Some staff are not aware of their responsibilities under the Prevent duty. They are not clear of the action to take if children are at possible risk of being exposed to extreme ideas about right and wrong. This puts children at significant risk. However, staff have an appropriate understanding of the possible signs of abuse. Staff have limited opportunities to extend their knowledge and skills through training. The provider focuses on staff completing compulsory training, such as first aid. Staff receive regular supervision meetings with the manager. This helps them to build on the quality of their interactions with children. Self-evaluation is not fully effective. The provider has not identified or addressed significant weaknesses in the leadership and management of the club. Nevertheless, she does seek the views of staff, parents and children to help identify areas for improvement. Highly effective partnerships with children's teachers are not in

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is inadequate

place to extend on children's interests and experiences during their time at the club.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Children are inquisitive and active individuals. They make independent choices of what they would like to play with from a wide range of resources. Staff interact with children to support and extend their play. For example, they talk to children about the features of insects as children use their imaginations to mould dough to form various insects. Children concentrate and safely use scissors to cut straws the same length to create legs for their models. Staff actively listen to what children have to say and skilfully use appropriate opportunities to build on their interests. This motivates children to talk about previous experiences. For example, they use complex sentences to describe why their parents and other people use different types of ladders.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

Significant weaknesses in leadership and management mean that the provider is unable to safeguard children from significant harm. She does not ensure that all staff and committee members are suitable for their roles and that they understand their safeguarding responsibilities. All children behave well, use good manners and older children are positive role models for younger children. Children demonstrate that they know the expectations of the club. During outings in the community staff take appropriate measures to prevent children coming into contact with individuals who are smoking. Children demonstrate friendly relationships and play team games that develop their physical skills. For instance, they take turns to blow through straws to keep a balloon afloat, build dens and balance on large apparatus outdoors.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 146766 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10063670 Type of provision Out-of-school day care

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Childcare on non-domestic premises Age range of children 4 - 12 Total number of places 35 Number of children on roll 72 Name of registered person Hitchin and Strathmore Fun Club Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 5 April 2016 Telephone number 01462 450925

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reference number

Hitchin Fun Club, After School and Holiday Club opened in 1989 and is managed by a voluntary committee. The club employs 14 members of childcare staff. Of these, five hold appropriate qualifications at level 3 or above, including the provider who holds a qualification at level 6. The club opens from 3.10pm to 6pm, Monday to Friday, during term time. During the school holidays the club is open from 8am until 6pm, Monday to Friday, excluding bank 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.ofsted.gov.uk . 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 and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, 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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